Question:

In the formation "Turn and Cast", where should the dancing couple be positioned at the end of bar 2 of the turn?  Should they be  back out to the sides, heading into their cast at the end of this second bar to accommodate the second couple who is stepping up or just be starting toward the sides at the end of bar 2?

Answer:

To answer this, we must accommodate the size of the set and the ability of the dancers.  The Manual instructions could be interpreted as finishing bar 2 within the set but in an ideal world I would be looking for dancers to complete their second step back on the sidelines and continue dancing out and down on bar 3.  Describe it as "Complete the turn and dance through side position on bar 2 to cast on bars 3 and 4".

Whether or not this can be achieved will depend on the ability of the dancers and stepping up/down by the supporting couples may have to be more "in and up" (ref Manual 6.32.2).

'Technique' Classes spent considerable amounts of time, in the 60s and 70s, practicing just those two  bars, emphasising that the dancing couple should be back where they

started, facing out, at the end of bar 2.  Dancers should think of the first bar as "In-AND-Turn" leaving most of the second  bar for the return to the sidelines.