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Venues - The Dancing Masters of 18th Century
Records of the Dancing Masters in the newspapers of 18th Century are advertisements to attract business from the gentry and nobility. Generally the Dancing Master would have had a base where he would hold classes and private tuition culminating in a Social or Ball. The Ball would involve his clientele in various dances, and also be an opportunity to exhibit the latest dances in vogue, carried out by his best pupils. Depending on the period this could be from Paris, Edinburgh or London. In addition to his central base the Dancing Master would offer to travel out of town, to a limit of several miles, to give private tuition.
Downpatrick
Market-House, Downpatrick
Mr Dumont advertised the opening of his Dancing School for 28th April 1767.
Downpatrick Town
Mr Dumont advertised the opening of class for Monday 28th September 1778 in Belfast. He would teach each Monday and Tuesday in Belfast whilst teaching the rest of the week in Lisburn and Downpatrick (Belfast Newsletter 25th September 1778).
Market-House, Downpatrick
A Ball was scheduled to be held for the Benefit of the Downe Infirmary on 15th March 1780.
Downpatrick Town
Mr Hull advertised that he had returned and would open his Dancing School for the Summer half year in Downe on Monday 20th April 1789.
Downpatrick & Rev. Dr. Neilson's Academy, Kilmore
Mr John Dumont having formerly been requested to open a Dancing School in Downpatrick gives notice that he has commenced teaching at Rev. Dr. Neilson's Academy, Kilmore, and will teach in Downpatrick if there are enough pupils.
Downpatrick & Hillsborough
Mr Hull advertised that he will wait on his friends in a few days, in Hillsborough & Downpatrick (Belfast Newsletter 9th April 1801).
Lisburn
Lisburn
Mr Dumont advertised the opening of his Dancing School on 9th April 1771.
Market-House, Lisburn & Market-House, Lurgan
Mr Hart advertised the opening of his Dancing School for Monday 8th May 1775 in the Market-House Lisburn and in the Market-House Lurgan on 11th May 1775.
Lisburn
Mr Dumont advertised the opening of class for Monday 28th September 1778 in Belfast. He would teach each Monday and Tuesday in Belfast whilst teaching the rest of the week in Lisburn and Downpatrick (Belfast Newsletter 25th September 1778).
Lisburn
Mr Bleake, Music and Dancing Master of Lisburn advertised the opening of his Schooling Belfast for the three days each week.
Assembly-Room Lisburn
Mr McGrath advertised a Ball for his pupils for Friday 29th September 1786 in the Assembly-Room, Lisburn (Belfast Newsletter 24th September 1786).
Lisburn & Belfast
Mr McGrath advertised the commencement of his Dancing Class in early May 1792 in Belfast & Lisburn (Belfast Newsletter 16th April 1792).
Lisburn & Belfast
Mr McGrath advertised his tuition in dance in Belfast and Lisburn on 18th or 20th May 1794. (Belfast Newsletter 24th April 1794).
Lisburn
Mr McGrath advertised that his Ball was fixed for Friday 20th November 1795 in Lisburn. (Belfast Newsletter 9th November 1795).
Lisburn
Mr Moorehead advertised his availability to teach a variety of Dances in Lisburn and its Vicinity (Belfast Newsletter 17th May 1796).
Belfast
Market-House, Belfast
Messrs. Lee & Hart advertised a Ball in the Market-House, Belfast on Thursday 20th January 1774 (Belfast Newsletter 14th-18th January 1774).
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Belfast
Mr Dumont advertised the opening of his Dancing School in Belfast for Friday 14th January 1774 (Belfast Newsletter 14th-18th January 1774).
Market - House, Belfast
Mr Richard Lee advertised the opening of his dancing School for Wednesday 30th March 1774 at the Market-House in Belfast. He would continue to teach each Wednesday and Thursday in Belfast.
Belfast
Mr Dumont advertised the opening of class for Monday 28th September 1778 in Belfast. He would teach each Monday and Tuesday in Belfast whilst teaching the rest of the week in Lisburn and Downpatrick (Belfast Newsletter 25th September 1778).
