The sources I have quoted when properly interpreted, make it very clear to me that the onus of activity -that is asking ladies to dance and being expected to participate- (how can you "enter the spirit" of a ball properly without dancing?)-was an accepted part of behaving as a gentleman.

If men did not have a social obligation to ask ladies to dance, then ladies could not of course ask men to dance,and the Assembly Room in question did not allow ladies ( or men in some instances) to dance with each other....how on earth would a ball be able to proceed? LOL

And don't forget that the particular circumstances of the Meryton Assembly are very pertinent: there was a distinct lack of men,which made the necessitiy of dancing all the more important. And this is why Mr Bingley is singled out as a very nice chap for he danced every dance: this tiny but telling phrase means that he correctly assessed his social obligations for the night, not that he is simply an energetic man who does not know when to stop.

Of course, if you don't want to believe the sources I have quoted that is entirerly your perogative.