Brought into this world within a unexpected situation,... A heart warming story about a young boy in search for his inner being through the art of Lion Dancing. dance to a drum, cymbals and a gong. The villagers defend themselves by dressing up in lion-like outfits while banging cymbals, followed by the lion, which clears the evil spirits away. But because of the COVID, it’s all been curtailed. The origin of the Lion Dance has a longer history that goes back thousands of years beyond the simple folktale of the Nian Shou. Ahead of Lunar New Year, Yep said Hong Luck is preparing an outdoor performance in collaboration with Mon Sheong Seniors Association to honour the elders, community and ward off spirits of COVID-19, as the traditions of the lion are called for. Hidden in the “I was not super connected to our Chinese community growing up. The dance may be extended, or parts may be left out. After the attack, the villagers discussed how to make the nian leave them in peace. Photo courtesy Jill Brooks. The dance consisted of five large lions in different colors, all expressing various moods. I went to a school where I was pretty much the only minority for a while,” said Wong, adding that it wasn’t until university that she began martial arts and met a peer who introduced her to lion dancing. The traditional lion dance seen at Chinese New Year originates from the legend of the monster known as Nian. There are two styles of lion dance. She has students that are not even Chinese or Asian who come to learn out of interest in the art. In Qin Dynasty sources, dancers performing exorcism rituals were described as wearing bearskin mask, and it was also mentioned in Han Dynastytexts that "mime people" (象人) performed as fish, dragons, and phoenixes. Additionally, Low says that the club has also participated in British Columbia’s 7 p.m. cheer in downtown Victoria where people showed appreciation for front-line and health-care workers through making noise from their homes. But with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restricting how we gather, lion dance cannot proceed normally for this year’s Lunar New Year festivities. The lion dance is over 1000 years old. The lion dance was imported from China into Vietnamese culture where it developed its own distinct style. Lion Dance Kids uses storytelling to introduce the concepts of courage, teamwork, and physical activity. Long ago in China there was a man-eating monster called Nian who for most of the time slept at the bottom of the ocean. “So, you start off your year with good fortune and prosperity, which is why you have (lion dancing) for a lot of new beginners, like Lunar New Year or weddings,” she said. Chinese folk traditions, that the lion can be evil spirits. The dance symbolizes the removal of negative energies, as the lion is a creature believed to bring good luck, health, and prosperity. Unaired ‘Oprah with Meghan and Harry’ clips shed more light on royal rift, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle break their silence in 1st interview since royal departure, Harry and Meghan’s interview sparks questions about Britain’s institutional racism, Defence committee expands military misconduct investigation, Brookfield Infrastructure hostile offer unanimously rejected by Inter Pipeline board, In pictures — Lunar New Year 2019 around the world. © 1998-2021 Topmarks Online Ltd. All rights reserved. Making of the fire dragon in Pok Fu Lam village, a … I was really in denial, I was wanting to be white,” he said, adding that when he was growing up in the 70s, Bruce Lee and kung-fu were at a high but he was surrounded by white kids being racist towards him. Mr Chan Yan Wen, the 26-year-old leader of the Nam Feng Lion Dance Training Centre, estimated that takings will drop by $20,000 to $30,000 as most of … “(The city’s) asking for footage of us that can play at the beginning of the council meeting to pay homage to Chinese culture… and bless the meeting for the year via the video clips we have,” he said. Although having had initial influences from India and Iran, the Chinese lion dance is very much rooted in and a … Now, while the club has pivoted to online classes, it’s been difficult to teach and practise routines. The traditional lion dance seen at Chinese New Year originates from the legend of the monster Teacher Background. According to a Chinese legend a terrible monster (pictured sometimes with features of a lion, unicorn, and ox), a really giant, monstrous creature by the name of ‘Nian’ lived in the mountains and would come down at the end of the year to destroy the fields, crops and animals and to … Want to discuss? Vitus So of Success Dragon Lion Dance Troupe in Ottawa started lion dance at the age of 12 in Hong Kong, becoming inspired by his grandmaster at the time. Will festivals return to Edmonton this summer? Slide: Lion Dance Notice & Wonder, Chinese Lion Dance Story, What is Chinese Lion Dancing, Video: The Chinese Lion Dance, Supply List: Chinese Lion Dance, Template: Chinese Lion Puppet, Chinese Lion Dance in 10 Basic Steps, Kwan the Chinese Lion. As the lion runs along the streets he Street celebrations often include a performance of the lion dance which is thought to bring good luck. The lion expresses joy and happiness and is used to summon luck and good fortune. We’ve gone online and managed to do a couple of shoots last weekend, which is kind of fun,” Yip said. After the attack, the villagers discussed how to make the nian leave them in peace. Now, lion dance can be seen being performed not only during Lunar New Year celebrations but also at weddings, parades