A single step might begin a long journey – but that step does not always involve the feet. The same is so for dancing. The most important step taken in almost everything in life is in the mind – and what we do before our body moves.
Most social partner dance teachers today tend to start their lessons by telling people what/how to do some kind of step and turn pattern – even before playing any music. But dancing doesn’t necessarily involve steps or turns at all.
Dancing is body movement in harmony with music. Most movement – even to travel – is really about weight change. Weight change and body movement always begin before any actual or eventual stepping with the feet (to any beat).
Dancing involves the entire body – not just the feet. In fact, feet are not even needed to dance – but they are useful. Many animals (with and without two or more feet) “dance” – for joy or during “courtship rituals” (prior to “mating”).
Partner dancing typically begins with an invitation/request to dance together and its acceptance – and all movement from that point on by either or both is as much a part of the dance together as when a couple is actually “dancing”.
What differentiates music from just noise is that the sounds and silence are organized into a structured pattern – that fit whatever venue and audience it is meant for. Every culture has its own musical styles and traditions but what is true for all of them is that the types of music played outside is not the same as music meant to be heard in in an elevator or on your phone (while you are on hold) and music played in a bar or tavern is not the same as music in a café or restaurant or what is meant for a concert hall or a night club – not just because the acoustics are different but so are the types of people at these different places. Music most chosen for movies and radio only represents a small percentage of the many different kinds of music that people actually play – and sing and dance to (in other venues).
Most songs are similar to stories. Regardless of the order presented, they have a beginning, middle, and end. There is usually a theme of some kind with different parts and patterns at different times with some sequences repeating.
When dancing to a song, it is important to match not just the “beat” but what point in the “story” one is rhythmically moving “through” – including repeating the same or similar things when the music does. And how one dances with a partner also should reflect “where” or “when” in what kind of relationship those involved might be at any given time.
Steps and patterns can often be learned or simply made up, led and/or followed – but the most important step of all in almost everything in life, including all forms of dancing seldom involve the feet, let alone moving them anywhere.