Tarantism November 2, 2014December 5, 2014 Tarantism, 20″X17″, 201 Tarantism: noun 1. a mania characterized by an uncontrollable impulse to dance,especially as prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17thcentury, popularly attributed to the bite of the tarantula. Also, tarentism. Compare tarantula (def 3).