“In the streets of Strasbourg, the rhythm makes the city tremble.”

Strasbourg, 1518. An inexplicable dance epidemic strikes the inhabitants. Carriers of this strange virus dance without being able to stop, prisoners of a contagious state of trance, until they collapse from exhaustion. An investigation into the most mysterious and misunderstood of diseases that contaminated Europe: the case of the “mad dancers.”

With Danse mortelle, anatomie d’une épidémie de transe, Bastien Gens offers an investigation into a story of death by exhaustion during a so-called trance dance involving a large number of people. Let’s enter the trance!

An investigation against a backdrop of legend

A mysterious dance epidemic, known as Saint Vitus’ Dance, strikes the population of Strasbourg. Lost in a state of trance, swept into an endless round until they collapse from exhaustion, hundreds of inhabitants are said to have perished… This is the reality that likely blends with legend. But what is the actual truth?

For five centuries, dozens of investigations led by doctors and scholars—all fascinated—have attempted to dispel the mystery: what is this improbable dancing plague? Why did the people of Strasbourg start dancing? And for whom? Gods, demons, or drugs? This is what Danse mortelle, anatomie d’une épidémie de transe attempts to answer.

The director leads the investigation by meeting experts in history, medicine, psychology, and dance. He explores the exciting hypotheses and improbable counter-truths that cover this distant historical episode, at the very edge of the rational. It is an investigation that takes the viewer from Strasbourg to Lithuania, by way of the United States.

Science

It is fascinating to see the director immerse himself in period documents and thus approach the truth of the event. Or, at the very least, the perception of it by the people of the time. Moreover, it is never claimed in this documentary that these documents represent the absolute truth.

Throughout the movie, we attempt to answer certain questions. What does it mean to dance to a state of trance? Can we still understand it today? Can we probe the ecstasy of our contemporaries for some reasons behind the dancing madness that seized our ancestors?

One of the encounters that will strongly mark our investigator is with the fascinating Lithuanian dancer Lora Judokaite, who can spin on herself for hours, suggesting that it is indeed possible to dance on and on without quickly collapsing from exhaustion. With the support of passionate researchers, the film revolves around this mysterious deadly dance to try to untangle the inexplicable: what is part of the legend, and what is part of the truth?

A little more…

The work successfully conveys Bastien Gens’ interest in his subject. The investigation, though filmed in a classic style, captures the viewer’s attention through its narration and well-selected archival footage.

The presence of the Lithuanian dancer and the dance excerpts she provides allow the documentary to change pace and keep the viewer attentive. A perfect work for fans of investigative documentaries.

Danse mortelle, anatomie d’une épidémie de transe is being presented at FIFA on March 14 and 15, 2026.

Translation by François Grondin with the help of Gemini.