dancing star

[KLPNO]

Hello everyone

I'd like to ask about the meaning of "dancing" in the following context:

The sky was cloudless and absolutely dark, save for a single point of soft yellow light -- one of the Four Sisters slowly dancing about the hidden sun. The distant stars were too faint to be seen through the thick window -- a few hundred specks that only scientists had bothered to name and map.

What "dancing" can imply in this case?

 

[Neillythere]

I'm not a teacher, but the best approach I can get to the concept of "dancing" would be "flickering", like a candle flame.

Hope this helps

Regards

 

[banderas]

I can think of shining:-D

 

[stuartnz]

"Dancing" also means, "rhythmical movement in a prescribed pattern", and in this sense it is not entirely unusual to see "dance" or "dancing" used for "orbit" or "orbiting" when the writer is aiming for a poetic image.