William Dance was an English pianist

Pianist

A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...

 and violin

Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

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Life

William Dance was the grandson of the architect George Dance

George Dance the Elder

George Dance the Elder was an English architect of the 18th century. He served as the City of London surveyor and architect from 1735 until his death....

 (c.1694–1768). His father was the actor James Dance (1721–1774) and his mother may have been James' wife Elizabeth or the actress Mrs Love.

Dance studied the piano under Theodore Aylward

Theodore Aylward

Theodore Edward Aylward , 1844-1933Theodore was born in Salisbury and later became a pupil of S. S. Wesley and was Organist of St. Matthew's Church, Cheltenham, St. Columba's College, Rathfarnham and St. Martin's, Salisbury, before succeeding Francis Edward Gladstone at Llandaff Cathedral in 1870...

 the elder (1730 - 1801) and the violin under K. F. Baumgarten. He later studied with the renowned Felice Giardini

Felice Giardini

Felice Giardini was an Italian composer and violinist.Felice Giardini was born in Turin. When it became clear that he was a child prodigy, his father sent him to Milan. There he studied singing, harpsichord and violin but it was on the latter that he became a famous virtuoso...

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Dance played violin in the orchestra at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...

 from 1771 to 1774 and in the King's Theatre

Her Majesty's Theatre

Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre, in Haymarket, City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the theatre...

 orchestra 1775–1793.

He was lead violinist at the Haymarket Theatre

Haymarket Theatre

The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...

 during the summer seasons (1784–90) and at the Handel commemoration in Westminster Abbey in 1790. Dance was not regarded as a soloist on the violin, however William Thomas Parke praised his "great taste and execution" on the piano.

Around 1800 he gave up public performances and became a notable teacher of music in London.

In 1813 Dance proposed a meeting that led to the foundation of the Philharmonic Society. He became a director and the treasurer of the society until his death.

Around 1812 he noticed Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday, FRS was an English chemist and physicist who contributed to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry....

, then a bright but unknown young assistant at a Southwark bookshop who was interested in self improvement and science. Dance mentored him by providing tickets for him to attend lectures at the Royal Institution

Royal Institution

The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...

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Published works

• Six Lessons for the Harpsichord or Piano-Forte, dated about 1780
• Several later editions, songs, preludes, fantasias, variations, and numerous piano sonatas, including op. 4 (1805).