the Dancing Bears
Contra Dancing in Anchorage, Alaska
About the Dancing Bears
The Dancing Bears was founded in 1981 by a group of young musicians and dancers who enjoyed jamming and dancing to traditional old timey music. The objective was to create informal events where people could gather to have fun, socialize, hear, and dance to traditional music performed live by local Alaskan musicians. The offical mission of Dancing Bears was adopted. --
"Dedicated to promoting traditional dance and music in Alaska"
Forty years later, some of the original founders of Dancing Bears actively participate in events as dancers, callers, and/or musicians.
The Early Days
Today
Dancing Bears remain a vibrant welcoming community of active dancers, and encourages participation by people of all ages.
One of our earliest pamphets explaining Who and What we are.
Disgusta Prom - L to R - Bart Hawkins, Shonti Elder, Nan Donnelly, Jonathan Pershing, Laura Mae Smith, Sally Kabisch, Betsey Howard, Kenny Powers, Gay Pulley, Brian Donnelly,
Frosty Morning String Band - L to R - Kenny Karabelnikoff, Shonti Elder, Dave Hawley (mostly hidden behind Shonti), Jim Haack, Jim Wolfe, Rich Flanders, Michael Donahue, Sally Kabisch, Sally Newton
