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But he’d probably explain a lot of other things too. If you asked Bear himself, he’d explain the bears on Bear’s Choice weren’t dancing at all. It was artist Bob Thomas who put the bears in a circle around the back cover. It was also the first release of music from what Owsley called his Sonic Journals, vérité documents of his work as a sound engineer. It was a tribute to Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, who’d passed away that spring. The bears that you know first appeared in July 1973 on the Grateful Dead live album, The History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One: Bear’s Choice.

But, as you may have noticed, there sure are a lot of them. That’s a lot for some little cuddly bears. In addition to being the Grateful Dead’s first in-house audio engineer and a pioneer who helped transform live concert sound, Owsley was also the most legendary underground LSD chemist in history, a story inseparable from the history of the Dead - and, for that matter, perhaps the entirety of Western culture over the past half-century. And they’re some excellent tracks to leave behind. Owsley Stanley, also known as the Bear, or just Bear, made many tapes. He was born Augustus Owsley Stanley III in 1935, though he hated the “Augustus” and had it legally changed later on. The Bear in question is also the person responsible for that recording and many more, by the Grateful Dead and others. JESSE: That was the Grateful Dead on June 28th, 1969 in Santa Rosa, California, covering Porter Wagoner’s “Ol’ Slew Foot” and answering the musical question: “Does a bear drop in the woods?” JERRY GARCIA : Only if there’s someone there to hear it. Does a bear drop in the woods? That is the question. PHIL LESH : This song is about bear drops. These bears might look cuddly and cute, but there’s a bit more to the story. But they’re everywhere, an iconography permanently associated with the Grateful Dead.īut why bears? And why are they dancing? It’s kind of like asking what egg-laying rabbits have to do with Easter, but there’s a lot more LSD involved. Maybe you love them, maybe you hate them.

When there are baseball games, people wear them as costumes and dance on top of the dugout. They’re on sweatshirts and scarves and golf balls and pretty much anything you can put a dancing bear on.

Grateful dead dancing bears gif license#

They’re on license plate holders and stickers that get stuck on bathroom mirrors in bars. Maybe you’ve never even heard of the Grateful Dead before and you accidentally clicked on this somehow - you’ve still seen these bears, trust me. This tradition is a living testament to the enduring connection between the people of Romania and the land they call home.JESSE: You know the dancing bears. But as you watch this captivating ritual, have you ever wondered about its deeper significance? Beyond the colorful spectacle, the Dance of the Bear is a reflection of Romania’s rich cultural tapestry, a reminder of the beliefs and customs that have been passed down through generations. In the midst of it all, the singing bear tamers and the rhythmic beat of drums create an atmosphere that transports you to a bygone era. The procession, at times accompanied by up to 24 bears, embarks on a journey through the village, visiting every household.

Men clad in bear skins come together, their movements a mesmerizing dance meant to banish malevolent spirits and usher in the new year. As you witness the Dance of the Bear, you’re drawn into a world where traditions stretch back through the ages. But this performance is more than just an exhibition it’s a time-honored tradition, a vibrant fusion of culture and spirituality. Is it folklore or an ancient ritual brought to life? The Dance of the Bear unfolds as a mesmerizing spectacle, where men don real bear skins and dance to the enchanting beat of pan flutes and drums.