Dancing plague of 1518
In the sweltering summer of 1518, the city of Strasbourg witnessed one of history's most bizarre epidemics: hundreds of people began to dance uncontrollably, for days and even weeks, many collapsing from exhaustion. This baffling 'dancing plague' continues to challenge our understanding of collective human behavior, medicine, and the profound impact of societal stress, leaving behind a legacy that resonates to this day. From July to September 1518, between 50 and 400 individuals in Strasbourg were seized by an unstoppable urge to dance, many suffering severe physical collapse and some potentially dying. While contemporary observers offered supernatural or humoral explanations, modern theories predominantly point to stress-induced mass psychogenic illness, with ergot poisoning as a debated alternative. The city authorities' attempts to manage the crisis, from encouraging more dancing to religious rituals, highlight the profound confusion surrounding this unique and terrifying historical phenomenon.
AI Summary
In the sweltering summer of 1518, the city of Strasbourg witnessed one of history's most bizarre epidemics: hundreds of people began to dance uncontrollably, for days and even weeks, many collapsing from exhaustion. This baffling 'dancing plague' continues to challenge our understanding of collective human behavior, medicine, and the profound impact of societal stress, leaving behind a legacy that resonates to this day.
- From July to September 1518, between 50 and 400 individuals in Strasbourg were seized by an unstoppable urge to dance, many suffering severe physical collapse and some potentially dying.
- While contemporary observers offered supernatural or humoral explanations, modern theories predominantly point to stress-induced mass psychogenic illness, with ergot poisoning as a debated alternative.
- The city authorities' attempts to manage the crisis, from encouraging more dancing to religious rituals, highlight the profound confusion surrounding this unique and terrifying historical phenomenon.
The Unstoppable Dance Begins
It was July 1518, on a narrow, cobbled street in Strasbourg, when a woman known as Frau Troffea stepped out of her half-timbered home and began to dance. With no music or apparent reason, she simply... started. What seemed like a curious individual act soon became a terrifying spectacle as she continued her fervent, uncontrollable movements for an entire week.
Her relentless performance quickly drew attention. Within days, roughly three dozen others had joined her, mimicking her bizarre, ceaseless movements. By August, the crowd of dancers swelled, ultimately afflicting between 50 and 400 individuals, all caught in a relentless, inexplicable chorea.
Witnesses described the dancers' movements as spasmodic, riddled with convulsions. Their bodies were drenched in sweat, arms flailing violently, and eyes often appeared vacant and expressionless. Blood pooled in their swollen feet, sometimes even seeping into their shoes, as many cried out for help that never came.
The Controversy of Casualties
If victims did not succumb to heart attacks or strokes, they collapsed from extreme exhaustion, hunger, and thirst. While some later accounts claim as many as 15 people died per day during the plague's peak, the precise number of fatalities remains a point of contention among historians.
Crucially, the city records of Strasbourg from that period make no mention of any deaths. Historian John Waller, who extensively studied the plague, noted that the sources claiming daily fatalities were written considerably after the events, leading to ongoing debate about the true human cost.
Explaining the Unexplainable
In the 16th century, understanding such a bewildering affliction was a monumental challenge. Contemporary theories ranged wildly, from demonic possession—a malevolent spirit compelling their bodies—to an excess of 'hot blood' overheating the brain and driving them to this frenzied state. Some believed cooling the blood through continuous dancing and then rest was the cure.
Initially, Strasbourg's authorities, including the city council, were perplexed. In a bizarre attempt to remedy the situation, they actually prescribed more dancing. They believed that if the afflicted danced themselves free of it, the 'plague' would pass, even refurbishing guild halls and hiring musicians to help.
This ill-fated solution backfired spectacularly, only seeming to exacerbate the phenomenon and drawing more people into the uncontrollable dance. Fearing it was divine punishment from Saint Vitus—who was believed to punish sinners by compelling them to dance—the council soon banned all public dancing and even music.
Desperate for absolution, those still afflicted were ordered to embark on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Vitus. There, they participated in a solemn ritual, wearing red shoes sprinkled with holy water and adorned with painted crosses. Incense and Latin incantations were part of this elaborate plea for divine forgiveness.
Echoes Through History
While the Dancing Plague of 1518 is perhaps the most famous, it wasn't an isolated incident. Throughout medieval Europe, similar episodes of 'dancing mania' or 'choreomania' occurred. Eleventh-century Saxony, for example, saw outbreaks believed to be divine judgment.
Even in 15th-century Apulia, Italy, a form of dancing known as tarantism was believed to be the only cure for a tarantula's venomous bite. The victim would dance convulsively, requiring specific music and movement to 'shimmy' the venom out—a remedy accepted even by some scholars of the time.
Modern Theories Emerge
One popular modern explanation for the dancing plague is ergot poisoning, or ergotism. This condition is caused by a toxic fungus called ergot, which commonly grows on rye and other grains used for baking bread. Ergot contains psychoactive chemicals, including ergotamine, a substance structurally related to LSD.
