Origin: Latin suffix -ance
Sundance has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
Any of various Native American religious rituals with song, dance, praying, etc.
"The tribe gathered in a circle to perform an ancient sundance that included singing and dancing to honor the spirits."
In plain English: Sundance is an annual film festival held in Utah that showcases independent movies made by new and emerging filmmakers.
"The young horse showed signs of sundance after being turned out to graze in the open field."
Usage: Sundances are specific ceremonial events practiced by certain Indigenous peoples that involve fasting, prayer, and dancing to seek spiritual guidance or healing. These rituals differ from general powwows because they focus on individual vision quests rather than communal celebration.
A neighbourhood of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
"The annual Sundance Festival is not held in our city, but many locals travel to the nearby suburb of Sundance in Calgary to attend it."
The word sundance is a straightforward compound of the words sun and dance. It was formed to describe an outdoor event where people gather to dance under the sunlight.