Using the feet genteely: dance in the North East of England in the eighteenth century

Abstract

This study considers the practice of social and theatre dance in the northeast of England in the eighteenth century, setting the activities of dancing masters and performers in the counties of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Durham in the wider social context of the time. This study documents the history of dance in the theatre (including the circuits ventured by travelling troupes), dance in the assembly room, dance in education, and dance of the labouring populace through study of contemporary accounts, archival sources, published music, commonplace books, and contemporary newspapers. Also of interest are the activities of dancing masters and their schools. Appendices document the schools run by dancing masters, private schools offering dance, theatre circuits in the northeast of England, theatre dancers, dancing masters, as well as dances and dance music performed or published in the northeast. In addition to establishing the “vigorous” level of dance activity in the region, this dissertation adds to our knowledge of exchanges and transmissions of personnel and repertory in the period. [Abstract by Sarah McCleave].

Date of Award	2014
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Supervisor	Sarah McCleave (Supervisor) & Martin Dowling (Supervisor)