Polite rejection at a dance … or a hint to each half of the answers to the starred clues

I’M TAKEN

Think of what you might say when someone asks you to dance but you’re already partnered up—it’s also a phrase that hints at commitment.

I’M TAKEN" is a polite way to turn someone down at a dance, like when you’re already paired up. The clue also hints that the answer splits into "I’M" and "TAKEN," which act as prefixes or suffixes for the starred clues—so each of those answers starts or ends with one half. For example, if a starred answer is "TAKENOTE," the "TAKEN" part comes from this clue. It’s a double-duty hint, tying the theme together.