History Main / MagicDance

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Aang and [[spoiler:Zuko]] perform a dance-like fire bending ritual to summon two of the last dragons. It turned out this was a part of Aang's fire-bending training. Sokka then proceeds to mock them going through an entire episode's adventure for dance lessons.

* Gems from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' can utilize a literal FusionDance to merge together into a stronger form. Whether they succeed depends in equal part on how synchronous the dance moves are, as well as the participants' mental states and emotions. The dance itself is eventually shown as not fully necessary, just an aid.

* ComicBook/{{XMen}} villain Spiral focuses her sorcery through dance.

* ''https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Changeling_(Snyder_novel)'' by Zilpha Keatley Snyder has Ivy Carson, who is obsessed with dance. She is always making up [[http://www.dreamshore.net/images/raible/newmagic.jpg dances for magical ceremonies and rituals]], part of the elaborate "Land of the Green Sky" paracosm she shares with her friend Martha and sister (and possible ChildMage) Josie. Dance is an important part of the culture of [[Literature/GreenSkyTrilogy Green-sky]], which Snyder extrapolated from the little girls' game.

* ''Literature/TheChangeling'' by Zilpha Keatley Snyder has Ivy Carson, who is obsessed with dance. She is always making up [[http://www.dreamshore.net/images/raible/newmagic.jpg dances for magical ceremonies and rituals]], part of the elaborate "Land of the Green Sky" paracosm she shares with her friend Martha and sister (and possible ChildMage) Josie. Dance is an important part of the culture of [[Literature/GreenSkyTrilogy Green-sky]], which Snyder extrapolated from the little girls' game.

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

** The ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms setting also has the Spelldancer, once a favorite of the Character Optimization boards, that could increase the power of spells by dancing for a few rounds.

* Most of the [[HealingHands healing]] [[WhiteMagic magic]] used by Konoka Konoe in ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' involve dances.

* A [[DemBones sleleton]] [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghost]] of a [[TheCaptain ship captain]] in Manga/MarchStory can create [[HavingABlast exploding bubbles]] by tap dancing on the [[WalkOnWater ocean waves]].

* In ''FanFic/PowerRangersOceania'', Alex uses a hula as a ritual to beef up her power against a fungi monster spreading decay at an accelerated rate. [[DanceBattler She does it in the middle of]] ''[[DanceBattler fighting]]'' [[DanceBattler the monster.]]

* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', [[WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas Jack Skellington's]] limit ability "Applause, Applause" actives the technique "Dance Call" which features him and Sora unleashing various magic attacks while performing an intricate dance.
** The Necho Cat and Frootz Cat dream eaters in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3D'' can dance to heal their allies, or create harmful music notes. There's also their Rhythmic Groove link attack and the nearly identical Tail Groove link attack used by the Ducky Goose and Drak Quack dream eaters, which both have Sora perform a dance show with the associated dream eater (Music, lights, and cheering crowd included). This hurts things. Somehow.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dark_elf_dancer.jpeg]]

!!Examples

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Fan Fiction ]]

[[folder: Film ]]
* One of the more common complaints about ''Film/TheLastAirbender'' was that the elemental bending was portrayed in a way that less resembled martial arts like in the [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender original show]]'', and more resembled interpretative dance.

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has the [[TheBard Bard]] class, who uses performances to access his arcane magic. One of them is dance.
** Sadly, the performance for spells has to have a sound component.
*** ...But that doesn't rule out TAPDANCING!

** The ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms setting also had the Spelldancer, once a favorite of the Character Optimization boards, that could increase the power of spells by dancing for a few rounds.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', pretty much any Performance Charm will work with dancing just as well as speechmaking, music, or any other performance. Want to stop an army in its tracks with a waltz? Go for it, and have a [[RuleOfCool 2-die stunt]] while you're at it.

*** Don't forget Malfeas is also into dancing, and [[KillItWithFire GREEN NUCLEAR FIRE]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]
* In ''{{Webcomic/Erfworld}}'' some units have the "Dance Fighting" special ability, which confers a bonus in combat if they dance beforehand. Through magic it is possible to give any unit, or whole groups the Dance Fighting special ability.

[[folder: Web Original ]]
* The Literature/WhateleyUniverse's Fey used an ancient MagicDance to ''seduce'' some fire elementals into helping her, during her Christmas story.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', [[WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas Jack Skellington's]] limit ability "Applause, Applause" actives the technique "Dance Call" which features he and Sora unleashing various magic attacks while performing an intricate dance.

* ''Magic Steps'', the first in Creator/TamoraPierce's ''[[Literature/CircleOfMagic The Circle Opens]]'' books, is about a boy whose powers are related to dance.

