Why Societal Aspects?

If she allows me to lead, she is trusting me.
But more than that: She is trusting herself.
Now: If your sixteen year old daughter is strong and secure and trusts herself,
how likely is she to let some idiot to knock her up?
And if your son is gonna learn to touch a girl with respect,
how would he treat women throughout his life?

Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine in «Take The Lead»

Because it makes life easier!

The above quotation is not chosen at random and already provides the main answer to the question posed: Because mastering social manners protects against unpleasant situations—as long as the norms are observed. 

What are "societal aspects"? And how do they make life easier?

In my understanding, social aspects are nothing else than experiences made in the social context, which behaviours lead to pleasant, which to unpleasant situations. And since, in my opinion, nobody—or am I wrong?—likes to get into unpleasant situations, the consideration of social aspects is (actually) a basic human need. Because even if hardly anyone is aware of it today: man is and remains a social being, alone as an individual he cannot exist, let alone become happy.

And why do we hear so little about it?

Weil es allgemein als verstaubt, verstockt, out oder gar unattraktiv wirkt, wenn man sich korrekt zu benehmen weiß.

Unfortunately, I know from my own experience: the most popular on the pitch today are often the biggest A**h*les (at least initially). I can only speculate about the reasons for this. My guess is that it "could be exhausting" (admittedly, it is sometimes) to move decently—so you'd better not think it's "cool", otherwise you might get embarrassed and have to behave decently (i.e. make an effort) yourself.

And that doesn't fit in with today's fun society.

But that's a reason not to bother with it!

For a limited time horizon, that may be true. But look around you: Here a woman sends her boyfriend to the desert because he is not willing to bring up the children (i.e. to take responsibility); there young men turn away from an (actually) attractive young woman because she speaks badly about all of them.

If that is your declared goal, if you can live with it and want your projects to fail: Do what you can't help doing, it's your life.

Is there at least a simple guideline?

YES, of course!

The simplest is "behave towards others as you would like them to behave towards you". Moreover, the realisation that one can make life more pleasant for oneself is not necessarily the latest—but rather the basis of what Lady & Gentleman made the guidelines of their behaviour, 200 years ago! Admittedly, to port this one-to-one into the present day would probably be a little out of place...

And how should I imagine Lady & Gentleman today?

There are a few ideals that one is well advised to follow if one wants to make use of the old ideals in a refreshed form. These are briefly mentioned:

• Character: Virtuous; restrained; anxious to do good; anxious to protect the good name. This further includes charity, honesty, decisiveness, self-control, consideration, fitness, stoic calm in suffering and humanistic education. Correct and courteous behaviour in all situations is a matter of course.
• Clothing: "A true gentleman is someone who leaves nothing to chance. It is not enough that one dresses impeccably and that everything is immaculately groomed. The whole appearance must be perfect." (Nick Yapp in Bernhard Roetzel: Der Gentleman. Handbuch der klassischen Herrenmode, 1999, p. 8, translated from German.) This can be transferred one-to-one to a lady.
• Art of Living: Politeness, Understatement, Balance, Composure, Irony and Charm are the six basic values of a lady and a gentleman. The gentleman opens the door for his lady, takes her coat, brings her a drink from the bar. He looks after her and makes sure that she is comfortable. The lady gives the gentleman the chance to take care of her and to read her wishes from her eyes. She appreciates his efforts in an appropriate manner; of course, she fulfils similar requirements as the gentleman. In this way, it is possible to create a pleasant, informal atmosphere, an atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.

And how about equal rights?

It is degrading to open the door for a woman, that she can do it herself?
Of course she can hang up the coat herself?
She should appreciate his efforts?

YES. Because the behaviour shown outwardly and in public is a role play with the aim of creating a pleasant experience for all those directly and indirectly involved. And that is exactly what distinguishes a lady from a woman:
The woman feels patronised and not "taken in her stride", while the lady appreciates that she can keep her handbag in her hand in style and does not need to touch the door handle (even more so since Covid-19!). The lady hangs up her coat and then hisses at the man why he hasn't chosen a table yet—the lady leaves the coat with her gentleman, looks around the room, chooses a table and lets the gentleman accompany her there as soon as he has taken the coats to the cloakroom.

This is by no means about the gentleman putting himself above the lady—on the contrary: the real gentleman will always put his own interests behind those of the lady, as long as this does not endanger his good name!

The lady and the gentleman are a phenomenon of society, of the social context. Equality, on the other hand, takes hold where the rigours of life play out: Those who perform the same deserve the same recognition—monetary or otherwise. Whoever has the better qualifications is entitled to the job—regardless of gender. Those who want drinks buy, pay for and carry them themselves.
Equality means: sometimes the woman gets the flowers, sometimes the bill. And compulsory military service for all—or none.

This should make it obvious: Absolute equality cannot be the goal—and, if you look closely, it is not.
Ladies, you'd much rather your husband turned out to be a gentleman and took the crates of drinks from you, wouldn't you? You enjoy it just as much when you are treated as a lady and invited to a restaurant instead of paying the bill yourself?
Or are you on the side of pure feminism that seeks to eradicate everything male on this planet? Yes—but no? It feels like it. And from a biological point of view, it can't be in the interest of human society.

And how does that relate to dancing?

Every form of social interaction involves one or more forms of communication; the key to success ultimately lies in the control and mastery of this communication.

This is exactly the bridge to couple dance, because couple dance consists to a large extent of communication. Be it communication with the partner, be it communication with other couples, be it communication with people at the edge of the floor. Many of these communications are non-verbal and subconscious. By becoming aware of this in dance and learning to consciously control it, we learn a lot for social interaction at the same time. Quite incidentally, just through the one or other hint on the sidelines.