The Mysterious Dancing Plague of 1518

The mysterious case of a town where hundreds of people danced uncontrollably for weeks

In the summer of 1518, a strange phenomenon occurred in the city of Strasbourg, Alsace (now modern-day France), in the Holy Roman Empire.

It all started with a single woman, Frau Troffea. Without warning, she began dancing in the streets. This wasn’t a joyful jig, but a relentless, frenzied dance that seemed to possess her completely.

What was even more baffling was that her dance didn’t stop. Hours turned into days, and days into weeks, yet Frau Troffea continued her non-stop dance. And she wasn’t alone. Others in the town started to join her in this inexplicable dancing trance.

She danced for days without rest, and before long, others joined her. Within a month, there were as many as 400 people dancing in the streets, unable to stop.

Stage for this bewildering phenomenon

Authorities were at a loss for how to respond. They initially thought that the dancers were perhaps under some kind of divine influence or that their fervent dancing might purge them of some unknown ailment.

In an attempt to alleviate the situation, they even set up stages and brought in musicians to encourage the dancers.

But instead of abating, the dance epidemic seemed to escalate. The number of dancers grew, and the physical toll on their bodies became evident. Exhaustion, dehydration, and even injuries from the constant movement started to take their toll.

Theories Behind the Dancing Plague

As summer turned to autumn, the dancing gradually began to fade. Some of the dancers collapsed from sheer exhaustion, and a number tragically lost their lives. The streets that were once filled with the sound of dancing slowly returned to normalcy.

There are many theories about what caused this bizarre event

Mass Hysteria: One prevailing theory suggests that mass hysteria might have been the catalyst. During the 16th century, times were uncertain, with plagues and famines often looming. Mass hysteria, triggered by stress, fear, and social pressures, could have led to a collective psychological response. The sight of Frau Troffea’s dancing might have acted as a trigger, causing a cascade of unconscious imitative behavior.

Ergot Poisoning: Another intriguing theory links the dancing plague to ergot poisoning. Ergot is a fungus that can grow on grains like rye. Consuming contaminated food can lead to hallucinations, convulsions, and spasms — symptoms that eerily resemble the uncontrolled dancing seen in Strasbourg. This theory gains weight when considering the rye-heavy diet of the townspeople during that time.

Socioeconomic and Religious Factors: The 16th century was rife with societal tensions, economic struggles, and religious fervor. It’s possible that the dancing provided an outlet for these pressures. Additionally, religious processions and rituals often included dancing, and this could have led to a breakdown of the boundary between sacred and secular dance.

Sydenham’s Chorea: Some modern researchers have suggested that the dancing plague could have been a form of Sydenham’s chorea, a disorder that causes rapid, jerky movements. This condition can be triggered by infections, and considering the limited medical understanding of the time, it’s possible that an infectious disease could have caused such symptoms.

The Dancing Plague of 1518 remains one of history’s most mysterious and fascinating events. It serves as a reminder of the power of the human mind and the strange ways in which it can behave under certain circumstances.

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