Small animals we love reversed dance moves (5)
I believe the answer is:
steps
'moves' is the definition.
(step is a kind of move)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for steps that I've seen before include "John Buchan used 39 of them" , "Procedures" , "See 23" , "taken to get on" , "Paces; measures" .)