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In the summer of 1518, a woman began dancing in the streets of Strasbourg.

She didn’t stop.

Within days, others joined her. Then dozens more.
Soon, entire groups were dancing uncontrollably — for hours, for days, in some cases until they collapsed from exhaustion.

Authorities were unable to explain it. Physicians at the time suggested it was a natural illness. Others believed it to be something far less understood.

In this episode of The Eclectic, we explore the Dancing Plague of 1518 — the accounts, the historical context, and the theories that attempt to explain how and why so many people lost control.

Because sometimes, the body moves… without reason.

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Dancing plague of 1518 - Wikipedia

The Dancing Plague Reconsidered v2

In the “dancing plague” of 1518, hundreds of people danced uncontrollably for two months. - History Facts

Dancing plague of 1518 | Facts & Theories | Britannica

Chapter 7: The Great Dancing Plague of 1518 | Crossing the Styx: History's Most Unusual Deaths

The Dancing Plague of 1518 | Horror

The mystery of the dancing plague of 1518 | Sky HISTORY TV Channel

Dancing Diseases: A Public Health Perspective on Emerging Outbreaks and Response Strategies