A dense crowd of figures fills the dance hall, their backs and profiles pressed together in the foreground, each head and hairstyle rendered with thick, swirling outlines. Women in elaborate dresses and hats dominate the lower half of the composition, their hair tied with ribbons of deep blue and black, while their faces are turned toward the center or bowed in conversation. The scene is packed with overlapping bodies, creating a sense of movement and noise, as if the viewer stands among the dancers themselves.

Golden-yellow globes of light hang from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the crowd and reflecting in patches on hair and clothing. A few men in dark suits and hats are visible among the women, their features sharply outlined in black, contributing to the rhythmic pattern of heads and shoulders. The upper part of the painting shows the green balcony of the dance hall, where small groups of people lean over the railing, observing the scene below.

The background is a deep green, punctuated by the round lights and the angular architecture of the hall, which frames the scene and leads the gaze across the canvas. The brushwork is energetic and visible, with thick, curving lines and areas of impasto that give the surface a palpable texture. The palette is dominated by greens, yellows, blues, and ochres, with strong contrasts between the bright lights and the dark outlines of the figures.

Small details, such as the pattern of a checked skirt or the feather in a hat, are picked out with bold, simplified shapes, emphasizing the decorative quality of the scene. The composition is tightly packed, with little empty space, evoking the lively atmosphere of a crowded ball in Arles. Vincent van Gogh created Dance Hall in Arles in 1888, during his time in Arles. The subject is a ball in Arles, with women and their clothing forming the focus of the scene.