Wait wait, this is v. silly of me, but... ballroom is just learned patterns? Like, you don't... improvise? Things always go the same way, or... ??? Cuz swing is all improv all the time, haha (I mean obvs ppl may have bits of movements strung together that they feel comfortable leading or whatever -- coughcough I certainly do -- but you just generally make shit up). When I follow social dancing, it's been a challenge (but good!) for me to do the "wait & listen" kind of stuff & also just to... be in the moment & in my body & not in my head.

ETA: I mean there are individual steps in swing, but how people use them is what's improvised, heh.