What would you think if you saw a woman step out into the street and begin to twist, twirl, and shake? Would you join her in this dance without any specific music? Or would you just shake your head in wonder and go on about your business?
In today’s world, you might think that she was being recorded dancing for a YouTube video or part of a television show, maybe even a movie. Or possibly she was dancing just to get attention.
In July of 1518 in city of Strasbourg, France (then a part of the Roman Empire), this happened. Frau Troffea walked out of where she lived and began dancing in the street. In today’s world, there would be music coming from cars, stores, houses, etc., but according to historical records, no music of any kind was being played. But still she danced for days without stopping., twisting and twirling and shaking.
At first, people taunted her and made fun of her, but she didn’t stop. I’ve read that by her third day of dancing, her feet were soaked with blood. Why didn’t anyone call for a doctor? She had been dancing all by herself for several days, but soon others began to join her in this crazy dance. No one knew what was causing all of these people to drop everything and just dance, dance, dance.
This wasn’t funny any more because mothers weren’t home to cook for their families, fathers weren’t home to what they needed to do, and the people who were dancing obviously didn’t show up for work. Unable to figure out what was causing them to dance, local physicians figured those dancing had “hot blood” and needed to dance it out of themselves. Musicians were brought in to play for them and a stage built for them to dance on. But this plan backfired; more people joined in and their dancing became more frenzied. And people were beginning to die. They were dancing themselves to death.
I’ve read that it was obvious Frau Troffea wasn’t enjoying herself nor were any of the others that joined her. So why were they dancing themselves to death in the streets?
Poison? Maybe, but how were so many people poisoned at approximately the same time? Also, why were some not poisoned?
Spider bite? Again, the same questions as above. How were so many people bitten by spiders at the same time and have the same reactions? Was everyone bitten and some have no reaction at all? Could all of the people been allergic to spider bites?
Had Frau Troffea been dancing just to relieve stress? That’s a possibility, but it’s so, she must have been seriously stressed out to dance nonstop for so long. And if that’s the case, what about the others? Did they just want to join in? When people started dropping dead from exhaustion, why didn’t they stop?
Writing Prompts:
Write a story about this dancing plague from the viewpoint of Frau Troffea. What made her start dancing in the street? What was going through her mind? What did she think when her feet started to bleed and why didn’t she stop then? What crazy thoughts went through her mind when others began to join her? To drop dead?
Now write a story from the viewpoint of one of those who joined in and danced with her. What was going through this individual’s mind? Had they mocked Frau Troffea at first, made fun of her? When did the urge hit to join the one they had made fun of? How did the urge come? What did it feel like? Did their feet bleed? Did they pass out from exhaustion? What did they think when those around them began to die? What kept them going?
Now write a story about such a dance plague happening in today’s world. Who starts it? What is the cause of it? Do others try to stop it? How? How many others join in? First, write a story from the viewpoint of the one who is hit with this crazy urge and joins in. Next, write it from the viewpoint of an observer.