The same fungus has been implicated in other historical anomalies, such as the Salem witch trials. However, John Waller argues against this theory, pointing out that it's unlikely poisoned individuals could have danced for days, nor would so many people react to its psychotropic effects in precisely the same way. The geographical pattern of outbreaks also doesn't neatly fit the ergot hypothesis.
Stress-Induced Mass Psychosis
A more compelling theory suggests the Dancing Plague was a severe case of stress-induced mass psychogenic illness, or MPI. This phenomenon occurs when a group of individuals spontaneously exhibits the same bizarre physical behaviors, often spreading rapidly and epidemically, without a clear organic cause.
The people of Alsace in 1518 endured brutally harsh times, even by early modern standards. Waller speculates that intense psychological stress—born from widespread starvation, poverty, and disease—created a mass 'psychosis,' manifesting as this uncontrollable dancing. Seven other cases of dancing plague were reported in the same region during the medieval era, suggesting a recurring susceptibility.
The term 'chorea,' from the Greek 'khoreia' meaning 'to dance,' aptly describes the random, intricate, unintentional movements seen in these epidemics. Historical choreas like St. Vitus' Dance and St. John's Dance were frequently used to label these independent outbreaks of dancing mania across central Europe, often coinciding with periods of plague and widespread anxiety.
A Lingering Mystery
By early September, the dancing plague finally began to subside, leaving a bewildered and scarred community in its wake. The remaining dancers were reportedly led to a mountaintop chapel to pray for absolution. The precise mechanisms behind its onset and cessation remain a subject of debate among historians and medical professionals.
Yet, the sheer volume of contemporary accounts—from physician notes to city council decrees—confirms its terrifying reality. This enigmatic historical episode has permeated pop culture, influencing art, music, and film. From Jonathan Glazer's 2020 short film 'Strasbourg 1518' to Florence and the Machine's choral song 'Choreomania,' and even songs by Toehider and SAGES, the unstoppable dancers of Strasbourg continue to echo through time, a testament to the mysteries of the human condition.
Article
Dancing plague of 1518
German engraving of the epidemic c.1600
The dancing plague of 1518, or dance epidemic of 1518 (French: Épidémie dansante de 1518; German: Straßburger Tanzwut), was a case of dancing mania that occurred in Strasbourg, Alsace (modern-day France), in the Holy Roman Empire from July 1518 to September 1518. Somewhere between 50 and 400 people took to dancing for weeks. There are many theories behind the phenomenon, the most popular being stress-induced mass hysteria, suggested by John Waller. Other theories include ergot poisoning. There is controversy concerning the number of deaths, but the total is unknown.
History
Events
The outbreak began in July 1518 when a woman known as Frau Troffea began to dance fervently and uncontrollably in a street in Strasbourg. According to Ned Pennant-Rea, "Frau Troffea had started dancing on July 14th on the narrow cobbled street outside her half-timbered home. As far as we can tell she had no musical accompaniment but simply 'began to dance' ... some of those who had witnessed her strange performance had begun to mimic her, including her husband, and within days more than thirty choreomaniacs were in motion, some so monomaniacally that only death would have the power to intervene." Troffea kept up the constant dancing for a week only stopping to sleep after which she continued. Soon, three dozen others joined in. By August, the "dancing plague" afflicted between 50 and 400 people. Dancers were beginning to collapse. The victims' movements were described as spasmatic with many convulsions and their bodies were left drenched in sweat. Their arms would thrash violently and some noted that their eyes were vacant and expressionless. Blood would pool into their swollen feet and they would eventually bleed into their shoes. Often, there would also be cries for help from the affected. If the victims did not succumb to a heart attack, they would collapse from extreme exhaustion, hunger, and thirst. Historians disagree over whether and how many deaths occurred, though some claim there were as many as 15 deaths per day during the outbreak’s peak. No one knew what caused this reaction, which meant no one understood how to remedy it. By early September, the outbreak began to subside.
Historical documents, including "physician notes, cathedral sermons, local and regional chronicles, and even notes issued by the Strasbourg city council" are clear that the victims danced; it is not known why. Historical sources agree that there was an outbreak of dancing after a single woman started dancing, and the dancing did not seem to die down. It lasted for such a long time that it even attracted the attention of the authorities; until the council gave up authority to the physicians, who prescribed the afflicted to "dance themselves free of it." There are claims that guild halls were refurbished to accommodate the dancing, as well as musicians and strong people to help keep those dealing with the dancing mania to stay upright. This backfired, and the council was forced to ban public dancing as people danced in fear it was a punishment from Saint Vitus; and to be "free of sin" many joined in on the dancing epidemic. When divine punishment or demonic possession initiated and sustained frenzied dancing, only those with divinely bestowed authority could restore the sinners to wholeness and to a right relationship with the divine. The council went as far as to ban music, as well. Those who danced were then ordered to go to the shrine of Saint Vitus who was believed to punish sinners by compelling them to dance uncontrollably. According to contemporary accounts, they wore red shoes that had been sprinkled with holy water and had painted crosses on the tops and soles. They also had to hold small crosses in their hands; and incense and Latin incantations were part of this "ritual." Word soon spread that participants had been "forgiven by Vitus," suggesting the ritual's success. The Dancing Plague ultimately ceased in September, when the remaining dancers were led to a mountaintop chapel to pray for absolution.
