However, the lion dance’s inclusion at Chinese New Year traces to the desire to chase away the evil spirit, Nian, who feared only lions and the color red. To spot the lion dance, watch for a small team of two dancers who mimic the animal’s various movements from inside an ornate lion costume. A Chinese dragon. Chinese New Year Dragon Dances. Dragon dances are an important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Along with lion dances, they are often the highlight of Chinese New Year parades. From Chinese New Year's Day to the Lantern Festival, dragon dances can be seen in many places in China and Chinatowns around the world. They People perform lion dances at Chinese festivals or big occasions to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits. The lion dance is one of the most important traditions at Chinese New Year. It is performed to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year. The lion dance is also a way to create a festive atmosphere and bring happiness. Let us quiz you: what’s one similarity between Chinese New Year and the Dragon Boat Festival? That’s right, it’s the dancing lions and dragons! Those living in Hong Kong would’ve seen the vibrant lion dance and dragon dance pop up from time to time (and chances are, you would’ve mumbled something about the “noise” under your breath). Beyond the stage, during the Chinese New Year, lion dance troupes embark on a customary journey, visiting homes and shops within the Asian community for the ritual of “cai qing” (採青), translating to plucking the greens.” Here, the lion engages with auspicious green lettuce, often hung on a pole or placed on a table, symbolizing fortune. Do you know your dragon dance from your lion dance? (Picture: Getty) February 16 marks the start of the Chinese New Year in 2018 – the Year of the Dog – with celebrations around the world The lion dance is often paired with the dragon dance, which involves numerous dancers parading with a long, colorful dragon in a procession through the streets or other venues. As we celebrate the Chinese New Year, enjoy the lion dance, and may it bring you luck in 2025. LION DANCE and DRAGON DANCE: The lion dance and the dragon dance are two different dances performed as part of Chinese new year celebrations. In the lion dance, two performers hidden inside the brightly-colored costume of a lion perform a choreographed, martial arts-like series of steps. Northern Lion Dance: The Northern Lion Dance is closely associated with martial arts and northern Chinese folklore. You can spot it at some festive occasions, such as the Chinese New Year, to keep evil spirits away and bring good luck and prosperity. Southern Lion Dance: The Southern Lion Dance is deeply rooted in southern Chinese culture. The lion dance is usually performed at Chinese traditional festivals such as Chinese New Year or important occasions such as business opening events. Chinese Lion Dance The Symbol of Lion Dance. Known as the king of all animals, the lion symbolizes power. As China is generally free from lion infestation, the lion has a good impression on Chinese New Year’s is here, and in Hawaii that means a visit from our favorite, jubilant, sometimes scary Chinese lions. They dance through local businesses and schools with blessings of good luck and fortune for the new year and clearing out any unwanted spirits. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), the lion and dragon dances took their present form and gained popularity. They became integral parts of festivals, especially the Chinese New Year, and have remained a significant cultural tradition in China to this day. 1.3 The Art of Lion and Dragon Dance Today Where to Experience the Chinese Lion Dance. The Chinese Lion Dance can be seen at a variety of events, with the most notable being: Chinese New Year: The most iconic time to see the Lion Dance, especially in major cities like Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, and throughout Chinatown in cities like New York and London. The performance is an Chinese New Year Music - Gong Xi (MP3) Chinese New Year Music 2 Chinese New Year Music 3 Lion Dancing Music. Where Can I Watch Lion Dance and Dragon Dance? If you cannot find lion dancing or dragon dancing performances in the Chinese New Year Parade or Expo, then watch the video from Internet. World Lion Dance Championship Video International The traditional lion dance seen at Chinese New Year originates from the legend of the monster known as Nian. You can read all about the legend in our illustrated Story of Nian . Street celebrations often include a performance of the lion dance which is thought to bring good luck. A staple at Chinese New Year and cultural celebrations, lion dance is a traditional dance performance that dates back to the Qin Dynasty. Learn about the origins of lion dance and the various regional styles. Today, similar to the Chinese Lion and Dragon dances, the Qilin dance is commonly performed during important Chinese celebrations and festivals, such as Chinese New Year and weddings, it is also performed to preserve cultural traditions and enhance community cohesion. Lion dances are performed to bring blessings, whether to businesses, weddings, or for the new year. Dragon dances are performed to drive away evil spirits as well as bring good fortune to the community. As a whole, lion dance and dragon dance symbolize the bringing of good luck to all those in attendance. In Vietnam, the dragon dance (múa rồng) may be performed during Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, as well as during Tết Trung Thu, the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival. [41] It is often referred to, collectively, as múa lân sư rồng (lion/qilin, monk, and dragon dance). In Indonesia, the dragon dance is called liang liong. A Chinese New Year greeting from the Confucius Institute of the University of Aberdeen, with lion dance and children’s Chinese dance group.
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