and various events around Canada and the world. There are usually two dancers. Please read our Commenting Policy first. As a second-generation Canadian, Low is happy to have now taught his children to lion dance alongside him, which has contributed to the strong community ties and connection the sport is associated with. Daniel Low’s first memory of lion dance was in the early 1980s when Queen Elizabeth came to Victoria, B.C. The lion dancers need to be very fit. … The lion dance is performed to ring in luck and prosperity, and is a common fixture at the Lunar New Year and other celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, or corporate events. To begin Lion Dance, drums, cymbals and gongs play as loud as possible. The Chinese lion dance is a performance not to be missed if you ever get the chance to see one. “It’s a full-body workout,” said Sandy Yep, another member of Hong Luck Kung Fu Club. On the head of the lion is mirror so that evil spirits As coaches and dancers have continued to try and navigate practising during the pandemic, they also want to maintain their strong cultural and community connections. This wakes up the lion. A heart warming story about a young boy in search for his inner being through the art of Lion Dancing. Lion Dance According to traditional Chinese belief, the lion signifies courage, stability and superiority. “You got the martial arts piece, you got the workout piece — it’s more fun than being on a treadmill and lifting weights.”, Read more: Low, his wife Maggie and kids, Jade and William. Sandy Yep and Jill Brooks of Hong Luck Kung Fu Club in Toronto. Despite lion dance often being physically and sometimes mentally draining, Brooks said the community has driven her. LION DANCE 1 1. You can read all about the legend in our illustrated Story of Nian . Wong adds that lion dance ties back to stories from Chinese mythology. Read more: The Lion may be seen with the Happy Buddha, accompanying in various stories told through the performance. But the lion itself remains the same as a two-person dance, Low said. Students from Edmonton Hung Mon Athletic Club practising outdoors. Jill Brooks, member of Hong Luck Kung Fu Club, said training included a lot of leg work drills like duck walks, horse stance and even practising holding a bench above their heads as if it were a lion head. There are stories of a lion dance called the “Great Peace Music” in the Tang court. A highlight of any lion dance performance is the … There are several variations of the Chinese lion dance, depending on what province you’re in, and whether you are in the north and south. However at the end of winter, on the last day of the lunar year, the hungry Nian would terrify everyone when he woke up to come on land to eat whatever he could find. The lion dance is also accompanied by the music of a large drum, gong and cymbals, and the popping of firecrackers. luck. https://globalnews.ca/news/7620024/lion-dance-lunar-new-year Or any of these songs.. So, we have to maintain some kind of distance, airflow, whether we’re outside or we have the doors open, masks, limiting how many people are there,” said Brooks. There are several stories that relate the origin of Chinese Lion Dance: 1) In ancient times, a town was besieged by the presence of a lion attacking everything in its path. Prior to moving to Toronto, Yep grew up in Montreal’s Chinatown, where lion dance and celebration was a part of his upbringing, but he never thought he would get involved in the sport. https://www.chinahighlights.com/.../chinese-new-year/new-year-lion-dance.htm According to Wong, the EHMAC team would practice every week prior to the pandemic. They Lion dance troupes perform throughout the two-week Lunar New Year celebrations, often going from village to village. Recommended Materials. There are usually two dancers. One minister told the emperor that the strange animal resembled a creature from the West, a lion. Unaired ‘Oprah With Meghan and Harry’ clips shed more light on royal rift, ‘Oprah With Meghan and Harry’ interview: 6 stand-out moments of the jaw-dropping tell-all. Now, at 61, he is continuing to teach the upcoming generation and as a teacher, aims to invite his students to explore and appreciate the culture. Now, at the age of 41, he is a longtime member at Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club, a kung-fu and lion dance club in Victoria. Some local legends attribute the Chinese lion dance (舞獅) to the legend of the nian. There has been an old tradition in China of dancers wearing masks to resemble animals or mythical beasts since antiquity, and performances described in ancient texts such as Shujing where wild beasts and phoenix danced may have been masked dances. “We have a priority of keeping everybody safe. You can read all about the legend in our illustrated Story of Nian. For Mr. Siow, it’s an integral part of … leaves is a red packet of money. According to Catherine Wong, head coach at Edmonton Hung Mon Athletic Club (EHMAC) in Edmonton, one of the most popular stories involves a monster called “Year” that comes and terrorizes a village. Chris Yip writes about this very traditional Chinese cultural dance in a walkthrough of its origins and story in Malaysia. Lion dances started during the Han dynasty, around 200 A.D., and were brought into Malaysia by immigrants more than a century ago. So said the club has been unable to perform since Lunar New Year last year due to gathering restrictions and safety measures. Narrating a hero’s journey explaining the origins of the Chinese … which makes the lion jump around. Since