when the music changes so does the dance
wen the MYOO-zik CHAYN-jez SOH duz the DANTS
wɛn ðə ˈmjuːzɪk ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz soʊ dʌz ðə dænsListen
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Dictionary meaning
a Hausa proverb expressing the necessity of adapting one's behaviour, strategy, and approach to changing circumstances; dance is not fixed but responsive — it is the musical context that gives it form, meaning, and appropriateness; when the rhythm shifts, the dancer who continues the old steps looks foolish and falls out of sync with the community; the proverb advocates for sensitivity to change, flexibility of response, and the wisdom of reading the environment rather than rigidly persisting in patterns that no longer fit; it is applied in contexts ranging from political strategy and business adaptation to interpersonal relations and the navigation of cultural transition
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