Chinese New Year 2013: Lion Dances, Performances and Parades
Enjoy Chinese Lion Dancing, so popular in traditional Chinese New Year Celebrations (like those imminent) even more by understanding what’s involved. Its purpose is to bring celebrants and onlookers a Year of good fortune.
Lion Dancing gets New Year Celebrations underway then continues all year, particularly when new businesses, projects and enterprises open to bring these luck. Activity naturally reaches fever-pitch on New Years Day
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Lions Love Lettuce (and Children)
The Lion ‘stalks’ a lettuce its symbolic prey (Shaolin Buddhist Lions are naturally vegetarian) during the Dance. Finally, to intensified Drum, Cymbals and Gong accompaniment the Lion pounces, enthusiastically ripping to bits and devouring this (1). Lettuce goes everywhere to ecstatic applause–being hit by flying fragments traditionally means flourishing fortunes for the following year!
‘Three Bows to Buddha’ (and audience) started the dance our Lion now makes three more similarly, cleans its teeth with its hind-quarters and the Dance suddenly ends. The Dancers then join the percussionists often one-and-the same) and the Team make their final-bow.
Very young children present, thinking they might be eaten by the ravenous beast, amongst the clangor of cymbals, gong and drum, are sometimes initially afraid. These should be reassured.
My Team perform in local Junior/Infants Schools around this time and apprehension always becomes enthusiastic cheering and applause when the Dance ends. A profusion of collage, drawings, model-Lions, stories and descriptive-writing then goes on display.
Heads and Tails
The rattan, wire and paper Head is heavy to wield athletically. The Lion’s eyes, ears and mouth move via cords and hinges this Lion Dancer controls.
The brightly coloured Lion’s body or ‘Tail’ often incorporates thousands of flashing sequins and dancers usually wear similar trousers. Body bent forward at right-angles, the Tail must follow accurately the Head’s footwork blind to unfolding exterior events in deep, tiring Kung Fu stances as the key figure of the Drummer beats-out changing rhythms their actions must match.
Making regular substitutions their Coach ensures these go smoothly. The relieved Dancers are then re-designated percussionists perform vital support functions or rest!
Lion Dance and London Chinese New Year Celebrations
Soho echoes to Lion Dancing and free, first-class performances on Trafalgar Square’s huge outdoor stage, of Kung Fu, ethnic dances and music from visiting Chinese artists throughout Sunday February 10th. London’s Black Water Snake Year 2013-14 Celebrations get underway with an earlier street-parade along The Strand, Charing Cross, Shaftesbury Avenue and through Chinatown
Chinatown Fireworks, craft stalls, street entertainments and Lion dancing continue into the evening. Spare a thought for the tired Lion Dancers who have given their all by then.
Shaolin Fists Lion Dance Team HQ, Little Newport Street (by Leicester Square Tube Station) Shaolin Fists Lion Dance Team HQ opens to visitors until around 7:00 pm. Many then eat in the excellent local restaurants, alongside the famished dancers, who then do so free. See you there!
Notes
(1) Watch: Lion ‘Looks for Lettuce’ @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9e3mnGbP94&feature=youtube_gdata_player
