Wanna donate money to our baby Noah Darwin‘s college fund?
Click below. Any amount—even a buck—is appreciated. With a donation of $10 or more, we will send you a free pipecleaner man (well, not really free—ten dollars is a lot to pay for a pipecleaner, but satisfaction is gauranteed). Don’t forget to leave us your shipping address!
New Features!
I have just added keyboard control. You can now access poses 1-12 with keys a,s,d,f,g,h,j,k,l,v,b,n
Note: You mist first click somewhere on the image before it will sense the key presses. Enjoy! Now you can refer to dance poses by key name. If you come up with some good dance combos, please submit them.
Choose your song
Now you have a choice of two 80s favorites! Grove is in the Heart by Dee-Lite, or Kenny Loggins’ Footloose.
Tips
Using the keyboard will allow you to choreograph your own routines … for example, try the Wave (H-G-F) the Head-banger (A-V-A-V) or the Butt-slapper (B-D-B-D-B-D). Submit your own and I’ll post them.
History
Back by popular demand. One night, late at night back in 1998 when I was at Cornell, I was sitting at my computer after having just gotten one of the early Logitech webcams. I was trying to figure out a way to add video to my website. Back then, 56K connections were the norm so standard video would not cut it. Anyway, I needed something to experiment with. I had a package of pipe cleaners on my desk and without really thinking about it, built the pipecleaner man. I started making a stop-motion video of the pipecleaner man. Then I tried to make forward, rewind, stop, and play buttons for the pipecleaner man. At one point, while messing with the buttons I had made, I started playing the video backwards and forwards and it looked like he was dancing. It dawned on me that it would be lots of fun to be able to control him, so I made little buttons with different poses, and that’s how the pipecleaner dance was born. Soon, the page became immensely popular and I was getting lots of hits and email from fans all over the world. The Clevland Plain Dealer called me and included the pipecleaner dance in an article about wacky personal web pages. Anyway, at some point my site moved on, and the pipecleaner dance was left behind on a backup CD. I’ve gotten email over the past few years asking where he went. I finally found him today after someone left a comment on davidbessler.com asking for his return. SO, here he is. I left him at his original address.
Plans for the future
I am working on another, as well as some improvements to the Pipecleaner Dance. Keep checking back.
davidbessler.com 
Very nice dancing.I tested it with a great brazilian song and it did pretty good job 🙂
Love the pipecleaner man, view him almost everyday since found him. I’m in love, always makes me laugh!
Dancing pipeleaner man was sent to me by my sister and I have forwarded him several times. He always makes me smile. Have you noticed the slight resemblance to Kevin Bacon?
A friend forwarded this to me because my wife and I won a dance competition to the song Footloose … I LOVE THIS! Awesome job!
We enjoyed the pipe cleaner… I has it forwarded to me at work and it changed my mood lol so I had to send it to Todd. Do u have any other comedy things?
lol… i have nver had soo much fun with a pipecleaner EVER!! Loved it and will share it with my friends!
Man, this kis AWESOME! Napoleon Dynamite has nothing on this guy!
Wow that is dang awsome. MAybe you can make a danceing partner for it. 🙂
usually i’m easily amused, but if i weren’t, man this would still be the greatest thing ever in life 🙂
Hey i love the dance it was great!!!!!!
i love the dance it was soooo freckin fetch!!!
I’m not easily amused these days but this was an exception! Great stuff!
I want that video for my xanga site. But everytime i try it fails. Why????????????? I just want him to dance for my friends on xanga!!
Please help me.
This really made my day.
can’t….stop….dancing! Footloose was the perfect song for this!!
We love it! Thanks for this, we’re going to somehow use this at our wedding. We’ll put it on a big jumbo screen!!! Perfectly choreographed to our first song. Yeah! that’s it!!
Thank You, Thank You……
I loved it made me smile on what was a real bad day.
I will forward this to other so they can smile too.
Very funky….Very hip…..But Totally COOOOOOL MAN!!!! You know I must didn’t have anything important today but watch a pipe cleaner dance!!!!! BUT STILLL TOTALLY COOL…Let me go and watch again!!!! DANCE PIPE MAN!
Thank you for brightening my day!
i love the pipe dancer, it was really cool. and i love the osng footloose, so i made the dancer, dance really wil. it was fun!
I love the pipecleaner dancer! Anytime I ‘m in a bad mood I just make him dance.
Wonderful tool for any choreographer. Pipe cleaner dancer is so versatile because it allows for a wide variety of combination of move at varying speeds. Thank you so much for creating this sophisticated professional tool for those of us in the dance world.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAAA! I can’t believe tttttttttttttttttthat this is on the web…it’s sooo cute and fun to play with. Thank you for something so simple. 🙂
I start the day with a pipe workout and it makes me feel good and laugh for the rest of the day! Thanks!
Nice
crazy beats that frog a real possibility for take off
This the coolist thing that you could do. I did this for a half hour and enjoyed every min. Thank you, Lou
THIS IS STUPID
a dancer myself, I had fun putting the dude thru the paces! lol. you really created something fun and whacky…I dig it…thanks…btw, any chance you will be giving him even more poses??? The “choreography” could get really gnarly…woohooo!
