Leaping Salmon

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1M dances out between 1L+2L and casts down round 2L to dance RH across with 1L+2L while 3L dances out between 2M+3M and casts up round 2M to dance RH across with 2M+3M all ending in original places
9-16 1L dances out between 1M+2M and casts down round 2M to dance LH across with 1M+2ML while 3M dances out between 2L+3L and casts up round 2L to dance LH across with 2M+3M all ending in original places
17-24 1s cross LH, cast 1 place and turn RH to face 1st corners
25-32 1s dance pass and turn with 1st corners and pass RSh to face 2nd corners, dance pass and turn with 2nd corners

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

Dance Information

This natural phenomenon is driven by instinct, with salmon overcoming various obstacles like waterfalls and rapids. They use their powerful tails and muscular bodies to propel themselves out of the water, often leaping several feet into the air in an effort to reach their destination. These leaps are crucial for navigating barriers and escaping predators, as the salmon are vulnerable while swimming in shallow or slow-moving water. The sight of leaping salmon is a sign of a healthy river ecosystem, as it indicates that these fish are successfully completing their life cycle and contributing to the continued survival of their species.

The reasons behind a salmon's leap vary depending on the species, water conditions, and obstacles they encounter along the way. The leap is not always successful, and many salmon will attempt multiple jumps before successfully passing a barrier. As they move upstream, salmon undergo a series of physical changes, such as an increase in size and the development of more vivid colours, which helps them navigate their way to breeding grounds. While the majority of their life is spent in the ocean, the leaping salmon's journey back to freshwater to spawn is a critical part of their life cycle, marking the culmination of years spent at sea.

Leaping Salmon At The Falls Of Shin, Scotland

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