Dance Macabre original pen and ink and watercolour illustration by Rosie Brooks

"Dance Macabre" is a term that refers to a medieval allegory in which Death (personified as a skeleton or other skeletal figure) appears to people from all walks of life and invites them to dance with him. The idea behind the Dance Macabre is that death is the great equalizer, and that everyone, regardless of status, will eventually succumb to it.

The Dance Macabre has been a popular subject in art, literature, and music for centuries. In music, it has been the inspiration for numerous compositions, including the well-known orchestral piece by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, "Danse Macabre." The piece features a solo violin playing a haunting melody that is meant to represent Death's fiddle, accompanied by a full orchestra.

In modern times, the term "Dance Macabre" has been used in various contexts, including as the title of songs by contemporary artists such as Ghost and The Faint. In these cases, the term is often used metaphorically to describe a situation in which people are engaging in dangerous or destructive behavior without regard for the consequences.