The story behind USask’s viral dancing dinosaur

By Chris Putnam

No one’s been waiting longer than dinosaurs for the BTS reunion.

Last week, one talented tyrannosaur in the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Museum of Natural Sciences got caught up in the excitement around the Korean pop group’s much-anticipated comeback. A 20-second video uploaded to the museum’s social media accounts shows the dino dancing to “Swim,” the latest hit BTS single, beneath USask’s famous mounted T. rex skeleton.

The video caption: “You’re never too old to love BTS”.

The USask community and the international BTS fandom—known as ARMY—quickly embraced the video, piling on thousands of likes and shares. On Tuesday, it was reshared on Instagram by BTS member Jungkook, massively adding to the viral clip’s momentum. More than half a million people have now watched it on Instagram and X.

The mysterious dancer in the T. rex costume is Dr. Erica Bird (PhD), manager of the Museum of Natural Sciences. She’s been a huge fan of BTS since her daughter introduced her to the group’s music in 2020.

“I fell in love with them because of their fantastic music and dancing, but also because of the positive messages they’ve always shared, inspiring fans and comforting them too. Their fandom is a powerful global force who amplify these messages and often act in ways that make the world a better place,” said Bird.

Although she looks at home in the suit, the inflatable T. rex costume isn’t the museum manager’s everyday work outfit. Staff and friends of the museum don it occasionally for special events or social media content.

Bird spent four days learning the beginner choreography for “Swim”—and patching up the aging T. rex suit with duct tape. She recorded the video at 6 am one day with no one around except some very confused USask custodians.

Bird has been overwhelmed by the response and thrilled to see fellow BTS fans reconnecting with the Museum of Natural Sciences through a shared love of music.

“I posted the dance video just to share some giggles with other ARMY in our community, and when the numbers started going up and up and then Jungkook liked and reposted it, it felt bonkers and surreal but I’m very happy the joy got spread so far!”

BTS is one of the world’s most popular music groups. After a nearly four-year hiatus while members of the band completed mandatory military service in Korea, BTS recently reunited and released a record-setting album titled ARIRANG. They launched a new world tour this month.

Bird will be attending a BTS concert in Toronto this August—but she’ll go as herself, not the dancing T. rex.