DANCE, the name of an English family distinguished in architecture, art and the drama. GEORGE DANCE, the elder (170o 1768), obtained the appointment of architect to the City of Lon don, and designed the Mansion House (1739) ; the churches of St. Botolph, Aldgate (1741), St. Luke's, Old street; St. Leonard, Shoreditch ; the old excise office, Broad street ; and other public works of importance. His eldest son, JAMES DANCE 2 74 ) was educated at the Merchant Taylors' school and St. John's college, Oxford. He took the name of Love, and became an actor and playwright, connected for 12 years with Drury Lane theatre. He wrote a number of comedies—the earliest Pamela (1742).
George Dance's third son, SIR NATHANIEL DANCE-HOLLAND, BART. (I 73 5-181 I) , studied art under Francis Hayman in Italy, where he formed a hopeless attachment for Angelica Kauffmann. From Rome he sent home "Dido and Aeneas" (1763). On his return to England he took up portrait-painting with great success, and contributed to the first exhibition of the Royal Academy, of which he was a foundation member, full-length portraits of George III. and his queen. These, and his portraits of Captain Cook and of Garrick as Richard III., engraved by Dixon, are his best-known works. In 1790 he became M.P. for East Grinstead, taking the additional name of Holland. He was made a baronet in i800.
George Dance's fifth and youngest son, GEORGE DANCE, the younger (1741-1825), succeeded his father as City surveyor and architect in 1768. He had spent several years abroad, chiefly in Italy, and had already distinguished himself by designs for Black friars bridge. His first important public work was the rebuilding of Newgate prison in 17 7o. The front of the Guildhall was also his. He, too, was a foundation member of the Royal Academy. His son, CHARLES DANCE was for 3o years regis trar, taxing officer and chief clerk of the insolvent debtors' court. In collaboration with J. R. Planche and others, or alone, he wrote a great number of extravaganzas, farces and comediettas. He was one of the first of the burlesque writers, and was the author of those produced so successfully by Madame Vestris for years at the Olympic.