> I don't know a damn thing about music...
> But I don't like any reduction of any thing, music, literature, etc.
> to some essence.
I certainly agree with you on the second point, though with all modesty, I think maybe I do know a thing or two about music. Some music, anyway.
But you do seem to be arguing both sides of the question here. I can't remember the exact phrase, but didn't you say something about music not realizing its "potential" until it was "emancipated from dance," vel sim.? There's a whiff of essentialism about that, to my nose anyway; as if there were something purely "musical" that you get when you refine away all the extra-musical dross.
If you're combatting the notion that dance itself is somehow the "essence" of music, you have the high ground; but as far as I know, there's nobody in the trenches on the other side.