The southern lion dance originated in Guangdong, and it is the style popular in Hong Kong, Macau, and the hometowns of overseas Chinese. The southern lion dance is a performance based on the study of a lion's behavior, with an emphasis on actions like scratching, shaking of the body, and licking of fur. Lion Dance In China: Origin, History, Costumes, Style, Technique, And Music. Have you ever seen a lion dance during Chinese New Year celebrations and wondered about its roots? This traditional dance is more than just an entertaining performance. It's a key piece of Chinese culture, rich with history, symbolism, and artistry. 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. In the Tang Dynasty, the lion dance became a large dance performance in court. During the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD) the lion dance was commonly performed in traditional festivals. Lion Dance Types. There are two main types of lion dance in China, northern lion dance and southern lion dance. The lion dance is one of the most iconic and cherished traditions during Chinese New Year, celebrated for its vibrant energy and rich cultural symbolism. It’s more than just an exciting performance—it’s a ritual steeped in history, meant to ward off evil spirits and bring blessings of prosperity, health, and good fortune. The lion dance’s most important role during Chinese New Year is to expel evil spirits and negative energies. The loud beats of the drums, cymbals, and gongs, combined with the bold movements of the lion, are believed to scare away any malicious spirits lingering from the previous year. The New Year lion dance is a highly ancient and symbolically rich performance form within Chinese traditional culture. Originating from ancient times, this tradition has evolved and perfected over centuries. The lion dance aims to ward off evil, bring good luck and prosperity, becoming a significant celebration during the New Year. During the Spring Festival, The lion dance is a quintessential Chinese performance that marks major festivities such as the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) to usher in good luck, as the lion embodies fortune and auspiciousness. Symbolism of the Lion Dance. In Chinese culture, the lion epitomizes power, wisdom, and excellence. The lion dance is a traditional performance in Hong Kong and many Asian countries, and is popular during Lunar New Year and events like business openings. With the global spread of the Chinese diaspora, lion dances are now a common sight in Chinatowns worldwide, celebrating culture and tradition with vibrant performances. 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 Download this stock image: People take photos during the lion dance performance for the Chinese New Year at Thean Hou temple. Chinese New Year is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year according to traditional lunar Chinese calendar. This year the festival on 29th January 2025 marked the arriving year of Snake. - 2SAFPC5 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock The Lion dance is usually performed during the Chinese New Year and other traditional, cultural and religious festivals. It may also be performed at important occasions such as business opening events, special celebrations or wedding ceremonies, or may be used to honour special guests by the Chinese communities. Download this stock image: Lion dance performance showcased during the Chinese New Year at Thean Hou temple. Chinese New Year is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year according to traditional lunar Chinese calendar. This year the festival on 29th January 2025 marked the arriving year of Snake. (Photo by Faris Hadziq / SOPA Images/Sipa USA) - 2SAFR0M from Alamy's library of The Chinese art of Lion dance has spread good fortune for centuries, and as the Lunar New Year approaches, Lion Dance at Cornell brings a piece of that festivity to the Cornell community. Lion Why Are Offerings Important During Lion Dance Performances? Offerings during a lion dance are more than ceremonial items—they are rich in symbolism and contribute to the success of the performance. 1. Cultural Symbolism. Offerings like fruits, vegetables, and ang baos (red envelopes) are seen as tokens of goodwill and invitations for Download this stock image: Lion dancers prepare before the performance during the Chinese Lunar new year celebration at the Chinese shrine. The Chinese Lunar New Year marked on 29 January 2025 and also marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake. (Photo by Peerapon Boonyakiat / SOPA Images/Sipa USA) - 2SA9FKX from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and The Lion Dance is a traditional Chinese dance performed on important occasions such as weddings, business launches and festive occasions for good luck and prosperity, but it is most important during the first 15 days of Chinese New Year. The lions have a direct connection to the heavens, and as well as attracting good fortune [] The loud, colourful lion dance is hard to miss during Chinese New Year — it's believed to bring good luck and prosperity. Find out the best places in Hong Kong to catch lion dances this CNY. 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. Many of these lion dance troupes are registered as affiliated members with the Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation. During the early days, lion dance troupes in Singapore were formed by immigrants and clansmen from China provinces. The troupes have increasingly attracted multi-ethnic members through the years.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() |