The Dancing Plague of 1518: When a Town Couldn’t Stop

10 min readJun 11, 2024

In July 1518, the city of Strasbourg faced a strange problem.

A woman named Frau Troffea started dancing in the street. She twisted, twirled, and shook but didn’t say a word.1 This went on for nearly a week. Soon, around 36 others had joined her dance.2 By August, this strange dance fever had affected up to 400 people.3 Doctors then believed the dancing was to cool down “hot blood.”3

Key Takeaways

The dancing plague of 1518 occurred in Strasbourg, France, and lasted for about two months.
Over 400 individuals were affected by the uncontrollable urge to dance, with some dying from exertion.
Contemporary explanations included demonic possession, overheated blood, and ergot poisoning.
Similar dancing epidemics were reported in medieval Europe, dating back to the 10th century.
The event has inspired various works of art, literature, music, and film in modern times.

The Dancing Plague of 1518: When a Town Couldn’t Stop Dancing

A wooden stage was set up for dancing.2 The town brought in the best dancers and a band. People danced all the time, which made many collapse.2 Some even had deadly strokes or heart attacks.2 This strange event lasted until September. Then, the dancers were taken to a mountain to pray.2 The Strasbourg dancing plague might sound like a myth, but it’s true. We know about it from records of the 16th century.3 And it wasn’t the only strange dancing event. Similar things happened in Switzerland, Germany, and Holland. But none were as big or deadly as 1518's.3

The dancing plague in Strasbourg, Alsace began in July and lasted until September.2 It involved between 50 and 400 people who danced for weeks. By August, 400 people were affected. Some died from dancing too much.2 It only stopped when the dancers were sent to pray in September.2

Frau Troffea started the dance, and by the first days, 34 others joined.1 Up to 400 people were dancing by the end of the month.1 During this time, up to 15 people died each day from dancing.1

Historical Context

The dancing plague of 1518 happened in Strasbourg, part of the Holy Roman Empire (modern-day France).3 It started in July and ended in September, lasting about two months.3 This took place during medieval Europe, which was filled with superstition, disease, and unrest.

Location: Strasbourg, France

The epidemic hit the city of Strasbourg, within the Holy Roman Empire in the 16th century.3 This city was known for experiencing dancing mania in the past.2

Timeline: July to September 1518

In July 1518, the dancing plague began and continued until September.2 It affected many, with over 30 people dancing uncontrollably at first. The number grew to about 400.3

Background: Medieval Europe

It occurred in a time of high superstition, rampant disease, and social troubles in medieval Europe.3 Understanding this context helps explain how and why the epidemic happened in Strasbourg.3

This event was not a one-time thing. Similar outbreaks were seen across Europe from the 10th to 16th centuries.3 The dancing plague of 1374 is a famous example.3

The Mysterious Outbreak

The dancing plague of 1518 started mysteriously in Strasbourg, then a part of the Holy Roman Empire (now part of France).3 In July 1518, a woman named Frau Troffea started to dance oddly in the street. She danced non-stop, twisting and twirling, for almost a week.3 In a week, over 30 others joined her, all dancing compulsively.3

Frau Troffea: The First Dancer

When Frau Troffea began to dance, it kicked off a strange event. This dance fever would later affect up to 400 people in Strasbourg.3 The local leaders couldn’t understand why this was happening. People started calling it the “dancing plague of 1518.”3

Uncontrollable Dancing Spreads

The craze kept growing, and by August, around 400 people were dancing uncontrollably.32 The town couldn’t believe this was happening. Dancers were so tired that some died from heart problems.

They were overwhelmed by the huge number of dancers and the terrible outcomes.2

Authorities’ Response

Their solution was to build a stage and hire real dancers and musicians to play with them.2 But this made things worse. The tired dancers just kept collapsing.2

The dancing plague of 1518 was a big puzzle for Strasbourg’s leaders and doctors.32 With no clear end in sight, the town faced a truly difficult and strange time.

Contemporaneous Explanations

In 1518, Strasbourg was hit by a strange dancing plague. Local doctors and intellectuals tried to understand it. They came up with ideas like being possessed by demons or having too much heat in the blood.3

Demonic Possession

Back then, people linked crazy behavior to evil spirits. Many thought the dancers were either under a demon’s control or being punished by God. This view was widely accepted for the dance plague in Strasbourg.43

Overheated Blood

Local physicians thought a different angle, though. They believed the dancers just had a fever. Their suggested treatment? Keep dancing. Doctors hoped this would get rid of the fever and balance their body’s humors.3

Theories and Speculation

The Strasbourg dancing plague of 1518 is a famous yet confusing event. Modern researchers have come up with interesting ideas to explain this odd happening. Similar dancing outbreaks were seen in different places in medieval Europe from the 10th to 16th centuries.3

Ergot Poisoning

A top theory is that the dancers ate rye flour that had a fungus, ergot, on it. This fungus can make people act strangely by affecting their minds.2 This theory suggests the dancing wasn’t caused by anything supernatural. Instead, it might have been the result of a drug-like effect from the fungus.2

Stress-Induced Mass Hysteria

Another idea is that the dancing was a reaction to high stress in Strasbourg. The town was dealing with famines and diseases like smallpox and syphilis at the time.3 The theory says all this stress could have made the people suddenly dance in the streets.2

Religious Cult Practices

Then there’s the theory of religious rituals. It suggests the dancers were trying to please St. Vitus, the patron saint of dance and epilepsy.3 They thought if they didn’t honor him correctly, they would be cursed to dance uncontrollably. This could explain why the dancing was so compulsive.3

Even though we might never know for sure, studying these theories gives us a peek into the mysteries of history. They help us think about why weird and hard-to-explain events occur.32

Echoes of the Past

The Strasbourg dancing plague was not the only one. In medieval Europe, other places saw these outbreaks too. In the 11th century, Kölbigk, Saxony, and in the 15th century, Apulia, Italy, witnessed uncontrollable dancing.5 People thought these dancing episodes were either punishments from God or caused by spider bites. To stop it, they thought more dancing or special music could help.

