Star in the West
Choreographer: Sharon Green, 2012
Tune: Star of David (Ruth Anne Fraley, 1997)
Formation: 3-couple Longways Set, Twos Active
For David Green, always
A 1 Twos give R-hand to Neighbor on the R
2 Twos give L-hand to Neighbor on the L
3-4 All set R & L in line
5-8 Partners R-shoulder Back-to-Back 3/4 (until they are L-shoulder to
L-shoulder), turn single R into
9-12 Single file circle L ½ way into lines
13-14 End couples, set R & L while
Twos, Hole-in-the-Wall cross to become proper
15-16 All turn single R to end in circular formation
M2
W1 W3
M1 M3
W2
B 1-4 Virtual R-hand Star for 6* once round and ease out
5-6 All balance forward & back
7-8 All turn single L into
9-12 Virtual L-hand Star for 6** once round, ending in lines
13-16 Threes 2-hand turn ½ way, fall back proper at top while
Twos cast down to bottom, cloverleaf turn single down while
Ones lead up to middle, 2-hand turn ½ way
* Virtual R-hand star for 6: The middle couple (Twos) takes right hand with
partner. All six face clockwise and dance forward. For the Twos, this is a
hand turn; for the Ones and Threes, it is a single-file circle.
** Virtual L-hand star for 6: Twos take left hands. All face counter-clockwise.
Note: At Mendocino English Week in 1997, David and I were the high bidders who won the opportunity to have a new waltz tune created for them by Ruth Anne Fraley: we asked for it to be named Star of David. During that week Ruth Anne frequently consulted with David, asking his musical preferences. We greatly loved the tune that was the result.
Later that year Colin Hume, who was staying with us, discovered Ruth Anne’s tune on our piano. He created the lovely, intricate dance Star of David, which can be found in his Dances with a Difference, vol. 5. It is an advanced dance, and quite rewarding. But over the years I grew to wish for a less complex, more accessible dance set to Star of David, so that more of our friends could have the pleasure of dancing to Ruth Anne’s lovely tune. And so I wrote Star in the West.