The Dancing Plague of 1518: When Hundreds Danced Themselves to Death in the Streets of Strasbourg
In July 1518, a woman named Frau Troffea stepped into the narrow streets of Strasbourg and began to dance. She danced without music, without pause, without reason. Within a week, 34 others had joined her. By the end of the month, 400 people were dancing uncontrollably through the streets—and they couldn’t stop. Some danced for … Read more