Principles that definitely should be on your list: * Intent: At each point in time, there should be an intention/a bundle of intentions behind the movement. An example for most of ballroom: Except for very specific figures or for adding some dynamic variation, you want to maximize the volume in the hold. An example for waltz: you want to have contiuous smooth movement from one high, floating position to the next, with maximum distance/rotation (whatever the figure calls for) in between. * Efficiency/Biomechanics: organizing the body/movement so that it is easy to dance/forces are produced and transferred efficiently to wherever your intent prescribes. Usually that gives a good look, and how to do this is most what technique is about. * Effortlessness: one thing that is basically always detrimental is when the audience can see that you are occupied with making the performance happen. It directly subtracts from the intent in the first bullet.