Hmm. Why he chose it is something that only he can explain, and even then, his explanation can only go so far. (Ever do something and then not really be sure why?) You can get a general sense of why, though, and a good sense of what the title means from the novel and from Hobbs' own website.

If you visit this site:

http://www.willhobbsauthor.com/bookspages/book%20ideas%20pages/bearstondanc.html

you'll see him talking about the origins of the book, and what it means to him.

This site: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/fall94/Thompson.html

includes an interview with Hobbs discussing the origins of his work.

As for the meaning, that comes from the carved stone statue of a bear Cloyd so identifies with.