medicine dance

noun

1. a ritual dance performed by some North American Indians to invoke supernatural assistance as for driving out disease.

Word History and Origins

Origin of medicine dance¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

The jingle dress dance originated with the Ojibwe tribe - whose members first settled in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Ontario - as a medicine dance of prayer and healing.

From Washington Times

It might be a Medicine Dance, or a Green Corn Dance, or some other festivity peculiar to the notions of the tribes and the exigencies of the occasion.

From Project Gutenberg

The Kiowas, Comanches, Arappahoes, Apaches, and Chyennes presented themselves on the day appointed, and initiated the proceedings with a Medicine Dance.

From Project Gutenberg

It may be the boy’s medicine dance, part of the ritual which will keep harm away from him.”

From Project Gutenberg

One of the wonderful things done by this man was at a medicine dance.

From Project Gutenberg