Dance Epidemic in 1518

It happened in Strasbourg, France. One woman started to dance for no reason, others joined and within a month there were 400 people dancing in the streets of this medieval city and many danced themselves to death. 

Dance Epidemic in 1518
It has started in July 1518, when a woman, Mrs. Troffea begun to dance  in streets of Strasbourg. She was dancing for about 4 - 6 days and within this week another 34 people has joined her.
Within a month there were 400 people dancing, most of them female. Some of these people eventually died from exhaustion, heart attack and strokes.
No doubt that this extraordinary event happened. There are plenty of historical documents, cathedral sermons, local and regional chronicles describing dancing plague. It is not known why people danced day and night.

Concerned authorities prescribed more dancing as they believed that the only cure is keep them dancing. They even constructed wooden stage and paid for musician to keep the affected moving.

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About Unknown

Barbettezene is Mystery and History lover with passion for paranormal activities and interesting facts from the past.

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