If someone dances to a particular tune they are forced to behave in a particular way, especially one that is different from the way they were behaving before. Change is never really easy. It is a case of having to dance to a tune other than the one you are accustomed to. With different circumstances in Germany and Britain, we cannot dance to the same tune.

If you dance to someone else's tune, you do whatever they tell you to do, usually without arguing or hesitating. Trade union leaders were often giving in to managers, sometimes going so far as dancing to their tune. The danger is that the churches could end up dancing to the tune of their big business sponsors. Note: This expression is often used to criticize someone for allowing themselves to be controlled.