Tom Fromm wrote:
43. WHEEL AND DEAL FAMILY: Starting formation -line(s) of four facing in the same direction or a two-faced line.

(a) WHEEL AND DEAL (from a line of four):. The left hand couple only takes a step forward. The couples wheel (180°) toward the center of the line with the center dancer of each couple acting as the pivot point about which the couples turn. The couple that started on the right half of the line wheels in front of the other couple. Both couples end facing the same direction with the original left hand couple standing behind the original right hand couple.

(b) WHEEL AND DEAL (from a two-faced line): Each couple steps straight ahead one step. Each couple then wheels (180°) toward the center of the line with the center dancer of each couple acting as the pivot point about which the couples turn. Couples end facing each other.

Jim Penrod Note:
This call can also be used from a Tidal Two Face Line which is really covered in b. above.

STYLING: Use couple handholds. Inside dancers serve as the pivot point and should exert slight pressure to assist as in any wheel around movement.

TIMING: 4 steps.

When getting ready to teach Wheel and Deal from lines facing out, I will tell them the definition for this set-up. I will then ask, who are the left hand dancers in the line? I will then ask the left hand couple to take a step forward. Then I will say "oh heck, take another step forward, it might be easier for you to see". Then I will tell them that we are going to do something like a Wheel Around. I will say for the dancer that is in the center, when I say, to back up, as the dancer on the end will walk forward. I will tell the left hand couple that took a step forward, that they will end looking at the backs of the others. I will tell them that they will all be facing the opposite direction that they are now. Now I will have the couple on the right, wheel around, and go into the middle, and face that other couple. Next, I will tell the left hand couple to make sure the end dancer is walking forward, and the other backs up, do a sort of wheel around. I'll say that they will be looking at the backs of the others. After a few times, I will tell them, that we all need to do our parts at the same time. I will say that this action all takes place in one smooth motion.

I will repeat this several times, making sure to change left and right hand dancers. I will walk through several times, "cueing" till they are getting comfortable. I will use this call from in-facing lines, mostly to make sure they understand right hand/left hand. I will warn them that it is going to be crowded.

I will wait at least two weeks, before introducing Wheel and Deal from two face lines. I will have them as normal couples. I will tell them that we are going to look at another type of wheel and deal. I will tell them that everyone is going to take a step forward, then wheel around to face the couple that is in our two face line. I will then have them walk through it slowly. After a couple times walking through, I will use it from several different partner pairings. I will only use it from right hand two face lines to start. If I got started early enough in the lesson, I will introduce left hand toward the end of the same night. Otherwise, I will wait till the next lesson.

If I am having trouble with a couple or two, I will say that we are sort of doing half of a couples trade, then bending the line. I will walk them through a couples trade, and count the steps with them. Then I will say let's do only 3 steps of the couples trade and stop. Then I will say bend the line.

A couple of weeks later, I will "play" with sashayed couples, as well as left hand two face lines. This is something that can very quickly overwhelm the new dancers, so I will take it easy. Once again, it is more important to be sure that the dancers understand, than the speed of getting it done.