Bears have been trained to dance by almost all known gypsy communities since the dawn of time. The gypsies of Walachia, Serbia, Russia and Asia Minor were once famed bear trainers. Bulgarian gypsies, too, used to raise bear cubs in their own homes, as if they were members of the family. Trained to dance to the sound of music, later they began to serve as bread-earners for their masters.

The establishment of the Dancing Bears’ Park near the town of Belitza, in SW Bulgaria, put an end to this practice. Today, the tormented animals from all over the country have found shelter and professional care there.