Dancing was considered a part of a proper education for upper class children; although common in the Middle and Southern colonies it was especially popular in Virginia and South Carolina where girls were to learn the airs and graces requisite to their status. Andrew C. Gardner, writing in a Colonial Williamsburg essay, remarked on how far the general attitude toward dancing had come since its condemnation by the English Puritan Philip Stubbes in the latter part of the sixteenth century. I couldn’t resist searching for Stubbes’ work, The Anatomie of Abuses in England in Shakepere’s Youth, and found it online. The chapter “The horrible Vice of pestiferous dauncing,” makes for interesting reading. Stubbes declared that

dancing was “an allurement to sin . . . . an introduction to whoredom, a provocative to wantonness . . . and all kind of lewdness . . . . For what culling, what kissing and bussing, what smooching and slabbering one of another, what filthy groping and unclean handling is not practiced everywhere in these dancings? . . . . Some have broke their legs with skipping, leaping, turning, and vawting, and some have come by one hurt, some by another, but never any came from thence without some parte of his minde broken and lame; such a wholsome exercise it is!

Stubbes listed other vices, like painted faces, “a superfluitie of Ap[p]arels,” and “pride in dobblets and hose”.

There were men in seventeenth and eighteenth century America also opposed to dancing, among them the Boston minister Increase Mather, and his son Cotton, and George Whitefield, a major figure in the Great Awakening. Increase Mather declared that “Temptations . . . are become too common, viz. such as immodest apparel, Prov. 7:10 laying out of hair, borders, naked necks and arms, or which is more abominable naked breast and mixed dancings.”

Over time, however, resistance declined as the personal, social, and political benefits of dances, balls, and assemblies became apparent to the elite and upwardly mobile. And, of course, there was the desire, especially in the South, to emulate English high society, their fashions and diversions.

Philip Stubbes, The Anatomie of Abuses in England in Shakepere’s Youth, “The horrible Vice of pestiferous dauncing,” pp 154-69. See also “A History of Social Dance in America.” The illustration is of a dance performance at Colonial Williamsburg. Teachers: check out this great lesson plan for introducing students to eighteenth century music and dance.

Philip Vickers Fithian came to Virginia in October 1773 and spent a year as tutor for the Robert Carter family at Nomini Hall. There were nine children, two boys and five girls of a teachable age, ranging from eighteen to seven. Dancing was taught by a special master. Fithian noted that on “Fryday 17 December, 1773 I dismissed the children this morning til’ monday on account of Mr Christian’s Dance, which, as it goes through his Scholars in Rotation, happens to be here to Day.” He went on to describe the Saturday session:

There were present of Grown persons Mr and Mrs Carter, Mrs. Lee, & Miss Jenny Corbin; young Misses about Eleven; & Seven young Fellows, including myself; —After Breakfast, we all retired into the Dancing-Room, & after the Scholars had their Lesson singly round Mr Christian, very politely, requested me to step a Minuet; I excused myself however, but signified my peculiar pleasure in the Accuracy of their performance—There were several Minuets danced with great ease and propriety; after which the whole company Joined in country-dances, and it was indeed beautiful to admiration, to see such a number of young persons, set off by dress to the best Advantage, moving easily, to the sound of well performed Music, and with perfect regularity, tho’ apparently in the utmost Disorder—The Dance continued til two, we dined at half after three—soon after Dinner we repaired to the Dancing-Room again; I observe in the course of the lessons, that Mr Christian is punctual, and rigid in his discipline, so strict indeed that he struck two of the young Misses for a fault in the course of their performance, even in the presence of the Mother of one of them! And he rebuked one of the young Fellows so highly as to tell him he must alter his manner, which he had observed through the Course of the Dance, to be insolent, and wanton, or absent himself from the School—I thought this was a sharp reproof, to a young Gentleman of seventeen, before a large number of Ladies!

Philip Vickers Fithian, The Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian, A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773–1774, page 33. Also “Key Ideas about Education,” The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 2008.

More insight into the education of girls. Instruction in dancing was commonly given to girls (and boys) from wealthy families as it was considered a social asset and also played a role in the courtship ritual. Anne Blair of Williamsburg, Virginia, wrote to her sister Martha (Blair) Braxton regarding the education and antics of the latter’s daughter Betsey:

August 21, 1769.Betsey is at work for you. I suppose she will tell you to-morrow is Dancing day, for it is in her thought by Day & her dreams by night. Mr. Fearson [dancing master] was surprised to find she knew much of the Minuet step, and could not help asking if Miss had never been taught, so you find she is likely to make some progress that way. . . . her Reading I hear twice a day and when I go out she is consign’d over to my Sister Blair: we have had some few quarrels, and one Battle; Betsey & her Cousin Jenny [Jane Blair, daughter of Judge John Blair] had been fighting for several days successively, and was threaten’d to be whip’d for it as often, but as they did not regard us—her Mama & self thought it necessary to let them see we were in earnest—if they have fought since [I] have never heard of it—she has finished her work & Tucker, but the weather is so warm, what with all ye pains I can take with clean hands, and so forth she cannot help dirtying it a little. I do not observe her to be fond of Negroes Company now nor have I heard lately of any bad Words; chief of our Quarrel is for eating of those Green apples in our Garden & not keeping the Head smooth. I have had Hair put on Miss Dolly, but find it is not in my power of complying with my promise in giving her silk for a Sacque & Coat; some of our pretty Gang, broke open a Trunk in my absence and has stolen several thing’s one of wch the Silk makes a part—so immagine Betsey will petition you for some.

Ann Blair’s father, in his will, left her 1,000 pounds and his “negro Girl Fanny”. She married Colonel John Bannister in 1779.

Julia Cherry Spruill, Women’s Life and Work in the Southern Colonies(New York: Norton Library Reprint of 1938 edition) page 195-96; William and Mary Quarterly Historical Magazine, XVI, 177.