Emma Bee and Her
First Dance Lesson

by E K Garrigan
(New York City)

Emma, Stacy and Amy huddled in the back of the classroom. Today was their first dance lesson as members of the hive. The teacher, Madam Barre, stood in front of the bees with her wings in perfect position.

“Today, ladies, we are going to refine our dancing technique,” she said, pivoting around in a perfect circle. Stacy and Amy gasped with excitement.

Emma tried to smile along with the girls, but she was worried. Emma had been told that she had four left wings before. She didn’t want to fail the hive, but she thought that dance lessons might be the hardest thing she ever had to do.

Madam Barre went through all the steps a bee was expected to know. She showed them how to waggle, and how to show other bees where flowers were in relation to the sun and hive.

Finally, Madam Barre lined all the girls up at the bar in front of the room. “Ladies, pretend that I am the sun. Remember, if the flowers are closer to the direction of the sun, you would waggle to me. If the flowers are far from the sun, waggle away from me.”

Stacy and Amy cheered at the thought of dancing. Emma crouched at the back of the line, hoping that her turn would never come.

“Stacy, attention! You will dance to me and show me that the flowers are far from the hive. So a nice long waggle.”

Stacy went first. Pretending that Madam Barre was the sun, she waggled towards her dance teacher for almost an inch.

“That was magnificent, Stacy, you showed that the flowers are almost a kilometer from the hive towards the direction of the sun. Amy, you are next. Pretend that the flowers are away from the sun, and close,” Madam Barre commanded.

Amy waggled away from Madam Barre for only a short distance. She waggled no more than two or three steps towards the line of girls.

“Excellent, Amy. Both of you girls understand the communication aspect of the dance. Now remember, you will add more to your repertoire as the week goes on. This is a good start.”

Emma stood alone at the other end of the classroom. Madam Barre nodded at her. “Ok, Emma, I want you to show me flowers that are towards the sun, and close to the hive.”

Emma started to waggle towards Madam Barre, but she tripped over her antennae. She righted herself and stopped. A few steps were close enough, she thought to herself.

Madam Barre frowned at Emma. “Well, Emma, you had the distance right, but you must learn not to trip over yourself. You do not want give the wrong signals off to the other bees.”

Madam Barre flapped her wings. “Ok, ladies, that is all for right now. I will see you all again tomorrow. We shall learn what a tremble means. Emma, please practice.” With that, she flew out of the dance room.

Emma flew out of the room before Stacy or Amy could say anything. She went on her daily flower search and practiced her moves on tulips and almond trees. She searched and practiced all day long, until she felt ready to dance in front of Madam Barre.

“I can do this,” she said to herself.

The next day, Emma was first in line to show Madam Barre her communication dance. She waggled towards the sun, showing off how far the flowers were.

“Emma,” cried Madam Barre, “what a marvelous improvement. Very good, keep up your work.”

Stacy and Amy clapped for Emma. Emma beamed, happy that she improved so quickly and could further help the hive.