The Dancing Plagues [ tarantism / choreomania or St. Vitus’ Dance ] mass psychogenic illness, one of the most mysterious and bizarre events in recorded history hundreds danced to death .

In 1518, Strasbourg (then part of the Holy Roman Empire, now in France) was Venue to the most bizarre historical event  called the Dancing Plague of 1518. This strange saga involved  loads of people dancing uncontrollably for days, sometimes to the point of exhaustion, injury, or even death.

Details of the Event:

It started in July 1518, when a woman named Frau Troffea began dancing in the streets of Strasbourg. She danced for days without stopping.

Soon after, others joined her, and within a week, the number of dancers had grown to around 30, eventually reaching around 400 people.

The dancing was uncontrollable, with dancers unable to stop. Some reports claim that several people died from heart attacks, strokes, or exhaustion due to the constant movement.

Mass hysteria (psychogenic illness): Some historians and psychologists believe this could have been a case of mass hysteria, where psychological stress caused physical symptoms in a large group of people.

Ergot poisoning: Another theory says that the people may have eaten bread made from rye grain contaminated with ergot, a toxic fungus that can cause hallucinations and spasms. Ergot is also associated with LSD-like effects, which could have led to irrational behavior.

Religious or supernatural beliefs: At the time, many people believed in God's punishment or possession by obeah evil magick or spirits, and the dancers might have thought they were acting out divine will or suffering from a curse.

Though the French Dancing Plague of 1518 is one of the most infamous incidents of uncontrollable mass dancing,  it's not an isolated event. Similar outbreaks  involving compulsive dancing or other strange behaviors, have been recorded in history. 

Here are some more:

1. The Dancing Plagues of Medieval Europe (11th–17th Century):

Dancing manias, also known as "choreomania" or "St. Vitus’ Dance," occurred sporadically across Europe between the 11th and 17th centuries.

Another worthy of mention outbreak happened in 1374 along the Rhine River, where large groups of people danced uncontrollably across several towns, much like in Strasbourg in 1518.

These outbreaks often occurred in times of stress, such as famine, war, or disease, leading some to speculate about the psychological origins of the phenomena.

2. The St. John’s Dance of Aachen (1374):

In Aachen, Germany, during June 1374, a large number of people began to dance erratically in the streets, screaming, leaping, and convulsing. They claimed to have visions or felt possessed.

The dancing spread quickly to nearby towns and villages. This event closely resembles the 1518 Strasbourg stuff in terms of uncontrollable dancing and its rapid spread.

The participants, similar to Strasbourg, danced for hours or even days, with many suffering from exhaustion or injuries.

3. Taranto, Italy – Tarantism (14th–17th Century):

In southern Italy, particularly in Taranto, outbreaks of a condition known as tarantism were reported between the 14th and 17th centuries.

People believed they had been bitten by a tarantula or spider, which caused them to dance frenetically to avoid death.

Musicians were often called to play for the "infected," and the belief was that music could cure them by allowing them to dance out the venom.

Though linked to spider bites, modern scholars believe it was another form of mass psychogenic illness.

4. Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic (1962):

In Tanganyika (modern-day Tanzania), an outbreak of contagious laughter occurred in 1962. It started in a girls' boarding school and spread to neighboring villages, affecting over a thousand people.

Although it involved laughing rather than dancing, it shared many similarities with the dancing plagues: it was contagious, had no clear physical cause, and was potentially stress-induced.

The outbreak lasted several months and led to the closure of schools and disruption of daily life.

5. Mass Hysteria (General):

Other mass psychogenic illnesses throughout history share similarities with the Dancing Plague. These events often are reported in times of stress, anxiety, or fear and spread quickly among closely connected communities.

Some involve spasms, fits, or uncontrollable movements, similar to the dancing outbreaks, though not always with the same dramatic physical effects.

Common Themes in All Events:

Psychological Stress: Many of these outbreaks seem to occur during times of extreme social stress, including war, famine, or plagues. In 1518, Strasbourg had recently suffered from famine and disease, which could have triggered the outbreak.

Contagion-like Spread: Whether through dancing or other behaviors, these events often spread rapidly through communities, suggesting a form of mass psychological contagion.

Religious or Supernatural Beliefs: Many historical societies interpreted these events through the goggles of religion or superstition, seeing them as divine punishment, possession, or a curse.

Though the Dancing Plague of 1518 is one of the most well-documented, it's within a broader pattern of mass hysteria (now called mass psychogenic illness), which has occurred throughout history in different forms.