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I have always considered the "backward shoulder stand" as the most dangerous behavior a trainer can do with a single feline. I also consider the "cover" as the most dangerous behavior a trainer can do with a group of feline's. You need a select group of animals to do the behavior, and I only recall Josip Marcan doing a cover well in recent history(last 25 years). Henri Dantes is often overlooked in the annuals of Wild Animal Training, and the two clips above illustrate the nicest, most dangerous "cover" that I have ever seen. Just incredible, and even I hold my breath each time I see it. I have often wondered if behavior's such as the "backward shoulder stand" and the "cover" are worth the danger involved in doing them for the audience response received. Henri Dantes appeared in the John Wayne circus movie Circus World, which is often times overlooked in favor of The Greatest Show on Earth. The second video is of Henri with, I assume his son's. Does any knowledgeable historian from across the "mackerel pond"(pay attention Jim Clubb that means you!!!!) have any more information about Mr. Dantes? I believe he died about 13 years ago, but that is all I know. I recall hearing about a female Wild Animal Trainer named Beatrice Dante. Is there any relationship with Henri?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
HENRI DANTES
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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4 comments:
Because of my lack of knowledge of the French language,I don't know much about him.I do know he was born in 1932 and died in 1997.
He was a pupil of Firmin Bouglione.
He worked under a lot of other names and trained acts with all sorts of wild animals.
Believe he was an inspector at a safaripark at the end of his career.
Rob.
I liked the part in the movie where John Wayne says he wants the cover done with tigers and a couple of scenes later the dude's doing it with tigers. And everyone thinks animal training is time consuming....ha! Piece of friggin cake!
Anonymous,
Over the years I used to wonder if, a "certain" animal act producer from Illinois, who is married to Walter Klausers daughter, who shall remain nameless, had seen this movie, because he also thought it was a "piece of cake" and that kind of stuff could be done in 10 minutes.
Wade
Beatrice Dante, also known as "Fifi", was a chimp trainer. I've seen a few photos of her with a group of young chimps. Later she worked in night clubs with single chimps. The chimps did a lot of tricks, she was a good trainer. As they got to about seven or eight years old and a little touchy in a close environment, she sold a few to Mike Kostial at the STL Zoo. Because of Mike's skill and the facility, the chimps stayed in show business for another four or five years.
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