舞蹈 (wǔ dǎo) is a noun meaning 'dance' as an art form or performance (e.g., ballet, folk dance). It contrasts with the verb 跳舞 (tiào wǔ, 'to dance'), which describes the action. The single character 舞 (wǔ) is a more literary or formal noun/verb used in set phrases (e.g., 舞台 'stage'), while 歌舞 (gē wǔ) refers specifically to singing and dancing combined.