Intro: 32 counts* (start on vocals)
* In this musical piece, it is usual to find multiple notes for each count. Hence, for better clarity and in line with this characteristic of this 4/4 composition, each 8-count section in this choreography is to 1 bar of music (4 musical counts).
S1: Right -> side toe-strut; cross toe-strut; side toe-strut; rock back, recover
1-2
Point R-toe right; drop R-heel & transfer weight to R (1:30)
3-4
Cross-point L-toe over R; drop L-heel & transfer weight to L (1:30)
5-6
Point R-toe right; drop R-heel & transfer weight to R (1:30)
7-8
Rock back on L; Recover R (12:00)
S2: Extended vine left (side-behind-side-cross); long step left, drag R; rock back, recover
1-2
Step L left; cross R behind L
3-4
Step L left; cross R over L
5-6
Long step L, dragging R towards L ...
7-8
Rock back on R; recover L
S3: R side-touch; L side-touch; side-rock ¼L-turn; forward, hold
1-2
Step R right; touch L beside R, swaying arms up above the head to the right
3-4
Step L left; touch R beside L, swaying arms up above the head to the left
5-6
Rock R to right; recover L with ¼L-turn
7-8
Step R forward; hold (9:00)
S4: Rock L forward, recover; point out, hold; behind-side-cross-hold
1-2
Rock forward on L; recover R
3-4
Point L out to left; hold (Optional: ronde ...)
5-6
Cross L behind R; step R to right
S5: Big step R, hold; drag L in; rock L back, hold; recover R, hold
S6: Big step left, Rock R back, Recover L, Step R right, each with hold
S7: Close-hold-side-hold, Rock L back, recover-side-close
1-2
Close L to R; transfer weight to L
5-6
Rock L behind R; recover R
7-8
Step L left; close R to L;
S8: Cross L over R, hold, point R, hold; close R to L with ¼L-turn, wt on R, recover L
1-2
Cross L over R right; hold
3-4
Point R to right; hold
5-6
Close (Optional: Ronde) R to L, with ¼L-turn
7-8
Replace weight on R; recover L
~8-count Tags: End of Walls 1, 3 & 5, facing 6:00, 9:00 & 12:00
~32-count Restarts: Walls 2 & 4, facing 3:00 & 6:00
天涯歌女 is a romantic ballad from the 1937 movie [马路天使 (Street Angel)]. Set in Shanghai, this musical black-&-white production is the love story between a young songstress and a musician living across the street.
This choreography was inspired by Kate Sala’s & Robbie McGowan Hickie’s Starlight (Jan’19):
https://www.copperknob.co.uk/stepsheets/starlight-ID130514.aspx.
The first 4 sections of The Songstress are taken straight out of Starlight, though expressed a little differently in this step-sheet.
My sincerest appreciation to Kate and Robbie for their kind consent and for this generous sharing of their Starlight choreography.
Music score: http://www.jianpuw.com/htm/gz/171615.htm