YOU SAID:

the elephant walked across the tight rope in a skirt

INTO JAPANESE

象はスカートの綱渡りを歩いていました

BACK INTO ENGLISH

The elephant was walking on a tightrope in a skirt

INTO JAPANESE

象はスカートの綱渡りを歩いていた

BACK INTO ENGLISH

The elephant was walking on a tightrope in a skirt