«Белый танец» refers to the main dance during a ball; gentlemen who had a particular interest in a lady would normally ask her to reserve this dance for them in their dance cards, so as to represent the intensity and depth of their feelings.

It is also used to refer to the first dance that married couples take together during their wedding party, which would normally open the celebratory ball and indicate to other couples that they can also join them in the dancefloor.