Thursday, 4 April 2013

Instructions for Bear Dancing - Part 2


As I've mentioned before, I love a good bear dance party. And with Bear Pit at the Imperial only a week and a bit away, below are more tips for the uninitiated...

Rule 2: Under no circumstances are you to raise your hands above your shoulders.

We’ve all heard everyone from Taio Cruz to Kylie imploring you to raise your hands up. Like Usher, I too sometimes throw my hand up in the air and say, "ay-yo" (not like a Telly Tubbie). But these activities are not appropriate while bear dancing. Bear dancing is all about defensible space. Paws are to be closed like fists, and marched in a cross between shadow boxing and chest beating.  Think the Duracell bunny without the drum. Jazz hands are right out! Besides, with the average bear paw way heavier than the average hand, rotator cuffs simply can’t cope.  Keep it below the shoulder. Bears don’t need an index finger to make their point.


Variation: Jail-breaking / jack-hammering

For the experienced bear dancer, lower your fists to your thighs and lean back.  Like your arms are thick, hairy jail bars. Now tilt your shoulders in turn like your chest is trying unsuccessfully to wriggle through the bars and escape.  Or like you’re a hot tradie holding a wobbly jackhammer. Congratulations, you've mastered the variation known as jail-breaking or jack-hammering  It’s all about keeping that chest hair and ample musculature under control. This is perhaps also why so many bears choose to wear a leather harness while dancing. When you've that much hair, letting your hair down takes on a whole new meaning. Under control means stayin' alive.




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