In the “dancing plague” of 1518, hundreds of people danced uncontrollably for two months.
T he phrase “dance the night away” took on a more literal meaning back in 1518, when as many as 400 people were struck by a “dancing plague”
in the city of Strasbourg in modern France. The epidemic began in July
with a single woman known as Frau Troffea, who spontaneously began
boogying away in the middle of the street. She danced alone and
continuously for an entire week before several dozen others found
themselves overcome by the urge to dance as well. By month’s end, the
number had grown to several hundred. The mysterious dancing eventually
waned, and Strasbourg returned to normalcy in September.
Wow
ReplyDeleteSays a lot for the power of suggestion? Of course in the 1500's it could have been the work of witches!
ReplyDeleteDance like no one is watching! And why not? I love to dance.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone ever find the cause?
ReplyDeleteI'd read about this many years ago and had forgotten. There have been a lot of suggested reasons why it might have happened, but of course there's no way to know for certain.
ReplyDelete