I have never danced so well in my life. Vicariously, through the pipe cleaner dancer, I was able to show off moves I wouldn\’t even dream of doing myself – I could hurt myself doing some of those – and was able to even take a bow or two at the end. THANKS! for allowing me a chance to boggie on down the road.
I heart the Pipecleaner Man! That just totally made me giggle – a tall order today, let me assure you. I’m going to blog about him if you want to check it out later – http://www.blogcharm.com/thespinningpen.
🙂
Leigh
Cute and fun! Makes me want to get up and dance! Very clever of you. Thanks
I LOVE THIS LITTLE GUY!! I sent it to my sister and she loves it because it keeps her 4 y/o entertained for quite sometime! Thanks for spending the time to make us smile and laugh.
It was so funny and I loved the dance. One question, what did it have to do with Jesus on the Cross? They do not go together. -AT ALL. very cute but Easter is coming – we all better get serious for a change. I love the dance and music but the world is going to hell in a hand basket.
That is so much fun! Found myself dancing along. Thanks!!
HES SOOOOOOOO COOL
CUTE!! ^_^
Very nice. Good Job. Hey! What about some more pcp(pipecleaner people) in the near future? Do they have any pets? Thanks for making my day.=)
Hi David,
Your little PC man is really ‘cool’…I will be sending it onto my Grandchildren…a simple little character that shows it’s creator to be quite talented with a fun imagination.
How wonderful………..would write more but must get back to the dancing. Tjhanks
Please make more! I loved it!
i love the music
What a clever and talented person you are! The Pipecleaner Man is great and funny and very limber! I had a ball playing with him! Can you make more of this type of thing? Thanks for the entertainment and making me smile! Jan
Saving pipecleaner man from the pipe is like saving a lamb from slaughter…what a service you’ve done for all pipecleaner mankind…
i love this thing! its so fun! is there anyway that i can put him on myspace? (is that allowed?)
hi what is that geat bit of music with the pipe cleaner man ?
and by the way i love it , many thanks
Use a clip board and a remote mouxe and dance with the pipe cleaner
Too funny! Watched it several times and laughed each time. Just what I needed today. Thanks!!
This is so cool. Thanks, you lifted my heart…imagine how one thing you do can continue to touch so many. I love the ways we reach out and touch each other in such positive ways. We do need that! We are all so fragile in our strength. Wishing you all good things.
i’m actually like pretty sure napoleon dynamite like became a sort of really sweet star by like taking you know like lessons from the uh pipecleaner dude and really like for sure that rex-kwon-do guy did too. . .
Very creative and lots of fun. Can’t imagnine any other music for the Pipecleaner Man to dance to. Am going through rough times, but this provided a huge lift for me! I’ll keep it forever!
I can’t stop myself. I just love this guy! Thanks, David!
I love Footloose!! The Pipecleaner Dance man is so fun. Thanks for bringing this back as I missed it the first time around.
unique…..but oh so clever! What brand tobacco
do you use?
What an imagination! Found this very amusing. Using different technique moves plus a great song “Foot Loose” Rocks”….Keep them coming!
Great, my grandchildren are in for a treat when I send them this.
FUN!
This came to me from across the country and wow! I really enjoyed making pipecleaner man dance to footloose. Awesome
Poor Jill. She must not have any laughter in her life. Pipe Man just makes you smile. It is too funny. Love him….
I had a really good time putting the PC Man through his paces. It would make anyone smile, if they have a happy place in their heart at all! Thanks for sharing your ingenious idea. Surely this should be on JAY LENO! It is much funnier than some of their stuff. God Bless you Buddy!
Wonderful!! I was sent the link by my friend in Canada so the wee man has been well received in Scotland. Clever stuff.
Cheers :¬)
Pipe cleaner man is cool!!! And he dances pretty good too.LOL
This is great…Footloose has been one of my favorite songs since the movie came out way back when…lol…it always has lifted my spirits…especially now when I should be working on my finals instead of playing on the computer…. I wish there was some way to put it on my computer so I could view it in a larger mode and without having to log on to the internet. Happy Easter and God bless you!!!!
This was really neat. Very creative!
love the music !!! that cat can really dance!!!!
Great dancing Pipe Cleaner Man! Reminds me of a guy I dated in college…
Since he is dancing to the Footloose tune, can I now count this as one of my degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon?
Dude, you must make a Pipe Cleaner girlfriend for him!!!!!!
FUNNY!!!
i love the song also
The pipecleaner man is really cute. I enjoyed having him dance.
what a piece of work you have here my friend. you have a brilliant think here. I would love to see what possibilities you can do with other people and animals. .. after fetching car keys from a sewer drain grate today.. I REALLY NEEDED a good laugh and something more to smile about.. thanks david. best of luck in all you do…
Someone in our school district forwarded this to me. We love it! I do wish, however, you had left it so that the song keeps repeating itself without having to restart it. (I sometimes just play it while I’m typing.) You’re amazing and how delightful that you are willing to share your gift with others!
