the Dancing Bears
907-566-2327
Contra Dancing in Anchorage, Alaska
Dancing Bears
is a nonprofit, member run, participant oriented, dance organization located in Anchorage, Alaska.
Contra Dancing is our most popular activity, featuring live traditional music performed by local bands. Contra Dancing is an energetic enjoyable activity that promotes healthy life stlye, and provides an excellent opportunity to socialize and meet new friends. We dabble in some square dances too.
Because most of our activities are organized and staffed by enthusiastic volunteers, we do our best to keep event costs down.
Explore this website to learn more about Dancing Bears, our organization, and the activities we sponsor.
Plan to attend an event soon and join in the fun!
Plus -- We offer GREAT discount admission prices to first time dancers, and to Students.
Our events are Special
Attend a dance and See Why!
Welcome
Events
Stay Connnected
Most Contra Dances are held at Wendler Middle School or Romig MS in Anchorage Friday at 7:30. Plus, there's even more fun in The Valley! Check out the Palmer Dance Schedule. All of our dances are listed on the Events Calendar link.
The foremost event of the year, is Dance Camp, held each Memorial Day weekend, at Kings Lake near Wasilla.
See our events & calendar page.
The Bear Phone 907-566-2327 (BEAR) also provides the latest information on events and sometimes location changes.
Get the latest announcements!
Delivered to your Email.
Kind of like square dancing in a line. We don't require you to attend lessons or wear special costumes. Learn just by coming to your first dance, but come early. The first dances of the evening are the easiest!
Did You Know?
It's True! I Read It on the Internet!
For other great dance opportunities, check the Other Groups link for more informantion.
Suscribe to the Listserver via the
"Contact Us" page.
SEE OUR FULL SCHEDULE!!!
Help us keep the dance and music magic happening in Alaska…
As we are all aware by now, Dance Camp and the rest of our dances for the season have been
cancelled. Hopefully, we will again be dancing to fine live music come September.
What you may not know is that the Dance Camp Auction is the Dancing Bears’ primary fund
raiser each year. It not only helps pay for Camp and Camp Scholarships, but it also funds the
Bears’ ongoing organizational expenses and all our dances each year. Alas, our dances
average a loss of over $215 each time we have one, sometimes more! And, there are assorted
unavoidable financial obligations (storage/insurance/equipment/website/printing/etc.) for the
Dancing Bears organization as well as for this year’s Camp that couldn’t happen.
No Dance Camp means that our wonderful Guest Artists and Sound Engineers have lost a
piece of their livelihood—and our cancellation is only one of many for them. We want to help
support them in these lean times. Our plan is to hire them for future Camps as well as to
compensate them for their time and efforts already invested in the 2020 Camp.
No Dance Camp means that many of us who usually renew our memberships when we sign up
for Camp have memberships that are expiring. We want our organization to continue its strong
presence in the community. Memberships are an important source of revenue to cover basic DB
overhead so forgetting to renew, or not renewing until we start dancing in the fall, can cause
financial challenges for us.
DB members have been fabulously generous over the years. We are asking you, please, help
us provide for the Bears’ future dances and ensure our ability to cover our ongoing operating
expenses. If you could find it in your heart to share what you might have paid for a dance, for
Camp, for an auction item, or for some other item that this virus has not let you spend on, we
promise to use your contribution well. And, lastly, we want you to renew your membership
sooner rather than later. It’s easy to do.
You can donate to the Bears’ cause and/or renew your membership with a check sent to:
(See https://www.thedancingbears.org/Membership.html for the membership form info.)
Dancing Bears
PO Box 200366
Anchorage, AK 99520
Or, if you prefer, we have a credit card option for donations and for membership renewal at
https://thedancingbears.square.site/ or on our website at thedancingbears.org.
With a virtual Bear Hug of thanks from your 2020 volunteers,
Dancing Bears Board of Directors
Brian, John, MaryBeth, Michelle, Ron, Sonja
Dancing Bears Dance Camp Wizards
Linda, Barb, Bob, Brenna, Cindy, Claudia, David, John,
MaryBeth, Peg, Rashmika, Veronica
