Dance that has been developed over time into highly stylized structures and forms within a culture. Classical forms are generally developed within the court or circle of power in a society.

compositional forms: structures of dance composition. Examples include

• ab—a form made up of two contrasting sections, each of which may or may not be repeated.
• aba—a three-part compositional form in which the second section contrasts with the first section. The third section is a restatement of the first section and can be in a condensed, abbreviated, or extended form.
• narrative—choreographic structure that follows a specific story line to convey specific information through the story.