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

The high-energy video — which features the band performing in a Mexican dance hall with the lyrics splashed on the screen in black and red ooze — was shot in Mexico City earlier this year and directed by Mexican American duo Cliqua. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026

The sisters loved going to dance halls, listening to their favorite songs and singing karaoke together. — Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

The event kicks off with a candlelit dinner and live music at Zapp Hall, one of the oldest dance halls in the state. — Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026

In the Industrial Age, young people began relocating to cities for work and enjoyed newfound independence and leisure time; courtship moved from the family parlor to the dance hall. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dance hall

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