Tunnel Through
Author: Traditional AmericanFormation: Square
Difficulty: 1
Style: American
| Figure: | |
| First couple balance and swing. | |
| Go down the middle, split the ring, separate, round the outside. | |
| When you get back home cross over, circle left with the opposite side couple, and finish near home place in two lines of three. | |
| Lines forward and back. Forward again, form a tunnel (middles also link hands with neighbours). | |
| Lone couple tunnel through, then swing while the tunnel turns half-way clockwise (end men push). | |
| Lone couple tunnel back. Turn the tunnel again. All swing. | |
| Break: | |
| See below. | |
| Each couple in turn leads the figure. | |
The dance isn't phrased to the music - watch the dancers and call to them.
You need a break involving all four couples, which traditionally comes before the first figure, after the second figure and at the end. I don't normally walk through breaks, even with newcomers; I just tell them it will involve figures they've already learnt this evening. Be inventive! Don't be afraid to challenge them a little. For instance: Everybody swing... your corner. Now run back home and swing your own.
Other possibilities: do-si-do your corner. Do-si-do your partner. Heads go forward and back. Forward again and do-si-do your opposite. Sides the same. Breaks don't have to involve complicated figures like all four ladies chain three-quarters; it's the unexpected that they enjoy, provided they can cope with it.
Music: Unphrased (not too tuneful) American reels. Bernie Chalk used Ragtime Annie
- here's one version of the tune - though he got confused if bands played the C-music.Thumbnail: Balance & swing, split the ring, circles, lines forward and back, moving tunnel.