Events similar to this are said to have occurred throughout the medieval age including 11th century in Cölbigk, Saxony, where it was believed to be the result of divine judgment. In 15th century Apulia, Italy, a woman was bitten by a tarantula, the venom making her dance convulsively. The only way to cure the bite was to "shimmy" and to have the right sort of music available, which was an accepted remedy by scholars like Athanasius Kircher.
Contemporaneous explanations included demonic possession, divine judgement and overheated blood. It was believed that overheated blood could be cured by continuous dancing followed by rest to cool it. The use of chemicals targeting ticklish areas of the body's surface along with the cooling of blood were thought of as a cure to the continuous dancing.
Veracity of deaths
Dancing plague of 1518
Disagreement exists over whether people ultimately danced to death. Some sources claim that for a period the plague killed around fifteen people per day, but the sources of the city of Strasbourg at the time of the events did not mention the number of deaths, or even if there were fatalities. There do not appear to be any sources related to the events that make note of any fatalities. Ned Pennant-Rea also claims that the final death toll is not known, but if the claims of fifteen people dying per day were true then the toll could be "into the hundreds".
The main source for the claim is John Waller, who has written several journal articles on the subject and the book A Time to Dance, a Time to Die: The Extraordinary Story of the Dancing Plague of 1518. The sources cited by Waller that mention deaths were all from later accounts of the events. There is also uncertainty around the identity of the initial dancer (either an unnamed woman or "Frau Troffea") and the number of dancers involved (somewhere between 50 and 400). Of the six chronicle accounts, four support Lady Troffea as the first dancer.
Modern theories
Food poisoning
Some believe the dancing could have been brought on by food poisoning caused by the toxic and psychoactive chemical products of ergot fungi (ergotism), which grows commonly on grains (such as rye) used for baking bread. Ergotamine is the main psychoactive product of ergot fungi; it is structurally related to the drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) and is the substance from which LSD-25 was originally synthesized. The same fungus has also been implicated in other major historical anomalies, including the Salem witch trials.
In The Lancet, John Waller argues that "this theory does not seem tenable, since it is unlikely that those poisoned by ergot could have danced for days at a time. Nor would so many people have reacted to its psychotropic chemicals in the same way. The ergotism theory also fails to explain why almost every outbreak occurred somewhere along the Rhine and Moselle rivers, areas linked by water but with quite different climates and crops."
Stress-induced mass hysteria
This could have been an example of fully developed cases of psychogenic movement disorder happening in mass hysteria or mass psychogenic illness, which involves many individuals suddenly exhibiting the same bizarre behavior. The behavior spreads rapidly and broadly in an epidemic pattern. This kind of comportment could have been caused by elevated levels of psychological stress, caused by the ruthless years (even by the rough standards of the early modern period) the people of Alsace were suffering.
Waller speculates that the dancing was "stress-induced psychosis" on a mass level, since the region where the people danced was riddled with starvation and disease, and the inhabitants tended to be superstitious. This, Waller believed, put the dancers in an "altered state of consciousness" that placed victims in a trance and made people lose their sense of reality. Seven other cases of dancing plague were reported in the same region during the medieval era where dancers were also depicted to be in a trance.
This psychogenic illness could have created a chorea (from the Greek khoreia meaning "to dance"), a situation comprising random and intricate unintentional movements that flit from body part to body part. Diverse choreas (St. Vitus' dance, St. John's dance, and tarantism) were labeled in the Middle Ages referring to the independent epidemics of "dancing mania" that happened in central Europe, particularly at the time of the plague.
Pop culture and media
Dancing plague of 1518
The event inspired Jonathan Glazer's 2020 short film Strasbourg 1518.
It was the inspiration behind the 2022 choral song "Choreomania" by Florence and the Machine. It was the third track on the album Dance Fever, which took its title from the song.
The book series A Collection of Utter Speculation released a title The Dancing Plague: A Collection of Utter Speculation in 2022. It is a fictional account of the events that happened in Strasbourg.
The event inspired the music video short-film for Loreen and Ólafur Arnalds joint 2025 release of their songs "In The Sound of Breathing" and "Opening" under the name "SAGES".
The event is the subject of the song "Died of Dancing", by Australian progressive rock band Toehider. The song directly references "Mrs. Troffea" and "hot blood" in the lyrics.