DANCERS. - Followers of a fanatical sect that appeared in the second half of the 14th century in Flemish Belgium and in the Rhineland. They were so named because of the immoderate dances that characterized them. Numerous chroniclers of the time, among them Radulphus de Rivo (d. 1483), provide us with very detailed information about this strange movement. These writers agree in reporting the presence of this sect for the first time at Aix-la-Chapelle around 1374.
It was a crowd of persons of both sexes, coming from upper Germany, who, seized by a furious mania for dancing, performed dances everywhere, penetrating even into churches and profaning the altars. The contagious movement spread especially in the city of Liège and its surroundings, so that in a short time many thousands of d. could be counted. The common people without hesitation attributed the blame for these phenomena to the concubinous clergy of the place, accusing them of having administered Baptism badly, nor was there lacking some fanatic who proposed the massacre of these priests. A most effective remedy for curing these persons was found by applying to them the exorcisms of the Church, preceded by the reading of the first chapter of St. John, or by showing them the consecrated Host, or by making them drink holy water. Combated in this manner, after a short time the movement almost disappeared and phenomena of this kind became ever more rare. At first these d. were called called "d. of St. John"; from 1418 onward, however, they were called "d. of St. Vitus," because in order to cure them of their mania, they were brought into a chapel dedicated to this Saint, in the immediate vicinity of Saverne.
Someone wrongly sought to classify these d. among the numerous heretical sects of that time: indeed, no specific heresy can be imputed to them. Judging by the contagious character of their dances, they should rather be considered as sufferers from hysteria. Very likely, however, some of these phenomena represent cases of true diabolical possession, because it was especially through exorcisms that the d. obtained healing from their abnormal state.
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Guglielmo Zannoni