In the summer of 1518, something bizarre happened in Strasbourg. A woman known as Frau Troffea suddenly began dancing in the street—and she couldn't seem to stop. Her husband and others reportedly tried to intervene, but the strange behavior continued.
Then something even more terrifying happened.
Other people began dancing too.
Within weeks, hundreds of people were reportedly caught up in the bizarre outbreak. Some danced until they collapsed from exhaustion. And in one of history's strangest decisions, authorities reportedly encouraged the dancers to keep moving, believing they could dance the illness out of their bodies.
But what caused it?
Poisoned grain? Mass psychogenic illness? Extreme psychological stress? Religious belief? Or something we still don't understand?
The Dancing Plague of 1518 remains one of the strangest mysteries in European history.
DANCING PLAGUE EVENTS IN EUROPE
1. c. 1021 — Kölbigk, Saxony (Germany)
One of the earliest reported dancing outbreaks. About 18 peasants reportedly began singing and dancing around a church during Christmas Eve. According to a later account, they continued dancing for about a year. The story contains legendary elements and should be treated cautiously.
2. 1237 — Erfurt and Arnstadt, Germany
More than 100 children reportedly began dancing and jumping uncontrollably. They traveled from Erfurt toward Arnstadt and eventually collapsed from exhaustion. Later accounts claimed some died or suffered permanent effects. The episode has sometimes been connected with the Pied Piper legend, although there is no proof of a connection.
3. 1247 — Erfurt, Germany
Another dancing episode was reportedly recorded around Erfurt. Very little reliable information survives, making this a poorly documented case.
4. 1278 — Meuse/Maas River Region
About 200 people reportedly began dancing uncontrollably on a bridge. The bridge allegedly collapsed, sending many into the river. Contemporary explanations were religious, and one account says the dancers stopped when a priest carrying the Eucharist approached. Some details may be legendary.
5. 1349 — Lusatia, Central Europe
Women and girls reportedly danced before an image of the Virgin Mary. The participants apparently believed the behavior had religious significance. Very little reliable information survives.
6. 1373–1374 — Central and Western Europe
Scattered outbreaks appeared in several regions, including Swabia, Hainaut, Flanders, Brabant and the Lower Rhine. These episodes appear to have preceded the much larger 1374 epidemic.
7. June–July 1374 — Aachen, Germany
One of the two most important and best-documented dancing epidemics. Large numbers of people reportedly began dancing, jumping, screaming and convulsing uncontrollably. The outbreak began around Aachen and spread into neighboring regions.
8. 1374 — Cologne, Germany
The dancing epidemic spread from the Aachen region to Cologne. People reportedly experienced involuntary dancing and severe physical distress.
9. 1374 — Liège, Belgium
The dancing phenomenon spread into Liège as part of the larger epidemic moving through the Low Countries and Rhine region.
10. 1374 — Tongeren, Belgium
Tongeren reportedly experienced dancing during the 1374 epidemic.
11. 1374 — Flanders
Reports describe dancing outbreaks throughout portions of Flanders. The phenomenon had become a regional epidemic rather than a single isolated incident.
12. 1374 — Hainaut, Belgium
Hainaut was reportedly affected during the 1374 wave.
13. 1374 — Metz, France
Metz was reportedly reached by the dancing epidemic as the phenomenon spread along the Rhine and Moselle regions.
14. 1374 — Strasbourg, Alsace
Strasbourg experienced dancing during the 1374 epidemic. This is particularly significant because Strasbourg would experience its much more famous dancing plague in 1518.
15. 1374 — Utrecht, Netherlands
Utrecht was reportedly among the northern areas reached by the 1374 dancing epidemic.
16. 1374 — Luxembourg Region
Reports indicate that the phenomenon reached parts of Luxembourg during the wider 1374 outbreak.
17. 1374 — Italy
Accounts suggest that dancing phenomena appeared in parts of Italy. These reports overlap historically with the development of the Italian tradition later known as tarantism.
18. 1375–1376 — France, Germany and the Netherlands
Smaller outbreaks continued after the enormous 1374 epidemic. These appear to have been continuing episodes or aftershocks of the larger outbreak.
19. 1381 — Augsburg, Germany
Another dancing outbreak was reportedly recorded in Augsburg. Relatively little information survives.
20. 1390s–Early 1400s — Trier Region, Germany
Various reports describe people experiencing prolonged dancing fits. Some accounts associate the episodes with monasteries and religious sites. The reliability of some accounts is uncertain.
21. 1418 — Strasbourg, Alsace
A smaller dancing episode was reportedly recorded in Strasbourg. Several women reportedly danced uncontrollably in a church. This occurred almost a century before the famous 1518 outbreak.
22. 1428 — Schaffhausen, Switzerland
A monk reportedly became afflicted with uncontrollable dancing. According to later accounts, he eventually danced himself to death.
23. 1428 — Zürich, Switzerland
A group of women reportedly experienced a dancing frenzy. The episode was associated with the Water Church.
24. 1463 — Eberhardsklausen, near Trier, Germany
Large numbers of afflicted people reportedly traveled to a religious shrine. They believed dancing could relieve their physical suffering. Some danced for hours or until exhaustion. Some reportedly returned to the shrine repeatedly.
25. 1467 — Trier Region, Germany — UNCERTAIN
Some historical summaries identify another outbreak around this date. However, the evidence is weaker than for the 1463 Eberhardsklausen episode and should be presented as uncertain.
