Orchesis
/ˈɔːr.kə.sɪs/noun
A term for dancing or the art of dance, especially in a formal or theatrical sense.
Did you know?Orchesis comes from Greek and is part of the same ancient word-family that gave English the word orchestra, which originally referred to the dancing place in a theater—not the musicians.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὄρχησις (órkhēsis)
“dancing; the act of dancing”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὀρχέομαι (orkhéomai)
“to dance”
Classical Greek
Greek
ὀρχήστρα (orkhḗstra)
“the dancing place in a theater”
Latin
Latin
orchestra
“the semicircular space in front of the stage”
Modern English
English
orchesis
“dance; the art or act of dancing”
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