This dance is based on steps I learned from Morley Leyton in Pawling, New York in 1980 at Moshe Eskayo's Camp. When Morley first brought the steps from Poland he taught it as a recreational dance to groups in Quebec and NYC, where it became known respectively as Quebec Oberek and New York Oberek. This is a performing version which I choreographed almost immediately after that camp for the Kashuby Dancers in Providence, RI (of which I was then dance director). I would like to thank their Executive Director, Eva Slusarek for the idea of adding the star formation in the middle of the dance. The music is out of print so e-mail me if you need it.

STARTING POS. M on L, R arm around partners waist, W facing same direction as M, her L hand on his R shoulder.

FIG ONE - 4 HOP- RUNS TRAVELING FORWARD

mm 1 starting with inside foot step, lift outside knee (placing foot next to inside knee), hop (outside arms swing up with the knee and come right back down for mm2

mm 2 one oberek step fwd.

mm 3-8 Repeat mm 1 and 2

FIG TWO- RUNNING

mm 1-7 Seven oberek steps fwd.(alternating ftwk) all following lead couple.

mm 8 Take two stomps (weighted steps) on cts.1,2. End in a straight line across the front of the stage with each couple in Israeli buzz-turn position, M facing original direction, W facing RLOD, outside arms raised.

FIG THREE-ISRAELI BUZZ TURN

mm 1-7 Turn CW with seven oberek steps both M and W start ALL figures from here on with the R foot.

mm 8 Two stomps as before.

FIG FOUR W's CRANK TURNS

mm 1-3 Drop waist hold and take R hands. W turns CW under the joined arms with three oberek steps. M dances in place with three oberek steps, kicking heels up in back.

mm 4 Stop turning and face each other while taking two stomps.

mm 5-8 REPEAT mm 1-4 with W turning CCW

mm 9-16 REPEAT ALL OF FIG FOUR

FIG FIVE- CIRCLE

mm1-8 First woman leads out to her R, starting with a big step to lead everyone into a single circle traveling CCW, W to the R of their partners.(Rear Couples take small steps to allow the circle to form) Use oberek steps throughout.

FIG SIX- BREAK STRAIN

mm1-4 All take four small oberek steps into the center to form a L hand star. M have L hands joined in the star, their R arms around their partner's waist, W have their L arm on M's R shoulder, their R arm holding out their skirt.(optional add a Polish head shake to this step)

FIG SEVEN-TEXAS STAR L AND R

mm 1-7 Take seven oberek steps, turning the star L

mm 8 Take two stomps, all turning in towards partner to form a R hand Texas star.

mm 9-16 Repeat mm 1-8 turning the star CW, end facing center on the two stomps.

FIG EIGHT- BACK OUT, W CROSS, ARMS UP, CPL TURN

mm 1-2 Back out as couples, with two oberek steps

mm 3 M send W across in front of them to their other side (one oberek step for all)

mm4 All take one oberek step in place while raising outside arms

mm 5-8 M back up while W go forward (Turn CCW as couples STOP WHEN FACING THE AUDIENCE- Each couple should turn a different amount as you are shifting from a circular formation to a linear one. DROP WAIST HOLD AND TAKE R HANDS IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT FIGURE, W GRABS M'S

ARM ABOVE HIS L ELBOW TO ASSIST HIM IN THE LEAP.

FIG NINE- M LEAP, W TRAVEL AROUND

mm 1 M step R (ct1), leap off R foot while kicking straight L leg high in the air, sweeping his L hand out from his waist (as in Holubiec), making a 3/4 turn across in front of W, preparing to land on her R facing stage L (ct. 2-3).

mm 2 M lands on L foot (ct.1) then puts R knee down (ct. 2)

mm 3-8 Still holding R hands, the W runs CW around the M and then backs in next to M on his R side.

M stay kneeling leading the W around, they start to rise on either mm 6 or 7, depending on the ability of, the group, and take front skater's position with L arms crossed on top.

FIG.10 - TURN, END, POSE

mm 1-6 Turn CW as a couple M going forward, W backing up, until R shoulders face audience (W is in front of M).

mm 7-8 Drop R hands, M turns W1¾ times under his arm, and places their joined L hands in the small of the W's back on mm8 ct. 1.On mm8 ct3 place R heel out on R diag and M (only) raises his R arm straight in the air (W's R fist goes on her waist.