Unexplained Season 08 Episode 27: Let's Dance
Apr 25, 2025
In the summer of 1518, a woman in Strasbourg started dancing uncontrollably, triggering a bizarre epidemic. This strange phenomenon spread rapidly, leaving townsfolk bewildered and local authorities desperate for answers. The podcast uncovers the historical and psychological factors behind this dancing plague, highlighting the hysteria and turmoil that engulfed the community. Listeners are taken through the tragic implications of this mass frenzy, exploring how fear and societal stress contributed to such an extraordinary event.
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Frau Troffier's Endless Dance
- On July 14, 1518, Frau Troffier began dancing compulsively in Strasbourg's town square under a heatwave with no rest.
- Her dancing was involuntary and painful, first amusing onlookers then terrifying as she danced non-stop until exhaustion.
Frau Troffier's Manic Return
- Frau Troffier danced for nearly 20 hours continuously, ignoring all attempts to stop her and collapsing only to rise and dance again.
- Blood seeped from her feet as she danced frantically, showing she was no longer in control of her body.
Public Dancing Exacerbates Plague
- Officials encouraged victims to continue dancing in public spaces with music, hoping to "dance the sickness" out, worsening the plague.
- Public dancing zones and performances became chaotic scenes as exhausted and pained dancers writhed with no relief.
