Character Dance is a specific subdivision of Classical Dance based on national and folkloric traditions that have been stylized and included in classical ballet. Many Classical ballets feature Character sections and variations.

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Most popular in the Classical Character repertoire are the national dances of Hungary, Russia, Poland, Italy, Arabic countries, Israel, and Spain: Czardas, Mazurka, etc.

As an example, the ballet Don Quixote features many Character Variations based on the flamenco dancers of Andalusia which have been stylized for Classical Dance performance.

Students enhance their ability to make movement, express character, and emotion.

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Folk traditions have been incorporated into what is known as ballet for centuries but it was not until Aleksandr Shirayev, Assistant to Marius Petipa, that Character Dance became a unique and codified art-form that takes its rightful place as an integral part of Classical Ballet.