dance hall

noun

1

: a large room set aside or suitable for dances

especially : a public hall offering facilities for dancing

2

dancehall

ˈdan(t)s-ˌhȯl 

ˈdän(t)s-

: a genre of Jamaican music derived from reggae in which an artist improvises vocals over a recorded or live beat

… anyone who knew her or worked with her knows that she loves dancehall and has much respect and passion for the genre.

—Stephanie K

—often used before another noun

dancehall music

A key form of symbolic capital obtainable in Jamaica is knowledge and possession of many Jamaican dancehall records.

—Marvin Sterling

Examples of dance hall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nearing the end, new works are placed that engage the spectator in a video at the artist’s studio, transformed into a dance hall where musicians and dancers are regularly invited to perform. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

In the 1990s, reports of conflicts and violence in or around dance halls led to youth curfews. —Donna M. Owens, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025

Then, there's Canary, the hotel’s speakeasy where every guest can get a drink tailored to their taste and mood, all inspired by Breckenridge’s historic prohibition-era dance halls. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 18 Feb. 2025

Kelly's Quinn O'Grady runs a local dance hall after a stint in the big city working as a concert pianist. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dance hall

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol