Performing the Lion Dance

Performing the Lion Dance is also a traditional item on the Spring Festival celebration program.

Historical records show that it was very popular as early as the Han Dynasty. The dance falls into the north China lion dance and the south China lion dance. The lion image played with in the north China lion dance, looking lifelike, falls into the grown-up lion image and the young lion image; the former is played with by two dancers and the latter by one dancer; to the accompaniment of the gong and drum and guided by a colored silk ball waved by a warrior-like dancer, the lion keeps chasing the ball, climbing up and down steps, crossing wooden board bridges, licking its feet, scratching its ears, bowing to audiences, rolling about, etc.

he south China lion dance is most popular in Guangdong province, hence also known as the Guangdong lion dance has a bigger head with its forehead protruding; its two players are dressed in ankle-length sports trousers; also to the accompaniment of the gong and drum but guided by a Buddhist brush waved by a dancer with a mask looking like a smiling big-headed Buddhist figure, the lion keeps chasing the brush and doing other movements, which are almost the same as the north China lion. All dancers make elegant and natural movements in perfect unison, adding much to the joyous festive air.

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