In pre-modern societies, the threat of disease was a constant fear. Deadly plagues often swept through populations, causing devastation. But in 16th-century Strasbourg, a different kind of epidemic struck. This wasn’t a fever or infection; it was a compulsive, uncontrollable urge to dance, which led people to dance until they collapsed and died.
The Start of the “Dancing Mania”
In the sweltering summer of 1518, Strasbourg experienced the “dancing plague.” It was also known as “dancing mania.” A chronicle from 1636 describes it vividly:
“[In this year], there appeared among the people a notable and terrible disease, known as St. Vitus’s Dance. People danced day and night in madness until they fainted and died.” This strange event caused a collective frenzy, with people dancing uncontrollably in public spaces. They danced until they could no longer stand.
The First Victim: Frau Troffea
Historian John Waller explains that the event began with a woman named Frau Troffea. One morning in July, she began dancing in the streets. She danced all day and night. Eventually, she collapsed from exhaustion but continued dancing the next day. The odd behavior caught the attention of curious onlookers, and soon, more people joined her. 
The Dance Spreads
As days passed, the situation worsened. The city’s squares were filled with dancers. People spun, swayed, and flailed their arms. They danced uncontrollably under the hot summer sun, many collapsing from dehydration and exhaustion. The dancers’ feet were often bleeding from the relentless movement.
Local doctors had no idea how to treat them. Some thought that dancing was a cure, believing it could expel the disease. When this approach failed, they banned music, thinking it might encourage more people to dance. The clergy then intervened and sent the afflicted to the shrine of St. Vitus, hoping to calm the saint and stop the madness.
Theories on the Cause
After a month of dancing, the plague finally seemed to subside. The origins of the event remain unclear. Some believed that Frau Troffea had started the dance to shame her husband, with other women joining as an act of rebellion. Paracelsus, an alchemist, thought the dance was an act of defiance. Modern historians suggest that ergot poisoning could be the cause. Ergot, a fungus that grows on rye, can cause hallucinations and convulsions.
However, historian John Waller believes the cause was psychological. The community had been under stress for years. Poor harvests, political instability, and disease could have triggered a collective psychological reaction. This mass hysteria might have caused the dancing.
The Aftermath
The “dancing plague” of Strasbourg remains one of the most bizarre events in history. While the number of deaths is uncertain, it’s believed that many died from exhaustion. Whether caused by psychological stress or a toxic fungus, the event is a chilling reminder of the fragility of the human mind.