Poor-House, Belfast
A Ball was advertised for a Ball at the Poor-House for the Benefit of the Poor on Thursday 8th October 1778.
Market - House, Belfast
Mr James May advertised the opening of his Dancing School at the Market House, Belfast on the second Monday in January 1780 (Belfast Newsletter 22nd November 1779).
Market - House, Belfast
Mr Dumont advertised the opening of his Dancing School at the Market House, Belfast on the following Friday 10th March 1780 (Belfast Newsletter 3rd-7th March 1780).
Market - House, Belfast
Mr Betterton advertised the opening of his Dancing School at the Market House, Belfast on Tuesday next, 15th March 1780 (Belfast Newsletter 15th March 1780).
White Cross Inn, High Street, Belfast
Mr Bleake advertised the opening of his Dancing School in Belfast for three days each week (4th September 1781).
The Publick School, Belfast
Mr Dumont advertised his dancing teaching at the Publick School in Belfast on Friday evening and all day Saturday (Belfast Newsletter 14th April 1789).
Mr May's commodious House, High Street, Belfast
Mr May advertised his dancing teaching at the commodious house in the lower end of High Street, next to Mr Kingsmill's in Belfast. He will also teach in the vicinity up to 14 miles from Belfast (4th March 1791).
Mr Simpson's Long-Room, North Street, Belfast
Mr Simpson advertised his dancing tuition at his Long-Room in North Street on the mornings of Fridays and Saturdays from 7 to 9 o'clock; anyone who cannot conveniently attend these hours may attend his evening class from 9 to 11 on said days. His 12 and 5 o'clock classes, as usual. He will also teach in the vicinity up to 3 miles from Belfast, from 1 to 3 on said Fridays (Northern Star 12th May 1791).
Belfast & Lisburn
Mr McGrath advertised the commencement of his Dancing Class in early May 1792 in Belfast & Lisburn (Belfast Newsletter 16th April 1792).
Donegall Arms, Belfast
Mr Dumont advertised his annual Ball fixed for Wednesday 12th December at the Donegall Arms, Belfast, to open at 7 o'clock as detailed below (Belfast Newsletter 6th December 1792).
Belfast & Lisburn
Mr McGrath advertised his tuition in dance in Belfast and Lisburn on 18th or 20th May 1794. (Belfast Newsletter 24th April 1794).
Belfast
Mr Dumont advertised his hours of teaching as Friday evening at 4 o'clock, and on Saturday morning at 11 and evening at 4, as detailed below. (Belfast Newsletter 28th April 1794).
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Belfast
Mr McGrath advertised that his Ball was fixed for Tuesday 18th November 1794 in Belfast. The Ball terminates Mr McGrath's tuition for the season - he intends recommencing classes in early May 1795. (Belfast Newsletter 10th November 1794).
Exchange-Rooms, Belfast
Mr McGrath advertised that his Ball was fixed for Thursday 26th November 1795 in the Exchange Rooms, Belfast. (Belfast Newsletter 9th November 1795).
Belfast
Mrs Parker advertised tuition in dance for Ladies in Belfast. (Belfast Newsletter 11th September 1801).
Belfast
Mr Hull advertised tuition in dancing in Belfast and surrounding areas. (Belfast Newsletter 16th November 1812).
Belfast Academical Institution & his own Academy in Castle Street
Mr Reynolds advertised the resumption of his classes in the Rev Mr Montgomery's Belfast Academical Institution on Monday 27th August 1827 at 5 o'clock pm and at his own Academy, 1 Castle Street, Belfast on Friday 31st August at the same hour. (Belfast Newsletter 20th August 1827).
Dromore
Mr John Hart advertised that he would have his Ball in Dromore on Thursday 24th October 1776, beginning at 6 o'clock (10th October 1776).
Strangford and Portaferry
Mr Hull advertised that he had returned and would open his Dancing School for the Summer half year in Downe on Monday 20th April 1789, in Strangford and Portaferry on Wednesday 22nd April 1789. He would teach on Fridays and Saturdays if encouraged in Hillsborough or Dromore.
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