Lion
Dance
The
Lion Dance is one of Chinas most popular
cultural events.
Often the performers are members of a
Kung Fu school, and, if well
performed, the dance brings good fortune,
prosperity and longevity to wherever it is
performed.
While the dance is quite often seen
during the Chinese New Year celebration, it
can be performed anywhere, from the opening of
a restaurant to the closing ceremony of a
large multicultural festival.
History
The
lion is not an animal that is native to China.
Rulers of what is now
Iran and
Afghanistan used to sent lions to the Chinese
Emperors as gifts, hoping to persuade the
Emperor to allow them to trade with merchants
along the famous Silk Road.
Dating
back to sometime during the Han Dynasty (205
BC – 220 AD), and peaking during the Tang
dynasty (716-907 AD), it was performed
particularly at religious festivals, and
spread to nearby Korea and Taiwan.
Lion
Dance In Practice
Two
dancers, one of which is inside the head, the
other inside the tail, control a Lion.
Three
musicians – a drummer, a cymbal player, and
a gong player, accompany a lion.
Quite often a Buddha will also play
with and tease the lion.
The
head of the lion is the one who sets the lions
performance.
Depending on the skill of the
practitioner, this can range from simply walking
around moving the eyes and mouth to performing
daring stunts like walking on a ball, or
standing on the shoulders of the tail person
to make the lion appear to be rearing up on
hind legs.
At
some time during the Lion Dance, the lion may
come across the
choy ching, which is usually
a lettuce in which is concealed a Hung Bao
packet (lucky red packet).
The lion can approach the green, and
then may back away, and eventually will eat
the green, after which he will spit the
remains of the lettuce at the audience.
Being hit by the spit greens is very
lucky.
For
the Kung Fu practitioner, the Lion Dance is
not just about ceremony and luck.
The Lion Dance is an essential part of
ones Kung Fu training.
It can teach the student footwork,
stances, and also enhances ones strength,
agility and endurance.
A good lion dancer is inevitably a good
Kung Fu student.
Lion
Dance For Functions
The
Lion and Dragon Dances at anytime. It is
a very popular Lion Dance team that always
delivers exceptional performances. The
following list isa selection of various
corporations and businesses that have recently
used our Lion and Dragon Dances for various
functions
If you
would be interested in our services for your
next promotion or official opening, please do
not hesitate to contact us.
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