Dancing characters are to speak (5)

I believe the answer is:

orate

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'speak' is the definition.
(I know that orate is a more specific form of the action speak)

'dancing characters are to' is the wordplay.
'are to' can be anagrammed to 'ORATE'.
Though, I am not clear how this is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for orate that I've seen before include "Talk pompously" , "Deliver a speech" , "Erato (anag.)" , "Speak in public" , "Give speech" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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