WELCOME TO An Entertainment Site for Scottish Country Dancers - Enjoy the 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!
World Lizard Day
Aug 14
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Leapin' lizards!"
~ Little Orphan Annie, 1924
The expression "Leaping lizards!" became popular in the United States during the early 20th century, largely due to its use in the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie." This dance, however, was originally devised for a silver wedding anniversary and got its title from a comic book that the devisor remembered: "I originally named the dance “Leapin’ Lizards” after an outcry habitually uttered by an ancient cowboy hero in the “Eagle” comic paper which I used to get as a kid. I later changed the name to “Lowpin Lizards” on a recommendation to mean “jumping” in the Scots dialect." Lucky lizards use their tails to correct the angle of their bodies when they leap! For us tail-less dancers, however, we must rely on two legged balance skills alone. This 32 bar jig contains many direction changes but only two places with pas de basques lizardy leaps! 🦎🦎🦎
Lowpin Lizards
Aug 14th is World Lizard Day!
From house geckos to bearded dragons to leopard geckos, lizard lovers around the world are rejoicing in celebration of a favorite reptile. There are around 6,000 species of lizards, on all continents except Antarctica. Bearded dragons and leopard geckos are the most popular pet lizards.
There are only two known venomous lizards, the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) and the beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum). The Komodo dragon is suspected to have a venomous bite, but that is still in dispute.
The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the largest lizard species in the world. It can grow to 10 feet in length and weigh 300 pounds. One of the smallest lizard is the Brookesia micra, a chameleon species native to Madagascar. Researchers say that Brookesia micra reaches a length of slightly more than half an inch, not including their prehensile tail. It was discovered in 2012.
Toast your pet lizard with the namesake cocktail, "Screaming Lizard," (made with Tequila and Chartreuse for that perfect lizard colour), and see more of "Pringle" the lizard's extensive wardrobe by clicking one of this best-dressed bearded dragon's special outfits, a kilt and tam o'shanter.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
