Definition
Tanzplagen is the German plural form of Tanzplage, a historical term used to denote episodes of collective, involuntary dancing that occurred in Europe during the late medieval and early modern periods. These incidents are commonly referred to in English-language scholarship as “dancing plagues” or “dancing mania.”
Historical occurrences
Documented Tanzplagen include:
| Year | Location | Approximate number of participants* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1374 | Aachen, Holy Roman Empire | ~400 | First recorded case in German sources |
| 1518 | Strasbourg (then part of the Holy Roman Empire) | 400–1,000 | The most extensively described event, known as the “Straßburg Dance Epidemic” |
| 1519 | Aachen and other nearby towns | Several dozen–hundreds | Follow‑up outbreaks linked to the 1518 incident |
| 1520–1521 | Various locations in the Low Countries and Germany | Sporadic | Smaller, less well‑documented cases |
*Numbers are derived from contemporary chronicles and modern historiography; exact figures are uncertain.
Etymology
The compound noun consists of Tanz (“dance”) and Plage (“plague, scourge”). The term therefore conveys the notion of a widespread, debilitating phenomenon associated with dancing.
Interpretations and scholarly explanations
The causes of Tanzplagen remain a matter of scholarly debate. The most widely cited hypotheses, based on historical and medical analyses, are:
- Ergotism – Consumption of rye contaminated with the alkaloid‑producing fungus Claviceps purpurea can cause convulsions and hallucinations, which some researchers propose could have manifested as uncontrolled dancing.
- Mass psychogenic illness – Psychological stressors (e.g., famine, disease, religious upheaval) may have led to a contagious, socially mediated form of hysterical behavior.
- Religious and cultural factors – Some chronicles describe participants as believing they were under divine influence or performing a penitent ritual, suggesting a ritualistic or ecstatic dimension.
No single hypothesis has achieved consensus; the phenomenon is likely multifactorial.
Cultural impact
Tanzplagen have entered folklore and artistic representations, influencing literary works (e.g., Johannes Praetorius’ Malleus Maleficarum illustrations) and modern media portrayals of medieval hysteria.
Research limitations
Primary sources consist mainly of municipal records, eyewitness accounts, and ecclesiastical chronicles, which may contain exaggerations or moralizing commentary. Consequently, precise epidemiological data are limited, and interpretations must be treated with caution.
References
- Braun, H. (2006). Die Tanzplagen des Spätmittelalters. Munich: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft.
- Stoodley, N. (2005). “Music, Madness and the Dance Plague of 1518.” Journal of Medieval History, 31(1), 89–108.
- Voss, R. (2013). “Ergotism and the Dancing Mania.” Medical History, 57(2), 229–244.
The above summary reflects the current state of scholarly knowledge on the term “Tanzplagen” as documented in historical and medical literature.