Question

Quoting from Book 32 (1984):

ʺ...2nd couple step up on bars 21-22ʺ

I would like to know your take on the stepping up bit.

Answer

The 1st couple, both dance bars 19-20 starting from the menʹs side, and 1st man, starting one place higher up, sort of hangs back while 1st woman catches up, and they arrive at the top, nearer hands often joined, level with 1st place. That means that 21-24 can be danced exactly as written. The wording of the dance is quite clear, and, I think, quite danceable. It was certainly taught, and danced, exactly as written, at Summer School in ʹ84. 1st couple danced in and up on 21-22, leaving the way clear for the 2nd couple to step up. This had the advantage that the 1st couple arrived for the Spoke exactly on time, and not the half a bar, or so, early that we see today socially.