The Bizarre “Dancing Plague” of 1518 – A Mysterious Chapter in History

History is filled with strange and unexplained events, but few are as puzzling as the Dancing Plague of 1518, which struck the city of Strasbourg, then part of the Holy Roman Empire (modern-day France), in July 1518.

It all began when a woman named Frau Troffea suddenly started dancing uncontrollably in the streets, without any music or apparent reason. Within days, hundreds of others, reportedly around 400 people, joined her, unable to stop themselves from dancing.

This mysterious episode lasted for weeks. Witnesses described people dancing nonstop, day and night, as if under a spell. The continuous exertion led to exhaustion, heart attacks, strokes, and tragically, the deaths of dozens.

Historians believe this phenomenon persisted for approximately 15 days, with some reports indicating it could have lasted even longer. The reason behind this unusual mass behaviour continues to be a topic of debate even today.

Some experts believe the dancing was a result of mass hysteria, triggered by extreme stress or psychological conditions. Others suggest food poisoning caused by ergot fungus, which grows on damp rye and produces LSD-like effects, may have played a role.