ichidan verb, transitive verb
make someone dance; let someone dance
Literal causative: to cause or allow someone to dance. Often used with children, students, or in performance contexts.
先生は生徒たちを運動会で踊らせた。
The teacher made the students dance at the sports day.
娘をバレエ教室で踊らせている
I have my daughter take ballet lessons (lit. I let/make my daughter dance at a ballet class).
ichidan verb, transitive verb
manipulate; lead astray; make someone dance to one's tune
Figurative use: to control or manipulate someone's actions, often for one's own benefit. Implies the person being controlled is unaware or used like a puppet.
彼は巧みな話術で相手を踊らせた。
He skillfully manipulated his opponent with his eloquence.
悪い仲間に踊らされて、犯罪に手を染めてしまった。
Led astray by bad friends, he ended up getting involved in crime.