Bear dancing refers to a form of entertainment in which bears were forced to perform dance-like movements, historically widespread from India to Anatolia, the Balkans, and across Europe. Rooted in the capture and violent training of wild animals, this practice relied on physical coercion and cruelty. In Turkey, bear dancing was especially prominent during the 19th and 20th centuries, commonly seen in streets, festivals, cabarets, and eventually on television. The tradition ultimately came to an end in the mid-1990s following years of advocacy and international pressure.
Historical Origins: From India to the Ottoman Empire
According to anthropologist Robert E. Bieder, bear dancing originated in India and was later spread westward by Romani communities, eventually becoming common in Anatolia and Europe. Mosaic depictions from Ancient Rome provide early evidence of bear performances. Archaeological finds, including bear skeletons discovered in Istanbul during metro and Marmaray excavations, indicate the practice existed in the Byzantine period as well.
During the Ottoman Empire, bear dancing was predominantly practiced by Romani groups and considered a legitimate profession. In the 17th century, Evliya Çelebi recorded the presence of 70 “bear handlers” in Istanbul. By the 19th century, traveling performers were required to obtain licenses and pay taxes, suggesting formal recognition of the trade.
The Training of Bears: Institutionalized Cruelty
Bear dancing typically began with the capture of bear cubs from the wild. Their teeth and claws were removed, and some were deliberately blinded. The cubs were then placed on hot metal plates; as their feet burned, they instinctively lifted them, creating a motion mistaken for dancing. Simultaneously, tambourines were played so the bear would associate the sound with pain. Even off the hot plate, hearing the tambourine triggered the same movements out of fear. A metal ring was pierced through the bear's nose, attached to a chain held by the trainer—who would use sticks or tug the chain to force the bear to “perform” when it hesitated. Given the extreme sensitivity of a bear’s nose, such methods caused severe suffering.
Legal Bans and Public Resistance
By the early 20th century, bear dancing had become a normalized part of urban life in Turkey. However, rising public concern over animal cruelty sparked early opposition. Founded in 1924, the Himaye-i Hayvanat Cemiyeti (Society for the Protection of Animals) campaigned against various forms of animal-based entertainment, including camel wrestling, cockfighting, and bear dancing. Their efforts led to an official ban on bear dancing in 1929. However, enforcement weakened shortly thereafter, and the practice returned.
The ban faced considerable public resistance. Numerous newspaper columns defended bear dancing as a cultural tradition and livelihood. Some even argued that the bears were “part of the family” and well-treated, or that the practice improved the bears’ lives. By the 1940s, bear dancing had shifted to Istanbul’s outer neighborhoods. A curious episode in 1933 saw bear handlers interrogated by Istanbul’s Political Police Branch after allegations that foreign Romani performers were using bear shows for espionage.
In the 1950s, the ban became largely symbolic as enforcement dwindled. By the 1960s, with Turkey’s growing tourism industry, bear dancing was debated from both ethical and image-related standpoints. Some viewed it as cruel and embarrassing in the eyes of foreign visitors, while others saw it as a testament to Turkish affection for animals. In 1969, the sight of bears performing during a state visit by West German Foreign Minister Willy Brandt reignited debate over the practice's place in modern Turkey.
Bears in Entertainment
Bear dancing was not limited to the streets. Beginning in the 1950s, bears began to appear in stage shows and cabarets. In 1956, a bear performing at Istanbul’s Hilton Hotel on New Year’s Eve was said to be a hit. In the 1970s and 1980s, several bears became fixtures in nightclub acts. Some media even credited them with saving failing venues. The entertainment industry extended to cinema, most notably with the 1990 film İmdat ile Zarife, which starred a bear named Ayşe. Behind-the-scenes reports revealed that the bear was often mistreated during production.
Barış Manço’s “Ayı” and Cultural Awareness
Released in 1992, Barış Manço’s song “Ayı” (“The Bear”) emerged as a symbolic work that raised public awareness about bear dancing. Through its lyrics, the song emphasized that love for animals should be based on mutual respect and offered an implicit critique of forcing bears out of their natural habitats to entertain people in urban settings. Although the music video did not depict bear dancing explicitly, the song contributed to growing public sensitivity toward the issue.
Barış Manço’s Song Titled "Ayı" (The Bear)
International Campaigns and the End of Bear Dancing
By the early 1990s, a new generation of animal rights organizations began forming in Turkey, many with links to international networks. In 1991, the Turkish Society for the Protection of Nature launched a campaign to ban bear dancing and establish rehabilitation centers. In 1992, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) accused Turkey of torturing bears for entertainment and initiated the “Freedom for Dancing Bears” campaign. With WSPA’s support, a temporary camp was established in Uludağ, where 23 rescued bears were relocated.
A pivotal moment occurred in 1993 when the UK’s Sunday Mirror published a photo of a dancing bear limping with a crutch in Marmaris. The image sparked outrage and prompted WSPA and the newspaper to launch an international fundraising campaign that quickly raised $1 million. With these funds and government cooperation, the remaining bears were rescued. By 1994, bear dancing had vanished from Turkish cities, and the few remaining practitioners ceased operations in rural areas soon after.
Dancing Bears in Istanbul – With Savaş Ay on A Takımı | 1993
The End of a Tradition
Once considered a legitimate trade and cultural tradition, bear dancing was ultimately abandoned through a combination of legal reform, public advocacy, and international pressure. What was once an accepted form of entertainment became recognized as a cruel violation of animal welfare. Today, bear dancing is banned and has effectively disappeared in Turkey, remembered as a relic of a less compassionate past.
