Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Sounding The Deep

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

SOUNDING THE DEEP (R4x24) 4C set Barry Skelton Dolphin Book

1- 8 1s and 4s set, cross to 2nd/3rd places (1s RH and 4s LH), change places LH on sides and chase clockwise to end 1s between 2s and 4s between 3s
9-16 1s+2s also 4s+3s dance Alternating Tandem RSh reels of 3 across (1s and 4s dancing as 1 person)
17-24 1s+4s dance ½ RH across, set to partner and dance ½ Figs of 8 round 2s/3s. 2413

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)


Dance Information

The title of this dance probably refers to one of the first instruments used to examine the depth and contents of the seafloor using a sounding weight.

Ancient Viking sailors took measurements of sea depth and sampled seafloor sediments with this instrument, which consisted of a lead weight with a hollow bottom attached to a line.

Once the weight reached the sea bottom and collected a sample of the seabed, the line was hauled back on board ship and measured.



Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Deep-sea exploration article on Wikipedia.

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