Dancing Plague of 1518: When People Danced Until They Died

In July 1518, the city of Strasbourg experienced one of the strangest events in history. A woman known as Frau Troffea began dancing uncontrollably in the streets. Within weeks, hundreds joined her, dancing for days without rest. Some collapsed from exhaustion. Others reportedly died. This event, known as the Dancing Plague of 1518, remains unexplained. At the time, people believed it was a curse from Saint Vitus, while physicians encouraged more dancing as a cure, making the outbreak worse. Modern theories include ergot poisoning and mass hysteria caused by famine, disease, and extreme stress. Similar incidents were reported in Aachen and Maastricht, suggesting a wider pattern. More than 500 years later, the mystery remains. Why did people dance until they collapsed, and what really caused the Dancing Plague? Viewer discretion advised. This program discusses real-world mysteries that may include unsettling events. Certain historical images and footage are used for illustrative purposes where original material is unavailable. Source (Google Docs): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n... Music: Epidemic Sound Chapters: 00:00 The Dancing Plague 01:11 The Dance Begins 02:47 The Deadly Decision 04:49 Saint Vitus Curse 06:10 Searching for the Cause 08:05 A Pattern Across History 11:06 The Mystery Remains Visual footage licensed via Shutterstock. #dancingplague #unsolvedmystery #documentary