What is the literary term for they danced and gyrated like tortured savages?

There isn't a single, perfect literary term for "they danced and gyrated like tortured savages." It's a highly figurative phrase that combines several techniques:

* Simile: "Like tortured savages" directly compares the dancing to a savage act, using "like."

* Metaphor: "Tortured savages" could be seen as a metaphor for the intensity or frenzy of the dancing, implying a connection between suffering and movement.

* Hyperbole: The phrase exaggerates the intensity of the dancing, likely using the term "savages" for dramatic effect.

The overall effect of the phrase is powerful imagery that evokes a sense of wildness, aggression, and perhaps even violence.

While there's no singular term, you could say the phrase uses vivid imagery, dramatic comparison, or figurative language to convey the feeling of the dance.