An Accent in dance is a movement or shape performed in such a way as to give emphasis. Accents can be in music or dance. An accent may take place on a particular beat or melodic detail. An example of an accent might be a louder note or beat in a song, but this is not the only way to create an accent. You could also have an accent occur on an off beat, or during a rhythm change. Accents are also used in music and may sometimes be referred to as a Stress.