Strasbourg dancing plague of 1518 re-examined by historians

Historian Élisabeth Clementz has conducted a review of the 1518 dancing plague in Strasbourg, examining primary sources to clarify historical discrepancies. While popular legends suggest between 50 and 400 people danced uncontrollably for days—with some accounts claiming up to 15 deaths per day—contemporary documentation tells a different story.

Records from scribe Sebastian Brant, dating to July 15, 1518, describe a woman suffering from ‘Saint Vitus’ Dance’ who began dancing and influenced others. Although history often refers to her as ‘Frau Troffea,’ this name was likely a later invention by the physician Paracelsus.

Contrary to dramatic chronicles, available documentation does not record mass casualties or a massive count of the sick. Instead, Brant’s records suggest approximately fifty people were dancing day and night, a significantly lower figure than the numbers perpetuated by popular culture.