Eli5: Why do dancers start with a “5, 6, 7, 8” count?

Question

Why is this and what’s the point? Why not just start at 1, 2, 3, 4?

P.S. I’m a ballerina

In: 468

Answer 1

Most dances are made using 8 beats instead of 4, so going 1 2 3 4 would be leading into 5 6 7 8, which would be halfway into a measure, which is not a good place to start. However, 5 6 7 8 loops back to 1 2 3 4 which is the start of a measure