Similar Incidents in Medieval Europe

In 1518, around 400 folks danced crazily in Strasbourg.6 Gruesomely, some records say up to fifteen died each day. This could mean the total deaths were really high.6 This dancing mania wasn’t just in Strasbourg. Reports came from Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, and other places. They think the 1518 episode was the last big one in Europe. Only small events were reported in the early 1600s.6

It all began when Frau Troffea couldn’t stop dancing in 1518’s summer.5 Others joined her, and soon, many were dancing endlessly. Dancers fell from exhaustion and some likely died from heart problems.5 The town’s leaders had to act to protect everyone. They moved the dancers to a quiet place, where finally, the dancing stopped.5

Later on, similar outbreaks of dancing mania were seen in Europe.5 Back then, life was tough with famine and people feeling very stressed.5 The Dancing Plague story warns us about mass hysteria and acting without reason. It reminds us to question and keep calm even in tough times.5

Cultural Impact

The Strasbourg dancing plague of 1518 left its mark on popular culture. It inspired many artworks, books, songs, and movies.4 This was part of choreomania, which spread through parts of Europe in the medieval times. Places like Germany, France, and the Holy Roman Empire saw similar events.4

Art and Literature

Today, works in music and literature often look back to the 1518 dance plague. They’re inspired by its themes of being stuck, feeling uplifted, the unknown, and change.4 Works like Florence + The Machine’s album “Dance Fever” and Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s book “The Dance Tree” show how this event still captures our imagination. These works shed new light on the historical event.4

Music and Film

The short film “Strasbourg 1518” by Jonathan Glazer and the song “Choreomania” by Florence and the Machine from 2022 are great examples. They explore and reinterpret the dancing plague of Strasbourg in the present day.4

The Dancing Plague in Context

The Strasbourg dancing plague is a famous case of mass psychogenic illness. This means many people show odd behavior or symptoms due to stress or social factors.7 Historian John Waller believes it was a result of group stress and fear during a hard time in medieval Europe.7 Some think mass hysteria spread beliefs like a virus, causing the dancing plague.7

Unexplained Historical Phenomena

The dancing plague is one of many unexplained historical events. Others include the Tanganyika laughter epidemic and Sydenham’s chorea.7 St. Vitus’s dance (Sydenham’s chorea) is a known condition caused by Streptococcus bacteria. It mainly affects girls aged five to fifteen in developing countries.7

These events of strange, uncontrollable behavior have long intrigued people. The Strasbourg dancing plague, lasting two months and affecting 400 people, is a key example. It highlights the mysteries of human behavior and the complexities of our minds.

Conclusion

The Dancing Plague of 1518 in Strasbourg is a mystery that still intrigues us today. People in the town started dancing uncontrollably for several months. This led to many deaths. Scholars and the public find this event fascinating but puzzling. We may never completely understand why it happened.

Similar dancing outbreaks happened in different places across medieval Europe. People back then thought it was because of god’s punishment or spider bites. They believed more dancing or certain music was the solution.3 The Strasbourg event is seen as mass psychogenic illness. This is when a big group of people act strangely or get the same physical symptoms out of social stress.

The Dancing Plague of 1518 influenced our art, literature, music, and movies. It’s a great example of how mysterious events from history inspire us and make us think about the world. Even today, it catches the interest of many.

FAQ

What was the Dancing Plague of 1518?

In July 1518, the people of Strasbourg started dancing wildly, seemingly unable to stop. It all began when a woman started dancing in the street. This led to about 400 people dancing by August. This phenomenon is known as the Dancing Plague of 1518.

How did the authorities respond to the dancing plague?

Leaders tried to help by setting up a stage and bringing in dancers and musicians. They thought this would make the dancers tired and stop. But the plan backfired. The dancers kept going, and some got so tired they died.

What were the contemporaneous explanations for the dancing plague?

Back then, people believed the dancing was due to demonic possession or high blood temperature. Doctors thought the cure was more dancing. So, they encouraged it, hoping it would stop when exhaustion set it.

What are the modern theories about the cause of the dancing plague?

Today, experts have different theories about what caused this strange happening. Some think it was because people ate bread that contained a fungus. This fungus can make you act strangely. Others believe it was because of too much stress and the tough times people were going through. Lastly, there’s a theory the dancers were a part of a special group doing dances for St. Vitus, a saint connected to dancing and epilepsy.

Was the Strasbourg dancing plague an isolated incident?

No, the dancing problem in Strasbourg was not the only one. There were similar cases in other parts of Europe during medieval times. For example, such outbreaks happened in Saxony in the 11th century and in Apulia, Italy in the 15th century.

How has the Strasbourg dancing plague impacted popular culture?

The Dancing Plague of 1518 has left its mark on our culture, inspiring art, writing, music, and movies. For instance, the short film “Strasbourg 1518” and the song “Choreomania” are recent works inspired by this historical event.

How is the Strasbourg dancing plague categorized?

Experts see the Dancing Plague as a form of mass psychogenic illness. This means a large group shows the same unusual behavior when under a lot of stress. It’s one of the many mysteries from history that still puzzle us today.