26. 1518 — Strasbourg, Alsace
The most famous Dancing Plague in European history. A woman traditionally identified as Frau Troffea reportedly began dancing uncontrollably in the street. Others soon joined her. Contemporary accounts indicate that dozens, and potentially hundreds, were affected. Authorities initially believed that the dancers needed to dance the sickness out of their bodies and even provided musicians. The situation eventually became serious enough that authorities changed their approach. The episode eventually subsided.
27. 1536 — Basel, Switzerland
A group of children reportedly became involved in a dancing episode. The case is less well documented than Strasbourg 1518.
28. 1551 — Anhalt, Germany
An unusually small case. A single man reportedly experienced uncontrollable dancing. This demonstrates that dancing mania could occur in individuals as well as large groups.
29. 1615 — Basel, Switzerland
A servant woman reportedly danced uncontrollably for approximately a month. Accounts claim that the prolonged dancing severely damaged the soles of her feet. Authorities reportedly assigned men to assist her.
30. 1623 — Drefelhausen/Weissenstein Region near Ulm, Germany
Physician Gregor Horst described women who made repeated pilgrimages to St. Vitus's chapel. They reportedly danced for hours, sometimes throughout the night. Some women supposedly returned every year. One woman was said to have made the pilgrimage for more than 20 years, while another reportedly continued for 32 years.
31. 1696–1697 — Bargarran, Scotland
Eleven-year-old Christian Shaw reportedly experienced violent fits involving dancing, jumping, running, crying and fainting. The episode lasted for months and was interpreted as witchcraft and demonic possession. Several people were accused. This is generally considered a late related manifestation rather than a classic mass dancing plague.
RELATED ITALIAN TRADITION — TARANTISM
32. 15th–17th Centuries — Apulia/Puglia, Southern Italy
A related phenomenon known as tarantism became widespread. People believed that a person bitten by a tarantula would become ill and develop an irresistible need to dance. Musicians played particular rhythms while the victim danced, sometimes for hours. The dance was believed to drive the spider's poison from the body. Unlike the major northern European dancing plagues, tarantism was generally an individual or small-group phenomenon.
DANCING PLAGUE / DANCING MANIA EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD
EUROPE
1. c. 1021 — Kölbigk, Germany
About 18 people reportedly began dancing uncontrollably around a church. One of the earliest recorded cases.
2. 1237 — Erfurt, Germany
More than 100 children reportedly began dancing uncontrollably and traveled toward Arnstadt.
3. 1278 — Meuse River Region
About 200 people reportedly danced on a bridge until it collapsed. Many reportedly fell into the river.
4. 1374 — Aachen, Germany
One of the largest and best-documented medieval dancing epidemics. The outbreak spread into neighboring regions.
5. 1374 — Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and France
The Aachen outbreak spread widely along the Rhine and surrounding regions. Large groups reportedly danced, jumped, screamed and convulsed.
6. 1463 — Eberhardsklausen, Germany
People reportedly traveled to a religious shrine and danced for hours in the belief that dancing could relieve their suffering.
7. 1518 — Strasbourg, Alsace
The most famous Dancing Plague. Frau Troffea reportedly began dancing uncontrollably, followed by dozens and eventually potentially hundreds of others.
8. 1536 — Basel, Switzerland
A group of children reportedly became involved in a dancing outbreak.
9. 1551 — Anhalt, Germany
A single man reportedly experienced uncontrollable dancing.
10. 1615 — Basel, Switzerland
A woman reportedly danced uncontrollably for about a month, severely injuring her feet.
11. 1623 — Near Ulm, Germany
People reportedly made repeated pilgrimages to St. Vitus's chapel and danced for hours or throughout the night.
12. 1696–1697 — Bargarran, Scotland
Christian Shaw reportedly experienced violent fits involving dancing, jumping, running and convulsions. The episode was interpreted as witchcraft.
13. 15th–17th Centuries — Southern Italy
Tarantism became widespread. Victims believed they had been bitten by a tarantula and developed an irresistible need to dance.
OUTSIDE EUROPE
14. Early 1800s — Tigretier, Ethiopia
Traveler Nathaniel Pearce described an outbreak known as "Tigretier" in Abyssinia. People reportedly experienced uncontrollable movements and dancing-like behavior. This is one of the closest known non-European parallels to European dancing mania.
15. 1800 — Tennessee and Kentucky, United States
During the American religious revival movement, people reportedly experienced shaking, jumping, convulsions, singing, shouting and dancing. Physician Felix Robertson compared some of the behavior to St. Vitus's Dance.
16. 19th Century — United States
Various religious revival movements produced collective episodes of shaking, jumping, dancing, falling and convulsions. These were often interpreted as manifestations of divine power.
17. 19th–20th Centuries — Africa
European observers documented some collective religious and social episodes involving trance, dancing and convulsions. These cases are difficult to compare directly with European Dancing Plagues because trance dancing was often an established religious practice.
18. 19th–20th Centuries — Other Regions
Reports from parts of Africa, Asia, the Americas and the Pacific describe collective trance, possession, convulsions and unusual dancing. These should generally be classified as related phenomena rather than confirmed "Dancing Plagues."
IMPORTANT HISTORICAL DISTINCTION
The classic "Dancing Plagues" were overwhelmingly European, particularly in Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
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