Question:

I should be grateful if you could ask the Technique Advisory Panel how they would prefer teachers to deal with bars 15 and 16 of this dance.

Book 42, and also the Bankhead Book, say the 2^nd couple dance up to first place on own sides.   Some teachers like to follow this strictly, and they have the 2^nd couple simply dance up and straight out to the side on bar 16.

However, Book 42 Teaching Notes, issued to staff at St Andrews 2002, indicates the 2^nd couple should cast into place on bar 16.

Answer:

Both versions work well and teachers worldwide have their preferred version.  The instructions would seem to indicate dancing into place without a casting movement.  However members of Summer School staff in 2002 were instructed to teach bar 16 of this dance with 2^nd couple casting.  Both versions are out there.  Casting calls for a longer step, so is more challenging, but it is also more sociable and flows well for the entry to the next formation.