• Feature

The 9 Bear Boogie

Feb 26, 2021
by Jessica MacDonald

Among the behaviours you wouldn’t expect from a polar bear, dancing has to be high on the list. That hasn’t stopped Inuit artists’ imaginations though, as they portray bear after bear twerking, drum dancing and even discoing to a thumping beat.


KuptanaFloydBallroomDancer

Floyd Kuptana
Ballroom Dancer (2005) Steatite and marble 9.5 × 6 × 2 in
Courtesy Spirit Wrestler Gallery



MassiemichaelMyDreamsOfaDancingBear

Michael Massie
My Dreams of a Dancing Bear (1991)
Courtesy IAF

PilakapsiTarsisBearDancingForHerCub

Tarsis Pilakapsi
Bear Dancing For Her Cub (n.d.) ivory, steatite base 5 × 5 × 2 in Courtesy Spirit Wrestler Gallery

PangnerkIlluitokEmilyBearDrumdancer

Emily Pangnerk Illuitok
Bear Drumdancer (n.d.) Ivory 2 × 2 × 0.5 in
Courtesy Spirit Wrestler Gallery

AtchealakDavieDancingBearOnASeal

Davie Atchealak
Dancing Bear on a Seal (1980)
Courtesy IAF

NattukPhilomenaDancingBear

Philomen Nattuk
Dancing Bear (n.d.) Ivory 2 × 0.75 × 0.75 in
Courtesy Spirit Wrestler Gallery

QimirpikNuyaliaqDancingBear

Nuyaliaq Qimirpik
Dancing Bear (c.1995) Serpentine 10.75 × 10.5 × 4 in
Courtesy Spirit Wrestler Gallery

UllulaqJudasDancingBear

Judas Ullulaq
Dancing Bear (n.d.) Pyroxene 7.25 × 5.5 × 4 in
Courtesy Spirit Wrestler Gallery

KillikteeSimeonieDancingBear

Simeonie Killiktee
Dancing Bear (n.d) Serpentine 8 × 8 × 5 in
Courtesy Spirit Wrestler Gallery