The Dancing Bear

GIANT!- RWCMD 2023

The Dancing Bear - GIANT!

Dancing bears were a common form of entertainment at medieval fairs. The use of dancing bears was one such form of entertainment that drew crowds and provided amusement. Trainers, often known as bear leaders, would train bears to perform tricks, such as dancing to music, standing on their hind legs, or moving in coordinated ways. I created a ‘walk-about’esk puppet, with my legs as the bears’ and the body in front of me, controlling it from behind. Using mostly repurposed materials, this puppet is composed of dyed hessian, withies, distressed rope, wadding and plasterzote.

Directed by Lucy Hall and Dik Downey

Puppet Designed by Eleanor Rogers

Puppet Made by Eleanor Rogers

In Collaboration with Louis Smith and Ruby Brown

Click images to expand…

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The Ping Thing