1. 
[syn: danse macabre, dance of death]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dance \Dance\, n. [F. danse, of German origin. See Dance, v.
   i.]
   1. The leaping, tripping, or measured stepping of one who
      dances; an amusement, in which the movements of the
      persons are regulated by art, in figures and in accord
      with music.
      [1913 Webster]
   2. (Mus.) A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the
      minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc.
      [1913 Webster]
   Note: The word dance was used ironically, by the older
         writers, of many proceedings besides dancing.
         [1913 Webster]
               Of remedies of love she knew parchance
               For of that art she couth the olde dance.
                                                  --Chaucer.
         [1913 Webster]
   Dance of Death (Art), an allegorical representation of the
      power of death over all, -- the old, the young, the high,
      and the low, being led by a dancing skeleton.
   Morris dance. See Morris.
   To lead one a dance, to cause one to go through a series of
      movements or experiences as if guided by a partner in a
      dance not understood.
      [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
dance of death
    n 1: a medieval dance in which a skeleton representing death
         leads a procession of others to the grave [syn: danse
         macabre, dance of death]