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Abstract Manhole covers are potential “dancers”. They may leave their resting state and start “dancing”. They may hover, move up and down, tilt, rotate, bounce, make noise, flip over, or even fly up into the air. In general, their motion looks chaotic, probably due to the nonlinear dynamics governing the system. The authors have previously derived basic models of dancing manhole covers covering the translational vertical motion of free covers and the rotational motion of hinged covers. In the current contribution the basic model is extended with tilting (without hinge) and bouncing behavior. Some fundamental problems and assumptions are discussed. Preliminary numerical results are shown together with 3D visualizations. Scientific curiosity into a mysterious phenomenon has been the motivation for this study. The obtained equations governing the manhole cover’s motion may serve as boundary conditions in hydraulic-pneumatic models of sewer-manhole systems (think of geysering and ventilation).