Dancing mania
A mysterious dancing plague that swept Europe for centuries.
Between the 14th and 17th centuries, mainland Europe saw a strange phenomenon known as dancing mania—also called the dancing plague, choreomania, St. John's Dance, tarantism, or St. Vitus' Dance. Crowds, sometimes numbering in the thousands, would dance wildly and uncontrollably. Both adults and children were affected, and they allegedly kept going until they dropped from exhaustion or injury, occasionally dying. The first major outbreak hit Aachen in the Holy Roman Empire (modern-day Germany) in 1374, then spread quickly across Europe. Another notable episode occurred in Strasbourg, also in the Holy Roman Empire (now in France), in 1518.
Though well recorded by contemporary observers, the mania was not understood at the time, and treatments were largely guesswork. Musicians were sometimes brought in because people believed music could cure the dancers, but this often backfired by attracting even more participants. Modern scholars still disagree on the cause. Theories range from religious cults orchestrating the processions to people using dance to escape stress and the poverty of the era. One common speculation is that it was a mass psychogenic illness—a form of social influence where a group develops physical symptoms with no clear physical cause.
The term "dancing mania" comes from the Greek *choros* (dancing) and *mania* (madness), and was coined by Paracelsus. Initially, people thought it was a curse from a saint, usually St. John the Baptist or St. Vitus, so it was called St. Vitus' Dance or St. John's Dance. Victims often ended their dancing at churches dedicated to that saint, praying for the frenzy to stop, and outbreaks frequently occurred around the feast of St. Vitus. In the 17th century, St. Vitus' Dance was diagnosed as Sydenham's chorea, a nervous system disorder with symptoms similar to dancing mania. The condition has also been unconvincingly linked to epilepsy. Other scientists have described it as a "collective mental disorder," "collective hysterical disorder," or "mass madness."
The earliest known outbreak dates to the 7th century. Around 1020 in Bernburg, 18 peasants sang and danced around a church, disrupting a Christmas Eve service. In 1237, a large group of children traveled from Erfurt to Arnstadt (about 20 km), jumping and dancing the whole way—a striking parallel to the Pied Piper legend, which emerged around the same time. In
- field
- Historical phenomenon / Mass psychogenic illness
- known_for
- Erratic group dancing leading to exhaustion and death
- region
- Mainland Europe (primarily Holy Roman Empire)
- time_period
- 14th to 17th centuries
- also_called
- Dancing plague, choreomania, St. John's Dance, tarantism, St. Vitus' Dance
Lore & Background
One of the first major outbreaks was in Aachen in 1374, quickly spreading throughout Europe. Another notable outbreak occurred in Strasbourg in 1518. The mania affected adults and children, who danced until they collapsed from exhaustion and injuries, sometimes dying. Often musicians accompanied dancers due to a belief that music would treat the mania, but this sometimes encouraged more to join. The term 'choreomania' was coined by Paracelsus, and the condition was initially considered a curse sent by a saint, usually St. John the Baptist or St. Vitus, hence the names St. Vitus' Dance and St. John's Dance. Victims often ended their processions at places dedicated to that saint, and incidents often broke out around the feast of St. Vitus.
Reader's Guide
Dancing mania remains a significant historical mystery, with no consensus among modern scholars as to its cause. Theories range from religious cults to stress relief from poverty, and it is speculated to have been a mass psychogenic illness, where physical symptoms with no known physical cause affect a group as a form of social influence. The phenomenon was diagnosed in the 17th century as Sydenham's chorea, a nervous system disease, and has also been described as a 'collective mental disorder' and 'mass madness'. The best documented cases are the outbreaks of 1374 and 1518, for which abundant contemporary evidence exists. The mania's characteristics included participants in a state of unconsciousness, unable to control themselves, sometimes traveling from place to place, wearing strange attire, and exhibiting violent reactions to the color red. In Italy, a similar phenomenon called tarantism was believed to be caused by tarantula venom and was treated with dancing to particular music.
Did You Know?
- One of the first major outbreaks of dancing mania occurred in Aachen in 1374.
- The term 'choreomania' was coined by Paracelsus.
- Victims of dancing mania often ended their processions at places dedicated to St. John the Baptist or St. Vitus.
- In Italy, a similar phenomenon called tarantism was believed to be caused by tarantula venom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dancing mania?
Dancing mania was a mass psychogenic illness in which large groups of people would dance uncontrollably for extended periods. It swept through mainland Europe, primarily within the Holy Roman Empire, from the 14th through the 17th centuries.
When did the first major outbreak of Dancing mania occur?
The earliest well-documented epidemic struck Aachen in 1374, after which the phenomenon spread rapidly across the continent. Subsequent waves continued to appear in various European cities for roughly three centuries.
What were the symptoms of Dancing mania?
Affected individuals—both adults and children—would dance erratically and could not stop, sometimes in crowds numbering in the thousands. Episodes typically ended only when participants collapsed from severe exhaustion, sustained injuries, or in some cases died outright.
What caused Dancing mania?
No single medical or psychological explanation has been definitively accepted, and the condition is generally classified as a mass psychogenic illness of unknown origin. Theories have ranged from ergot poisoning to collective psychological breakdown, but the true cause remains unresolved.
What other names is Dancing mania known by?
The phenomenon has gone by several names throughout history, including the dancing plague, choreomania, St. John's Dance, tarantism, and St. Vitus' Dance. These varied labels reflected different regional and religious interpretations of the same underlying event.
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