* There are a number of non-contact moves in Franchise/{{Pokemon}} performed by dancing. Some raise or lower stats, such as Swords Dance and Feather Dance. Some create things to attack opponents with, such as Petal Dance and Fiery Dance. One of them, Rain Dance, changes the weather. One character in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', Tierno, aspires to be a dancer and fittingly enough specializes in these moves.

** ''VideoGame/{{FinalFantasyX-2}}'' has the Songstress dressphere, which combines Dancer with Bard. Each song or dance will affect the battle for its (long) duration, with songs buffing allies and dances placing status effects on enemies.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX-2'' has the Songstress dressphere, which combines Dancer with Bard. Each song or dance will affect the battle for its (long) duration, with songs buffing allies and dances placing status effects on enemies.

* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** The sending dance in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''.
** The Songstress in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' uses dance-type moves to causes status effects on enemies.
** Mog of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has dance as his special skill, which he uses to cast a variety of [[GeoEffects terrain-based magic]]
** So does the Dancer class in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' and other class-based installments. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI's'' Dancers are able to be ''TheMedic'' with their dances, oddly enough.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2'', the Dancer class is given only to [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII Penelo]]. Her dances all revolve around wrecking the enemy's status, as a foil to Hurdy's [[MagicMusic Bard]] class, which improves status. Both of these are {{Call Back}}s to the original ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' classes of the same name, with similar abilities.

* FFranchise/DragonBall:

** In ''GT'', the [[TerribleTrio Para Para Brothers]] can force their opponents to imitate their (quite silly) dance, leaving them open to attack.

* In ''The Witch of Portobello'', by PauloCoelho, Athena's witchcraft involves dances.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has the [[strike:[[SpoonyBard Spoony]]]] [[SpoonyBard Bard]] class, who uses performances to access his arcane magic. One of them is dance.

** The Kalamar D&D setting introduced a dance-specialized variant bard, specifically to resolve the issues with Perform (Dance) as an catalyst for bardic music abilities.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' has the Dancer class that is able to dance for another unit, allowing it an extra move. Especially notable in that regard is Ninian from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'', who is central to the plot [[spoiler: since she's a half-dragon woman who has lost almost all her energy and powers, only being able to channel what's left through her dances and her magical rings]]. Her brother Nils does pretty much the same thing, [[MagicMusic but with a song]].

* ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' has Luigi's final smash, done by confusedly spinning in place.

* In ''Videogame/UtawarerumonoItsuwariNoKamen'', Maroro uses thaumaturgy through a chicken dance to invoke fire magic, by the time of the sequel he upgrades to using simple hand gestures.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Aang and [[spoiler:Zuko]] perform a dance-like fire bending ritual to summon two of the last dragons. It turned out this was a part of Aang's fire-bending training. [[BadassNormal Sokka]] then proceeds to mock them going through an entire episode's adventure for dance lessons.

* Gems from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' can utilize a literal FusionDance to merge together into a stronger form. Whether they succeed depends in equal part on how synchronous the dance moves are, as well as the participants' mental states and emotions.

* Dionysus of ''Comicbook/TheWickedAndTheDivine'' is a godly raver whose dance magic creates a consensual HiveMind. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome At one point he weaponizes his party to create an army]].

* [[TropeOverdosed Naturally]], this has made an appearance in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. The MagicalNativeAmerican Listens-to-Wind used dancing as a catalyst for spells against [[spoiler:the [[EldritchAbomination skinwalker]]. And [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome proceeded to "kick [its] ass up between [its] ears"]].]]

* ''Literature/TheChangeling'' by Zilpha Keatley Snyder has Ivy Carson, who is obsessed with dance. She is always making up [[http://www.dreamshore.net/images/raible/newmagic.jpg dances for magical ceremonies and rituals]], part of the elaborate "Land of the Green Sky" paracosm she shares with her friend Martha and sister (and possible ChildMage) Josie. Dance is an important part of the culture of [[GreenSkyTrilogy Green-sky]], which Snyder extrapolated from the little girls' game.

* ''VideoGame/Shantae'' has VoluntaryShapeshifting abilities that she activates by [[BellyDancer belly dancing]].

* Gems from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' can utilize a FusionDance to merge together into a stronger form. Whether they succeed depends in equal part on how synchronous the dance moves are, as well as the participants' mental states and emotions.

* ''Literature/TheHeraldsOfValdemar'' has this included after a fashion. At least one character uses dancing to help cast a spell as part of a big group casting.

* The FusionDance from ''Manga/DragonBallZ''.

* Most of the [[HealingHands healing]] [[WhiteMagic magic]] used by Konoka Konoe in ''MahouSenseiNegima'' involve dances.