In July 1518, residents of Strasbourg (then part of the Holy Roman Empire) witnessed a surreal and terrifying event. A woman named Frau Troffea stepped into the street... and began dancing—uncontrollably. Within days, dozens joined her. They danced for hours, then days, without rest. Some reportedly died from exhaustion, heart attacks, or strokes.
What caused this “Dancing Plague”? Historians have debated for centuries. Some blame mass hysteria, triggered by extreme stress or fear. Others point to ergot poisoning, caused by a toxic mold on rye that can induce hallucinations. Whatever the case, authorities even hired musicians to “help the dancers recover”—a move that only seemed to make it worse.
To this day, the Dancing Plague remains one of history’s most mysterious and eerie social phenomena—a real-life case of when nobody could stop the beat.