
When Dance Turned Deadly: The 1518 Dancing Plague of Strasbourg
In July 1518, residents of Strasbourg (then part of the Holy Roman Empire) witnessed a bizarre and terrifying phenomenon—dozens of people dancing uncontrollably in the streets. It began with one woman, Frau Troffea, who danced for days without rest. Within a week, her movements spread like a contagion, with over 400 others joining her in…