Lion Dance

Chinese Lion Dance

Until March 2nd, more than a billion people worldwide will celebrate the Chinese New Year. Fireworks, festivals, and the biggest human migration will usher in the Year of the Dog. And with luck, you may get to witness a traditional Chinese lion dance.

Intro to Lion Dance

In college, my roommates included me in an invitation to join the re-forming Lion Dance Club. For three years, our troupe of no more than ten members performed at Convocation, Commencement, and local Chinese New Year celebrations. Most of the discussion below comes from my personal experience with lion dance. Call it Lion Dance 101. So, if any of this interests you, please do your own research or go out and experience this wonderful, traditional dance style.

Building Lions

Traditional lion dance teams have two members that form the front and rear of the lion. While the front person manipulates the head puppet, the rear person shapes the body under a cloth cape and serves as the lifter for any leaps or stands. Four human legs articulate the lion’s paws. And the elaborate papier-mâché head and matching uniforms finish the costume.

To bring the lion to life, performers use stylized movements, patterns of dance, and expressive puppetry built into the head. Some lions have a longer body cape that allows the front performer to stand fully erect on the rear performers shoulders for tall, leaping lion tricks. Other lions have shorter capes and emphasize mimicry and realistic movements.

Most heads have a flapping jaw, as well as ears and eyelashes that can flap with a tug from internal cords. The open mouth allows the head to eat and spit up lettuce, oranges, or even scrolls. Because the head can fit over the front person’s shoulders, the lion can appear tight and compact for close, intimate interactions. Then, as the front performer extends their arms, the head can lunge out to snap and celebrate.

Elements of Lion Dance

As part of Lunar New Year performances, lion dance routines feature several common elements:

Lion Scroll Display

  • Drums and Cymbals – Traditional beats keep the dancers on rhythm, cue specific movements, and signal dramatic moments for the audience. Rhythms and instruments vary both according to region and to the style of lion dance employed.
  • Teaser – Often, troupes employ a lead human with a Big Head Buddha mask, monk’s robe, and fan to guide and interact with the lions. The character grew out of an early tale describing lions’ arrival on earth.
  • Lettuce or Orange – As part of dances to bless homes or businesses during Chinese New Year, lions may taste, chew up, and spit out offerings of lettuce, orange, or other traditional foods. The actions pantomime the lions spreading fortune.
  • Scroll – Frequently, a lion dance will conclude with one lion performing a series of elaborate movements that culminate in the release of a scroll from the lion’s mouth. The scroll will display an auspicious saying or blessing.

Certainly, depending on style, the performers’ skill, and the audience, routines may involve more or less acrobatics. Ladders and items hung on poles may make appearances. In lion dance competitions, the lions themselves often climb over the tops of poles or up bamboo towers. Since lion dance troupes have often hailed from martial arts schools, routines can feature pretty spectacular athletic feats.

Local Performers

If you would like to see a live performance, or wish to get involved in lion dance, local colleges or Chinese martial arts and dance schools may have lion dance teams. Or check out a Chinese New Year event. See below some links for opportunities in the New York City area.

Lion dance troupes for hire:

Chinese New Year events:

And remember, the Internet makes us one world. Lion dance can come to you.

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