Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-12-17
GRIZZLY BEAR
Takes THE EAST
III YOU CAN'T DANCE 1T, YOUR
EDUCATION IN GYRATIoNs
IL HELD LACKING.
ALL ELSE IS IN DISCARD
i'nt II Il Held by Professor 10 BE 4
perfectly Nice, ,Tuneful and En-
joyable Amusement"

Nevertheless and Notwithstanding,
II you can't dance the grizzly bear"
| you must realize that there is serious
deficit in your education, because, in
society," the grizzly bear" Is making
the turkey trot" appear as prim and
old-fashioned as a square dance.
An instance OF this Is afforded In a
junior cotillon which took place at
Sherrys, that famous resort In New
York City. the other night. No CO.
tillon was danced. however, owing to
me almost universal desire Of tho
younger set 10 dance the grizzly
bear"
TO bo sure, Mayor Fitzgerald OF
Boston recently announced that IL the
grizzly bear were danced In any of
the halls Of that city It would be suf-
ficient warrant for a revocation OF
the license OF the place in which It
was allowed.
But Ii May BE Abused.
Alviene, the instructor of many
young men and women in the four
hundred, declares, however, that the
grizzly bear Is perfectly nice tune
ful. enjoyable dance, only, like other
good things, 1t may be abused. ....
In its correct form It Is quite SIM
Pile and delightful" he explained. 1T
begins at one two-step measure,
danced to one side. and a second two
| step measure dance TO the other.
Then. clasped with uplifted hands
the dancers take four half-tlme steps
in circle. 1t is this move of the
dance which is its distinguishing fea-
ture and from which the name was
derived, for the motion combined
with the uplifted arms reminds one
Of the pictures of grizzly bear rear
Ing up and advancing to meet its
enemy
After the half-time steps, the two
step measures follow again and then
the grizzly bear movement Is re-
peated.
Personally do not believe the
dance particularly pretty or graceful.
But, like the Boston and other recent
favorites, 1t lends itself to freedom
Of movement and a certain romping
tendency common among young peo-
pie. However, when 1t Is properly
danced, there is nothing offensive to
modesty." p
But there are plenty OF possibilities
In the grizzly bear improperly danced,
and Alviene Is quick to admit that.
Then It's Hugging Match.
I'm certain circles even the name Is
not understood he declares. 1T Is
believed to mean that the dancers
must stand extraordinarily close to-
gother, in imitation Of the grizzly bear
hug. That is why spectators have
sometimes asserted that 1t resembled
a hugging match. In this undignified
and improper position. the man ex-
tends his arms straight forward, rest
Ing each hand under his girls arms.
The girl puts her arms directly
around the shoulders of the man, and
they are as close together as they can
be and move.
THE most offensive feature ever In
the grizzly bear dance consists of the
body movements. Needless to say. all
these motions are not only ugly but
offensive to refined taste. They were
originally copied from the most de-
PRAYED stage dances. But they GER
tainly are an accepted part Of the
grizzly bear as It Is now and then
danced. for reckless gayety gets the
upper hand of social decorum very
often"