Hi there,
Just wanted to let you know that I have since forwarded this to a TON of people and they all love it! Thanks for the smile!
I love this. I am plalying with it more than Pacman or Frogger. How about having the little guy do a few spins? Probably not possible but fun to imagine…. J.. Better than great!
eh pure thought this was dead brilliant. em totally chuffed oot ma puss wif this wee man. eh am lovin it
Love it, gut didn’t get the music
this was so funny!!!! how did you figure out how to make the pipecleaner man dance? and what’s up with a pipecleaner person for ten dollars? anyway, my teacher sent this to me to prove that she was funny, and boy did she prove it!!!!
I love the pipecleaner dance! I sent him around my office and we play with him every day.
Someone sent this to me, it’s great!!!!!!When I feel really stressed I pop this up and feel better in seconds!!!!
i love this little guy he is as cute as a new born animal or human i oove i always play with him on the computer espiecally when i want to listen to my favourite song footloose if you want to hear this osng more go to the movie footloose it mad well not really the movie but the song so go and have a look! tilly
The pipe cleaner danceing man is very cute , but i think you re a bit rudeand assuming for asking for money on the internet for your childs education. Everyone had things they need money for anf we DONT get on the net to ask for money. This is a form of begging and with educatioanl achievments that you have , you should not have the need to beg.
A disappointed reader
HEY NOW!
I see “PCD” is stepping up and is wearing “furrier” duds! The guy is on his way… Big Time…Peter Gabriel.,
also… can you add “Super freak by Rick James? Now that’s the way to start the day.
PS…getting carpel tunnel…can i have a discount…so what if your a vet…cut-rate on your kitchen table…Dom Perignon for anesthesia.
I just showed pizz the man and she wants to be his friend forever. What about me I says? Oh well I think he’s great and maybe he’ll help me get a date. I’d like to see him have a dance partner. Wiz
ha ha ha stupid thing!!!!!~
bobbi
I sent your website to Ellen DeGeneres. You know she loves to dance, so I thought she might get as big a kick out of your Pipecleaner Dance as I did.
Totally groovy. Sent it to my sis, just for laughs, while at her job. Now she can smile and exercise at the same time. Thanks
My kids loved it he watched it 4 times.
That was so cool.
I love this!! I play with Mr. Pipe everytime I go on the computer…It is so funny to get him moving to all the great songs… I must have sent it to everyone I know.
it sucks
I couldn’t stop laughing after I saw this I had to forward this to everyone I know.
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Reminds me of when I had a 8mm camera and did stop motion to prove I could do Mr Bill. I wish I never played with clay and used pipe cleaners. Great work, made me laugh
I am a dance teacher so my mom forwarded this to me. I have to say, I can always get over being grumpy within the first few beats of the song Footloose. Then to be able to add my own (your own) choeography is a fun challenge. You have saved me a tremendous amount on therapy! Thanks a bunch. I have shared this with my friends.
A friend sent Pipe Cleaner to me and I just love it, spent 15 minutes the first night grooving on my chair. I used to love dancing and I sure would have loved jiving to Footloose. Turning 76 on my last birthday has slowed down my footwork some.
This is just the best thing when you have REALLY LOUD PEOPLE WHO WON’T SHUT UP in the next-door cube! I have shared this on the Dave Barry blog. Thanks much!
Hey there! I see requests are being made for a PCD dancing partner…figures…slave and dance to the top and the vultures appear…
next thing you know there’ll be a PCD posse.
eventually someone will get shot…
all fun & games till someone losses an eye!
Pipecleaner Dance Rules! I could just play with it for hours. This is very awesome! 🙂
really cool loved it can ya do a vence gill
Thanks for making me laugh! I feel better already!
If this doesn’t chase away those Monday blues, I don’t know what will!! It is a BLAST to play with all the different combinations of moves you can put this little guy through.
hiya! i luv ur webbi whoever made dis is a genius! i liv in england, in der lake district and thanks for makin me smile!!! i wish i cud make summat like dis! byebye!
That is one of the best web sites i have been on,and i love it so much,thanx for makin my day,what a web site!!!
This pipecleaner is the BOOM!!!!!!!1
NOW I HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING! FUNNY HOW THINGS LIKE THIS AMUSE ME…IT IS HYSTERICAL! THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS!!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I Love the Pipecleaner Guy.
This made my day!
t.
You’ve made it to Australia!
http://www.bleedingedge.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2565
PIPCLEANER IS BEAST
I thought this was excellent and really well put together.
I’m amazed how your pipecleaner man seems to match the music perfectly. You must have had the patience of a saint when putting it all together.
I did have a good laugh and so I forwarded it to a few friends.
Thanks
A G F D S F (repeatedly)
It would be easier if it was asdfgh but that would require a change in the letter=move combination.
OOps, it’s A G H D S F
By the, listening to this while dancing is very gratifiying:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3564441495710007579&q=rebreather
Brilliant and quite wonderful for my class of small children who are making pipecleaner people in art today. Thanks
Your site is one of my favorite. I m gonna read all, ty for info. Continue doing on blog.
Seriously…SERIOUSLY… this is soooo awesome 🙂