WELCOME TO AN ENTERTAINMENT SITE FOR SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS!
Enjoy this curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Jun 7
June Bug Days
The May Beetle's Dance
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Who flies like a drunk driver,
lurching through the nighttime sky?
The May Beetle Called a June Bug
In the Middle of July"
~Jamie Tanner, "The May Beetle"
Devised to commemorate an inquisitive unexpected dancer of the "insect-kind" who happened upon a dance class, this 40 bar reel for 4 couples (and any wandering beetles) was devised by Jamie Tanner will keep you reeling!
If, however, a beetle does come to visit during a Scottish Country Dance and decides to join the set, folklore suggests you may be in for a spell of good luck. In many traditions, a beetle alighting on you was considered a fortunate sign, and some even believed that if a beetle landed on someone who was ill, it would carry the illness away. Whatever you do, don't harm the beetle—woe betide the person who does!
As summer dancing season arrives, be mindful of wandering beetles, curious moths, and other tiny guests that may flutter, flitter, or scurry into a set. And in some locales, it is always wise to shake out your ghillies before putting them on!
Have you ever had an unexpected creature crash a dance? Do tell!! 🕺 💃 ❤️ 🖤 ❤️ 💚 🐛 🐜 🐝 🐞 🐞 🐞
The May Beetle's Dance
Jamie Tanner's latest poetic endeavor, inspired by the appearance of "June Bugs/May Beetles/July Insects" at a Thursday rehearsal of The Red Thistle Dancers.
Jamie: "May beetles have extremely limited abilities to perform Scottish Country Dance, but you have to give them credit for trying."
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WHO flies like a drunk driver,
lurching through the nighttime sky?
The May Beetle
Called a June Bug
In the Middle of July
Who sees the Red Thistles Dancers,
and wants to give SCD a try?
The May Beetle
Called a June Bug
In the Middle of July
Who when thrown out the door,
turns to smack Dilip in the eye?
The May Beetle
Called a June Bug
In the Middle of July
~ Jamie Tanner, middle of July, 2018
June beetle is the common name for several scarab beetles that appear around June in temperate parts of North America: The green June beetle is active during daylight hours. The adult is usually 15–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long with dull, metallic green wings; its sides are gold and the head, legs and underside are very bright shiny green. Their habitat extends from Maine to Georgia, and as far west as California.
Although some may not think of them as attractive, nevertheless, the phrase “cute as a June bug” is a common expression, particularly in the American south.
For a set of jeweled colour beetles and bugs that are quite beautiful, click the dancing beetle!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
