Green’s Dictionary of Slang

dancing school n.

a brothel.

1593		Nashe Choise of Valentines (1899) 9: Blushing, she replide, ‘Because I in this dancing school abide?’.
1606		Dekker Seven Deadly Sinnes II 52: Letchery is patron of al your Suburb Colledges, and set vp Vaulting-houses, and Daunsing-Schooles.
1642		Strange Newes out of Woodstreete A2r: I have been in one of the Damnablest Baudy-Houses [...] Hell cannot afford such a sinke of Sinne, nor such a Dancing Schoole of Damnation.
1660		Wandring Whore I 8: My advice therefore to you (that keep Dancing-Schools) to keep handsom likely strapping Wenches that will throw their Legs over mens heads, and show all for nothing, always in readiness.
1676		Night-Walkers Declaration 4: The time we should have spent in learning Good-houswifry, was trifled away at the Dancing School.
1681		A Letter intercepted from the popish-printer n.p.: [W]e might come off, as some of our Dear Sisters do, from the Dancing School behind St. Brides, with sore Backs, and brazen Faces.
1687		T. Brown Liberty of Conscience in Duke Buckingham’s Works (1705) II 131: Why not into a Bibbing-house, as well as a Dancing School, a buttoc-ball, or the like [F&H].
1698		N. Ward ‘Ecclesia & Factio’ Writings (1704) 39: You urge a barn, or Stable, where you meet, / A Field, a Coffee House, Dancing School, or Street / Are fit for Heavenly Worship and for Prayer.
1700		N. Ward Dancing-school 4: I had recourse to a Dancing-school, which I thought was the best Rendezvous of willing Tits.
1711		N. Ward Vulgus Britannicus III 39: And holy Places that have been, / Long since the nurseries of Sin; / Perhaps fam’d Dancing Schools before, / May happen to be so once more.
1838		Crim.-Con. Gaz. 22 Sept. 34/1: A visit to the Greville-street dancing academy.