YOU SAID:
he danced away from me as I tried to get closer
INTO JAPANESE
私が近づくようにして、彼は私から離れて踊った
BACK INTO ENGLISH
As I approached, he danced away from me
INTO JAPANESE
私が近づくと、彼は私から離れて踊った
BACK INTO ENGLISH
As I approached, he danced away from me
That didn't even make that much sense in English.