First published: 4 January 2021 @ 11:33 am
Lion Dance Ceremonies have been part of human history for thousands of years. People celebrate them with a lot of passion and pride. We hold them in every corner of the world, from America to China, from Europe to Africa.
Hundreds of thousands of people perform the Lion Dance all over the world and it is very important for them to share this art with their family and friends.
It is a chance for them to let everyone know about their culture and their beliefs.
What is the significance of Lion Dance?
The Lion Dance, or the dance of the Lion has its origins in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).
According to Chinese legend, the Han Dynasty was ruled by the gods and the imperial throne was reserved for the most superior of the emperors. The emperors were also said to have been divinely linked with the animal kingdom.
It is believed that the emperor of that time, Di Xin, was of a divine race and that he had the power over all animals.
This belief was so strong that the animals came to him to pay homage and to acknowledge him as their supreme ruler. The beasts would come to him in the form of a pelican, a deer, a crane, a tiger, a fish and a dragon.
One day, the Dragon arrived at the court, but the emperor was not there. The Dragon waited for two days before it went back to the sea. The emperor was worried that the dragon had left and sent out a search party to find it.
When he was told it had gone back to the sea, he was very sad and he sent the emissary to the Dragon’s temple to make an offering and to pray to the Dragon to return. The Dragon heard the emissary’s prayers and returned to the court.
From then on, it became a custom that the emperors would send the emissary to the Dragon’s temple every year to pray and make an offering. The people of the Han Dynasty saw the dragon as a symbol of grace and power.
They also believed that by dancing with the Dragon, they would be protected from all evil and diseases. Therefore, the Dragon dance became a tribute to the divine emperor. As time passed, the Dragon dance became known as the Lion dance.
Ceremonial dance
The traditional Lion Dance is a ceremonial dance, performed during Chinese New Year and other Chinese traditional festivals. The lion is made of wood and the dance is done by a team of two to six performers.
The lion’s movements are very energetic and agile. The movements of the lion’s forepaws are very similar to those of a real lion.
In ancient times, the Lion Dance was performed in the streets to entertain the people and to bring good luck to the people. Today, the Lion Dance is performed only for entertainment.
The dancers have to learn the movements and the lion dance music very well. They must be agile and their reflexes must be very fast. Their costumes must be very colourful and their movements must be very graceful.
Chinese music often accompanies the lion dance is often accompanied. It comprises traditional instruments such as the gong, the drum and the cymbals. The drum beats sound like the lion’s footsteps and the cymbals sound like the roars of the lion.
These instruments lead the lion dance and alert the audience to the start of the dance. The gong announces the end of the dance.
The lion dance originated in the towns and villages of China. Nowadays, many people in countries such as United States, Canada, and Australia also perform it. Many people from different communities participate in the lion dance.
The ones who perform are Chinese people, Chinese-descendant, or people with other cultural backgrounds. The lion dance is a popular form of entertainment. It is a great way to demonstrate Chinese culture’s importance and share it with others.
A traditional Chinese lion dance
The lion is from wood and they cover it with colourful cloth. The lion’s head can move, which adds to the realism of the dance. The lion’s movements are very graceful. The dancers carry the lion on their shoulders. The dancers wear colourful costumes and masks.
They decorate lion heads with silly faces. The eyes are in the shape of a Chinese character that means lucky. The lion has a big mouth that is red as a dragon, and its paws have a red heart.
Brightly colored balls stick to the tail of the lion. They make a sound when the lion moves. The balls clack loudly when a lion moves.
A man called the “Lion Chief” will lead the dancing team. The Lion Chief holds the head of the lion and directs the team. The Lion Chief wears a wooden mask, which has the face of a lion, and a brightly coloured costume.
The dancers hold the lion’s feet. They also wear wooden masks and brightly coloured costumes. They usually decorate the masks and costumes with Chinese characters or with Chinese symbols.
The dancers move in a very energetic way. They also move very quickly. The lion’s movements are very quick, too. The dancers’ movements are very graceful.
The lion’s head faces the audience. The performers move around in a circle. The lion’s head moves up and down, left to right, and in circles. The lion’s head also moves as the lion moves.
Everyone’s Joyful Ceremony
Lion Dance Ceremonies are a part of every culture, and everyone can enjoy it in different ways. Lion Dance is a fun and joyful ceremony that is enjoyed by everyone.
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