Hi, I'm getting ready for an "introduction to contra" workshop at our local folk festival next weekend. I've been looking at some of the 'chestnut' dances. Partly to learn more about the background, but I'd also like to teach a simple one for everyone to try. I've found this traditional version of Lady Walpole's Reel in "The Country Dance Book." A1: Balance and swing neighbor; A2: Actives down the center, turn alone, come back and cast; B1: Ladies chain over and back; B2: Promenade across; Right and Left thru back. On various web pages I've also found this version which I thought might be a bit easier as the dancers stay connected. It has A2: 4 in line down the hall, turn alone and come back, cast off. This doesn't seem right to me. In the traditional version the actives cast around the inactive neighbor they had just swung, thus giving the progression. However, in this second version, the actives are on the ends of the lines, so the inactive neighbors are casting around and no progression occurs (as well as men not ending up with women on their right to start the chains). I would have thought it should be A2: 4 in line down the hall, as couple turn, come back, cast off (as in David Smuckler's Stopping By Woods and Tony Parkes' Woods Hole Jig). Could someone clarify? I may be missing something obvious as I'm thinking more like a square dancer. Can you chain the ladies when the men have them on their left? If so that would fix it, but the flow and hand availability doesn't seem right. Thanks. Cheers, Bill