he was a kid, Low has been fascinated by lion dance. For Hong Luck, Brooks said the winter weather has posed challenges for practising but some team members have been finding ways to safely practise ahead of being asked to do some virtual performances. The sport also involves vigorous training, strength and practice to build up and prepare for performances. The History. HuffPost Canada shuts down website, will stop publishing, Royals break silence on Meghan Markle, Prince Harry racism allegations, Piers Morgan out at ‘Good Morning Britain’ after challenge to Meghan Markle remarks, Elon Musk reveals new family photo with Grimes, baby X Æ A-Xii, Canada getting first female vice chief of defence staff after military shake-up, Burger King gets grilled for ‘women belong in the kitchen’ tweet, Piers Morgan storms off the set of ‘Good Morning Britain’. (L): Sandakan legend Lee Kon Fook whom most folk knew as ‘mountain boar dog’. From virtual performances to festive installations, you can still catch a Chinese New Year lion dance around the island! A Master of Kung Fu decided to beat him, and during one of the apparitions of the animal, chased him into the woods where he … Wong was always fascinated growing up watching a lot of kung-fu movies and thought lion dancing was just as interesting. However, lion is not native t… He then scatters lettuce He teases the lion with a fan made of banana-leaves “Bang Bang Dong Dong Cheng Cheng! The Khuan Loke Dragon & Lion Dance Association has a long and storied history, having made a name for itself on national and international stages. In pictures — Lunar New Year 2019 around the world. “It’s a team sport and dance. Street celebrations often include a performance of the lion dance which is thought to bring good Stamford Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe leader Daniel Soong, 60, was initially hesitant to apply for the cai qing permit, as fewer performances means it is hard to cover transport costs. Nian. Photo courtesy of Daniel Low. Low first got to perform lion dance at the age of 13 and it carried with him throughout his life. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. One acts as the head and the other the body. who is dressed in monk’s robes and a mask. Finally, one year, a lion defeated and chased the monster away. Previously, lion dance performances were not permitted in Malaysia except during Chinese New Year (Photo: Kun Seng Keng Lion and Dragon Dance Association) A turning point came in 1974, when the then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak visited Mao Zedong in Beijing and was treated to a lion dance performance as part of the welcome ceremony. The tradition has its origins in a story of a nian's attack on a village. The Chinese lion dance goes as far back as the Han Dynasty and there are many myths and legends surrounding this practice. vegetables such as lettuce which are hung above the doors of houses or businesses. The Chinese lion dance is very much intertwined throughout the history of old China and many other regions including South East Asia. Lunar New Year lobster noodles. (R): Lee performing the lion dance in Sandakan sometime in the 1960s. “It’s a small club, these gigs are important. So, being stuck as individuals, trying to work on a partner dance and then working with music with internet lag is really tough as well as just trying to correct students,” she said. begins to visit different places. The lion expresses joy and happiness and is used to summon luck and good fortune. There have been records of masked dances … The mood is … A Gio Nam Lion Dance promotional video for the year of 2007. What is the Lion Dance? We visited the Rising Dragon Lion Dance Team’s practice one Saturday afternoon and had the chance to learn about the preparation behind the intricate motions and beats that maintain the traditional Asian dance. He remembers the ringing in his ears after standing next to the drum and cymbals roaring as she made her way through Chinatown. © 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Brookfield Infrastructure hostile offer unanimously rejected by Inter Pipeline board on Facebook, Brookfield Infrastructure hostile offer unanimously rejected by Inter Pipeline board on Twitter, Lion and dragon dances for Lunar New Year in China, Malaysia, and Philippines, Traditional lion and dragon dances welcome in Lunar New Year in China, Malaysia and the Philippines – Jan 28, 2017. Things to Prepare for the Lion Dance Performance. Performers in the percussion music, dressed as a lion look, make a lion of various forms of action. known as Nian. The lion dance is performed to ring in luck and prosperity, and is a common fixture at the Lunar New Year and other celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, or corporate events. “We wear a sash and then the tail person holds onto the sash, and depending on the person next to you, gets bruises on your ribs, because their knuckles are, like, right in your back when they’re lifting you,” she said. The Lion Dance. On his way he meets another person, the ‘Laughing Buddha’ The book follows Ernie Wan through his preparation to his first lion dance one Chinese New Year's day in New York's Chinatown. Chinese New Year Legend of Nian (sometimes Nien, traditional Chinese: 年獸; simplified Chinese: 年兽; pinyin: nián shòu). Lion dancing originated during the Tang dynasty (618-906 AD). Our 16-month-old son was both frightened and intrigued by the lion that came to the Chinese restaurant where our friends' son was enjoying his first birthday. As the lion moves from place to place he looks