What is the Lion 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 expresses joy and happiness and is used to summon luck and good fortune. Lion dance troupes perform throughout the two-week Lunar New Year celebrations, often going from village to village. They also grace many other auspicious occasions such as wedding, planting or harvest time, religious ceremonies, or even at the launch of a new business.
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 expresses joy and happiness and is used to summon luck and good fortune. Lion dance troupes perform throughout the two-week Lunar New Year celebrations, often going from village to village. They also grace many other auspicious occasions such as wedding, planting or harvest time, religious ceremonies, or even at the launch of a new business.
Chinese Lion Dance
Two Styles of Lion Dance: Northern and Southern
The two styles of lion dances differ not only in the type of costumes worn by the lion dancers but also in the types of movements performed. In the northern style, the lions have shaggy orange and yellow fur and a long mane. Their movements are very life-like, oftentimes using their legs to prance dramatically. In the northern style of dance, the lions typically appear in family pairs: two adult lions and two young lions. Lion dancers are most often performed by students of kung fu. So, the dances can also be very acrobatic including stunts like the lions balancing on balls, lifts, and leaping through the air requiring the dancers to be very fit and agile.
The two styles of lion dances differ not only in the type of costumes worn by the lion dancers but also in the types of movements performed. In the northern style, the lions have shaggy orange and yellow fur and a long mane. Their movements are very life-like, oftentimes using their legs to prance dramatically. In the northern style of dance, the lions typically appear in family pairs: two adult lions and two young lions. Lion dancers are most often performed by students of kung fu. So, the dances can also be very acrobatic including stunts like the lions balancing on balls, lifts, and leaping through the air requiring the dancers to be very fit and agile.
Lion Dance: Northern Style
The Southern style costumes feature a lion that more closely resembles Nian, the fierce horned monster that inspired many Chinese New Year traditions The Southern Lion’s head is shaped more like a dragon and has a drape. It can have two or four legs. When performing, the Southern Lion thrusts its head to the sound of drums, gongs and cymbals. The Lion Dancers must precisely coordinate their movements with those of the instruments. The most commonly used colors for lion dance costumes are red for bravery, green for friendship and goodwill and gold for a lively, dynamic spirit.
Lion Dance
Lion Dance troupes may also be joined by their friend, Buddha, who carries a fan and teases the lion, enticing him to lie down, roll and jump. If you see them at a parade, notice that the Lion Dancers walk in a zig-zag pattern because evil spirits are believed to walk in a straight line. But, no matter which style, the Lion Dance is artistic narrative and the inquisitive lion expresses these emotions during the dance—joy, anger, sadness, fear, suspicion, greed, mischief, and curiosity.
Search for the Greens
During the Lion Dance, the lion will also embark on a “search for the greens”. The greens, typically, is a head of lettuce is sometimes suspended from a ceiling or doorway and the lion dancers must perform a lift to reach them. Once the lion has eaten the greens, the greens are thrown toward the audience to represent wealth and good fortune. Inside the lettuce, or greens, the lion may find a red envelope with money. This offering is a symbol of good luck and a reward for the lion for chasing away the evil spirits.
During the Lion Dance, the lion will also embark on a “search for the greens”. The greens, typically, is a head of lettuce is sometimes suspended from a ceiling or doorway and the lion dancers must perform a lift to reach them. Once the lion has eaten the greens, the greens are thrown toward the audience to represent wealth and good fortune. Inside the lettuce, or greens, the lion may find a red envelope with money. This offering is a symbol of good luck and a reward for the lion for chasing away the evil spirits.
Search for the greens
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