Chorea (choreia, khoreia, χορεία) is a circle dance (χορεύω σε κύκλο) accompanied by singing (see chorus, khoros), known in ancient Greece. Homer's poem the Iliad refers to chorea, (χορεία) a Greek Circle dance accompanied by singing. Although circle dance did not originate in Greece derivatives of the name are used to describe circle dances in other countries: Khorovod (Russia), Hora (Romania, Moldova, Israel), Horo (Bulgaria).

Paracelsus used the term chorea to describe the rapid, jerking physical movements of medieval pilgrims traveling to the healing shrine of St. Vitus.