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Western Star Dancers

a modern GLBT square dance and social club

candid square dance shots

Western Star Dancers Classes

Classes are instructed by caller Rich Reel. All dancers who wish to join the class are encouraged to come check it out. Classes are held on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. in the upstairs dance studio of Harvey Milk Recreation Center (HMRC), 50 Scott Street at Duboce Avenue. Location details [LINK].

Beginner Class (Basic-Level) session started on September 22, 2012.

No previous dance experience necessary. If you can walk, you can square dance.
No special clothing, costuming or dance shoes necessary. Be comfortable.
Improve your health. Square dancing is low impact aerobics.
Improve your mind. Exercise your brain cells by learning a few new "calls" each week.
Get sociable. With a membership of 65 people, the Western Star Dancers are very active with pot lucks, picnics, theater nights, and other social opportunities.

Price Schedule: Entire course (Level 1 Basic and Level 2 Mainstream) $100 (Sept. 2011 - May 2012). Level 1 Basic only, $50.

Steve

Class Coordinator

Steve is Western Star's "Archangel." He assists the students, is available to answer their questions, and he can serve as liaison between students and the class instructor or the WSD Board of Directors if needed.

Web TV Promotes Beginner Class

Click on photo below to jump to the WSD/TV Page and watch John and Marilynn in a special program promoting Western Star classes. This program is from a previous year, so details such as dates are incorrect for the current sessions.

John & Marilynn

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2009 Mainstream Class Graduation. Eureka Valley Rec Center.


    MOUSE-OVER and CLICK on photo to see full-size version.

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2008 Mainstream Class Graduation. Eureka Valley Rec Center.


    MOUSE-OVER and CLICK on photo to see full-size version.

Teaching Order

Below is the list of calls in the order in which you will be learning them. Don't be intimidated by the number of calls. Remember: it's a barnyard activity, so it's not meant to be rocket science. So even if you forget the steps, people will still like you.

[ ] = not on list

  • Basic & Mainstream
    1. Circle Left/Right
    2. Forward & Back
    3. Dosado
    4. Allemande Left
    5. Right & Left Grand
    6. Single File Promenade
    7. Star by the Left/Right
    8. Star Promenade
    9. Couples Promenade
    10. [Yellow Rock/Stack the Wood]
    11. Promenade 1/2
    12. Pass Thru
    13. Courtesy Turn
    14. Four Ladies Chain
    15. Two Ladies Chain
    16. Ladies Chain 3/4
    17. Ladies In Men Sashay
    18. Grand Square
    19. Backtrack
    20. Swing (demo)
    21. Lead Right/Left
    22. Veer Left/Right
    23. Couples Circulate
    24. Bend the Line
    25. Star Thru (demo)
    26. California Twirl (demo)
    27. Dive Thru
    28. Square Thru (1-5) (demo)
    29. Boys/Girls/Centers/Ends Circulate (2F lines)
    30. Ladies/Men Promenade Inside
    31. Wheel & Deal (Lines facing out)
    32. Chain Down the Line
    33. Weave the Ring
    34. Arm Turns
    35. Right & Left Thru
    36. Separate (around N to line/down the middle)
    37. [sashayed handhold]
    38. U Turn Back
    39. Walk Around Corner (All Around Left Hand Lady)
    40. See Saw
    41. Boys/Girls/Centers/Ends Trade (2F lines)
    42. Partner Trade
    43. Rollaway
    44. [Gay Dosado]/[concept of styling]
    45. Flutterwheel
    46. Sweep 1/4
    47. Trades (removed/down the line)
    48. Trade By
    49. Wheel & Deal (2F line)
    50. Split the Outside Couple
    51. [‘Star Figures']
    52. Left Square Thru
    53. Do Paso (& Roll Promenade)
    54. Thar/Slip the Clutch
    55. Wheel Around (Promenade Don't Stop)
    56. Double Pass Thru
    57. [Gay Weave]
    58. (step to an) Ocean Wave
    59. Swing Thru (R-H waves)
    60. Boys/Girls/Centers/Ends Run
    61. Boys/Girls/Centers/Ends Trade (waves)
    62. Boys/Girls/Centers/Ends Circulate (waves)
    63. Ferris Wheel
    64. Alamo Style & Balance
    65. Alamo Swing Thru
    66. Dosado to a Wave
    67. Touch 1/4
    68. Single File (Column) Circulate
    69. Reverse Flutterwheel
    70. Pass the Ocean (demo)
    71. Extend
    72. All Eight Circulate
    73. Zoom
    74. Swing Thru/Left Swing Thru (L-H waves)
    75. Allemande Left to an Allemande Thar
    76. Shoot the Star
    77. First Couple Left Next Right
    78. Circle to a Line (Circle Up 4)
    79. Box the Gnat (demo)
    80. Wrong Way Grand
    81. Wrong Way Thar
    82. Half Sashay
    83. Split/Box Circulate
    84. Slide Thru
    85. Turn Thru (demo)
    86. Cloverleaf
    87. 8 Chain Thru (8 Chain N)
    88. Fold
    89. Scoot Back (demo)
    90. Single Hinge
    91. Tag the Line
    92. Walk and Dodge
    93. Centers In
    94. Cast off 3/4
    95. Couples Hinge/Couples Trade
    96. Spin the Top (demo)
    97. Pass to the Center
    98. Recycle
    99. Dixie Style
    100. Half Tag
    101. Cross Run/Fold
  • Plus
    1. Tea Cup Chain
    2. [Pass Out]
    3. Load The Boat
    4. Grand Swing Thru
    5. Single Circle To A Wave
    6. Diamond Circulate
    7. Cut The Diamond
    8. Flip The Diamond
    9. Partner Trade And Roll
    10. Spin Chain Thru (demo)
    11. Ping Pong Circulate
    12. Acey Deucey
    13. Column Trade And Roll
    14. Follow Your Neighbor (demo)
    15. Trade The Wave
    16. Track 2
    17. Swing Thru And Roll
    18. Spin Chain The Gears
    19. (Tag and Extend concept)
    20. 3/4 Tag Extend (from waves to 3/4 tag)
    21. Cut The Diamond And Roll
    22. Coordinate
    23. Peel Off
    24. (Anything) And Spread
    25. Trade The Wave And Roll
    26. Chase Right
    27. Fan The Top
    28. Explode The Wave
    29. Single Hinge And Roll
    30. Spin Chain Exchange The Gears
    31. All 8 Spin The Top
    32. Explode And (anything)
    33. Bend The Line And Roll
    34. Linear Cycle (waves only)
    35. Peel The Top
    36. Dixie Grand
    37. Wheel And Deal And Roll
    38. Relay The Deucey
    39. Crossfire
    40. Explode And Roll