Crossing the Deadly Desert

by Sue McKinnell

5X40 Reel for 5C
Set Dance

Bars

1-4

All five couples cross RH with partners. 1C and 3C cast off one place while 2C steps up and 4C crosses up.

5-8

2C and 5C chase halfway around the set to change places while 1C and 3C turn partners LH to face 1^st corner positions.

9-12

1C and 3C set to corners and dance around partners RS to end in the corner position diagonally opposite from where they were facing while corners set, dance into the center and pull RS back to face positions.

13-16

Corners set and dance around person behind them to end in the corner diagonally opposite from where they started (bar 9) while 1C and 3C set, dance into the center and pull RS back to face 2^nd corner positions.

17-24

Repeat bars 9-16 from new positions, actives ending facing partner’s 1^st corner position.

25-32

Repeat bars 9-16 from new positions, actives ending back to back with partners, women facing up and men facing down.

33-40

1W and 2C, 1M, 3W, and 4C, and 3M and 5C all RH across. 1C and 3C turn partners LH and cast off one place as 4C and 5C step up. Ending order is 2, 4, 1, 5, 3.

Repeat.

Suggested music is Beal's Reel from Tartan Capers.

This dance gets its name from the book Ozma of Oz where the people from OZ have to cross the Deadly Desert to get to the Nome King’s kingdom to rescue the people of the Land of Ev. All the setting and moving seemed like what one might have to do to avoid all that hot sand.

10/10