Question

Bars 31-32:  This dance ends with a three couple Knot and at the beginning of the 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th times through the 4^th couple is needed immediately to begin the half turns and reels of three on the sidelines. I have seen a suggestion on the Strathspey archive that on the last two bars of the Knot the dancing couple (in the middle) and the bottom couple dance left hands across half way so the dancing couple finish at the foot of the set. Is this the method you would recommend?

Answer

The devisor Roy Goldring would not have countenanced changing or modifying the knot at the end of the dance to ease the transition into 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th time through.

His preference was for the 1’s to finish the dance facing in (2^nd time through) and step down quickly  as the 4^th couple extend into the change of place on the sides. For less experienced or less energetic dancers, he considered it acceptable for the 1’s to finish the knot facing out and cast to the bottom as the 4’s step up.