for some green The dance symbolizes the removal of negative energies, as the lion is a creature believed to bring good luck, health, and prosperity. Brooks adds that lifting the lion head is often hard enough, so when dancers have to jump as well during performances, it takes a toll on their legs. … The lion eats the lettuce and red packet. Historical records of the lion dance predate the Tang dynasty (AD618-907), when it was performed for emperors. The tradition has its origins in a story of a nian's attack on a village. Lion Dance is a traditional Chinese folk performing arts. “We don’t practise it all the time at home but sometimes I’ll get the kids to practise with clapping their hands on how to follow the beat with a cymbal,” he said, adding that he even got a mini drum for them to practise on. Similarly, Low said the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club has been asked to participate in mini celebrations during the pandemic. will be frightened away by their own reflections. “I didn’t really identify as even being Chinese when I was growing up. But recently, he said the club is coming out of a break after being contacted by people asking them if they are available for online events ahead of Lunar New Year. “It’s kind of better than nothing.”. To the beat of their own drum: How lion dance shapes Chinese culture in Canada. One Hundred Children Playing in the Spring (百子嬉春图页), a 12th-century painting from the Song Dynasty that depicts a lion dance. You see the customs and rituals that lead up to his debut. He adds that while growing up, the only two occasions that lion dance would occur were during Lunar New Year and the Chinese Freemasons. “I had two little lions (costumes) at my house that my family brought back (from Zhongshan, China) and I knew I was infatuated with them,” he said. Now, Yep and his son have pursued kung fu together, where they have been able to bond, learn more about their own ethnicity and connect with their culture. “The one at the head controls the head, eyes, ears, mouth and facial expressions (to) represent anger, happiness, hunger, curiosity,” he said, while the one at the back controls the body of the lion. Legend has it that the emperor had a dream one night in which a strange looking animal saved his life. It is performed primarily at traditional festivals such as Tết (Lunar new year) and Tết trung thu (Mid-Autumn Festival), but also during other occasions such as the opening of a new business.The lion dance is highly symbolic, supposedly used to ward off evil spirits. Ornately decorated lion heads with bright wide eyes bob and dodge their way among the crowds at Chinese New Year's Parades worldwide. For the traditional style, the dancers often mimic a lion’s natural behaviour, whereas in more modern styles, the lion also incorporates acrobatics and movements that mimic martial art-based footwork. Wong adds that the combination of athleticism, martial arts, acrobatics and dance gained her admiration immediately. Some local legends attribute the Chinese lion dance (舞獅) to the legend of the nian. A Master of Kung Fu decided to beat him, and during one of the apparitions of the animal, chased him into the woods where he … A northern lion dance, where the green bow represents a female and a red bow represents a male lion. We visited the Rising Dragon Lion Dance Team’s practice one Saturday afternoon and had the chance to learn about the preparation behind the intricate motions and beats that maintain the traditional Asian dance. Ornately decorated lion heads with bright wide eyes bob and dodge their way among the crowds at Chinese New Year's Parades worldwide. The lion dance is a familiar sight during the recently ended Lunar New Year festivities in China, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world in which diaspora Chinese communities have settled. “I think it just kind of helps everybody to be more connected and to be more accepting in general of various stories and cultures,” said Wong. When it comes to lion dance, there are multiple stories and symbols as well. The Troupe trains on a Lion Dance focused curriculum, which results in their ability to perform traditional floor routines, shows with props and modern competition style performances on poles ranging from three to nine and a half feet. Really, there’s nothing quite like a lion dance for Chinese New Year, and even the most ignorant person to pass by a lion dance performance in a shopping mall will know it’s CNY and have “Choy San Dou, Choy San Dou” stuck in his head long after he’s gone home. There are several stories that relate the origin of Chinese Lion Dance: 1) In ancient times, a town was besieged by the presence of a lion attacking everything in its path. However, the most compelling one is that of the story of Nian the monster.Nian especially liked kidnapping children and he terrorised villages year after year. Brooks also adds that last year, the club had 22 gigs in five days, meaning sometimes five performances in a day. An example of a typical Lion Dance is found in a Chinese new year banquet program. Brooks added “having that community… a place like Hong Luck and understanding the lineage and the history and of it and being very proud of that, it makes you work hard.”. leaves to symbolize a fresh start for the new year and the spreading of good luck. The next morning, the emperor described the dream to his ministers. “We are actually planning to do some video for the upcoming two to three weeks for a couple retirement homes,” he said, adding that there may be more virtual opportunities for the club.