Waltzmania In The Paris Pleasure Gardens

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An amusing documentation of the “culture of dancing madness in post-terror Paris”. The Waltzmania phenomenon in 18th century France swept the newly-minted republic off its feet; it was seen as an involuntary dancing disease spread by touch, or even the sight of touch. Were an individual to see others waltzing, their “nervous sympathies” would be activated—that is to say, their senses and imagination would be ignited—and they would dance away without a care for their mental health, morals, or societal expectations. Read full article here

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