Dance and traditional means of livelihood often share similar movements according to the standard academic theories of dance, especially folk dance. Martial arts are part of the same physical traditions and often share [[{{Pun}} striking (so to speak)]] similarities.

That is not to say that '''all''' traditional dancers can fight. Very often the dance traditions use larger, more flamboyant and expressive movements designed for visual appeal. And it does not mean all martial artists can dance, either. But there is a degree of overlap, especially in traditional cultures. Many of the attributes that make a good dancer -- strength, endurance, grace, balance, rhythm, timing, physical presence -- are also found in warriors.

To further complicate matters, many martial arts have an explicit dance component. "War dances" all over the world incorporate movements and emotional content from their combative tradition. The purpose may be to create group identity, impress the opposite sex, entertain, compete non-violently for status or frighten enemies. In some traditions, combatants show their form by shadowboxing, often to music. A vastly inferior opponent can step down without losing face or risking injury at this point. Or participants may show a false weakness to the surprise of the opponent when they fight. Or at least it gives the audience a chance to lay down bets.

A very incomplete list of examples:

* Africa and Afro-Caribbean: Many martial arts either originated from dances or were concealed by practicing them as dances, like Maculele, Mandingue, Laghia de la mort, Mayolè and others
* Brazil: UsefulNotes/{{Capoeira}} is believed to have its roots in West African dance/fighting traditions. It is practiced to music and singing. The practice of Capoeira was generally illegal at the time of slavery, and is bouts are still referred to as "playing". It was hidden in public by disguising it as dance. Capoeira co-evolved with the Brazilian {{Samba}} dance tradition.
* Breakdancing: Supposedly invented as a ritualized substitute for actual combat, taking a lot of cues from Capoeira above. Early moves were influenced by Hong Kong action films (hence the name, incidentally, of the Music/WuTangClan, which came from the same hip-hop culture).
* China: In recent days many but by no means all forms of Chinese martial arts have evolved from combat to an athletic/gymnastic competitive display which has many of the attributes and requirements of dance performance. The degree to which this has occurred varies widely from school to school. There is a saying attributed to an ancient Chinese philosopher that "a warrior who cannot dance will be awkward both at war and in peace."
* Europe: Most of the dance/fighting traditions are extinct, but some examples of martial dancing with and without weapons still exist in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Scandinavia, and Basque country.
** Notational systems for dancing and fencing came about around the same time in Western Europe and had several similarities.
** The ''shaksha'' sabre dance of the Cossacks, with one or two swords, is a visually spectacular survival.
** There is a saying attributed to the ancient Celts that goes "never give a sword to a man who can't dance." This is notable for having several possible (or simultaneous) meanings, from physical fitness and conditioning to attitude and outlook on life, i.e. "don't teach someone to fight until they learn to enjoy life."
* India: The ancient martial art of Kalaripayitt is very closely related to classical Indian dance and to a number of Yoga traditions.
* Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Phillippines: The dance and martial cultures are nearly inseparable. Whether a particular movement is aesthetic, competitive Olahraga or deadly [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencak_Silat Silat]] is more a matter of intention than anything else. Traditionally, dance and Silat are performed to the Gamelan orchestra. In the Central and Northern Philippines, the connection is more tenuous.
* Japan: Swordsmen Yagyū Munenori and his son, Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi, often used terminology of Noh drama's dancing when discussing the timing in {{sword|Fight}}fighting. The modern Japanese martial art of Aikido is often considered dance-like because of its grace and fluidity.
* Korea: While there is great academic and hoplological disagreement about Taekkyun as a martial art rather than a game, it shares similarities with Korean martial arts and dance
* Middle East/North Africa: There is the ancient Egyptian martial art known as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahtib tahtib]], aka Egyptian stick fencing, which remains a valid fighting technique but has also evolved into a form of stylized dance (often performed for tourists by groups of men in the southern part of the country, even though the martial art is mixed-gender).
* New Zealand: Men's dance (Hula, Haka and other names) and martial arts are very closely connected sharing many motions and training methods. New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team does a traditional Maori ''haka'' war dance before games. It is unmistakably martial. On several occasions, a ''haka'' performed by opposing Polynesian teams has led to pre-game fights.
* Ukraine: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Hopak Combat Hopak]], based on the Ukrainian dance ThatRussianSquatDance comes from. Not too much of a stretch, Hopak dance moves largely simulate stylized combat.
* Okinawa: When Karate was outlawed for a time by the ruling Japanese, the Okinawans turned their ''kata'' (forms) into dances in order to keep training without arousing suspicion.
* Samoa: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limalama Limalama]] was founded by Tu'umamao "Tino" Tuiolosega and is rooted in the Samoan dance techniques he learned in his youth.