Yes, counting beat is better for coming into the point.
I prefer to prolong the duration of step 2 ( lady's grace heel leading step , feather figure ) . I " steal" 1/2 or more from the second beat , and add it into the third beat unchanged the tempo when I am practicing it alone .( My teacher persisted first step occupying 2 beat. )
I started learning dancing in my late life, I desire to obtain up-date basic knowledge regarding dynamic ballroom to guid my practice and minimize the wrong and overcome the degenerative change due to aging. To talk togeter is a good way for learning . I knew , my misunderstanding can be pointed out here.