There is one very useful tips for those who find catching up with new footwork, especially from the dance we don't know well, is too hard. First of all, I have to emphasize the importance of ALL BASICs- without the good knowledge and technical foundation it is impossible to dance a good dance even you have tons of great tips.
Then after you have successfully built up the proper muscle memory for certain basic figures (basic here means syllabus figures), try fitting some particular figures with different counting. For instance, you do a Rumba side basic step with counting 234 to a piece at 30bars pm, now try 234&1. You know that would become Cha cha cha, but try it with that 30 bpm music, that won't be too strange as the tempo for Cha cha cha should just slightly faster (it's because you make 5 steps instead of 3 steps you feel it much faster). Then try it with 2&3&4&1, and then &1&2&3&4. You might find it quite strange now. However, that's not the end. You still have the 1a2a3a4a1a2a3a4 to practice. Bear in mind that the count 'a' takes a quarter of a beat and that 1a together have the value 3/4 1/4 and that make one beat. If you know International Style this won't be too difficult. The more challenging one would be 1&a2&a3&a4&a1&a2&a3&a4. Again, if you know International Style, you know that we don't usually make steps on every count but to hint our hip/weight transfer. But here I mean to make steps on every count, and the hip/weight matters should be done much faster than our usual International Style Samba.
I don't mean that these are all the counting for all dance, nor I mean to say you manage these counting you will be excellent in every dance. The idea is tuning the body to as many different countings as possible accelerates the learning pace. What's more, if your body can tune automatically in accordance to the music, beat or whatever your random partner leads you, I am sure you will enjoy dancing even more.
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