Lion Dancing thread

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We train in car parks: Lion dance troupe that snatched the gold from Malaysia hopes for more sponsors, members

The Singapore Yiwei Athletic Association’s lion dance troupe actively seeks out sponsors but expenses remain high as it is not subsidised by any government body.

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The Singapore Yiwei Athletic Association’s lion dance teams at the Genting World Lion Dance Championship. (Credit: Singapore Yiwei Athletic Association)

Darrelle Ng
12 Aug 2023 06:09AM
(Updated: 14 Aug 2023 08:48AM)

SINGAPORE: A lack of funding and members has not stopped a local lion dance troupe from clinching the top spot at a recent international championship, beating 35 other teams from China, the United States, France, and defending champion Malaysia.

The Singapore Yiwei Athletic Association’s lion dance teams halted Malaysia’s 13-edition winning streak over 28 years to clinch gold at the Genting World Lion Dance Championship last Sunday (Aug 6).

Mr Jarell Tock, who was the lion tail for the winning team, has been a lion dance performer since he was five years old. He said he took up the sport because of his father, who is the current coach of the troupe.

“We are super excited to have made Singapore proud,” said the 24-year-old.

“We were hoping to get this championship for Singapore because there's nobody else breaking Malaysia’s record before this. So this was our aim going up to Genting.”

Assistant team leader Kiefer Teo said the secret to their win is rigorous training.

“We were really well prepared because we trained throughout the year, we do not have any breaks. Even during non-competition seasons, we are still training as well,” he told CNA’s Singapore Tonight on Thursday.

The troupe, made up of performers aged between 13 to mid-20s, trains four times a week on average. In the months leading up to competitions, the intensity is bumped up to six times a week, only stopping for a break on Saturdays.

LACK OF FUNDING AND NEW BLOOD

The association actively seeks out sponsors but expenses remain high as it is not subsidised by any government body, said Mr Teo.

All costs, including props, costumes, rent, competitions, flights and accommodation, are borne by Yiwei and its members.

He added that the troupe lacks a proper training ground. Sometimes when they are lucky, they get to hold practice sessions in car parks provided by their sponsors.

“We need a very big space with high ceilings. In Singapore, we are not able to afford to rent such a big place. But we do have kind sponsors who lend us their car parks for training.”

Aside from funding, the troupe is also finding it increasingly difficult to recruit new practitioners.

“I think (fewer) and (fewer) youngsters want to join lion dance because of other things like social media, they can play games instead of going through all these tiring trainings,” said Mr Tock.

The association is actively looking for new members as it is currently training four teams. The troupe has female participants, as well as members of different races, said Mr Teo.

However, recruitment campaigns have been met with lukewarm response.

“We see a decline in the number of people joining. Lion dance is a sport that we can't force people to like,” he told CNA938.

“But what we can do is provide one of the best and optimal training grounds for people who really love lion dance.”

A TRADITIONAL ART FORM

The troupe uses plush toys and photo-taking sessions to interact with fans and drum up awareness for their sport.

Other teams have tried to give their performances a modern twist or inject their own cultural elements, but Mr Teo said the art form remains relatively traditional.

“Many countries have been trying to bring in their own culture. For example, Thailand or Japan like to include their instruments. But sometimes we may be restricted by the rules of the competition.”

In Genting, the troupe fielded two teams. It was not just their gravity-defying stunts on high stilts or creative manoeuvres that secured the win.

Marks also depend on techniques, artistic presentation and the expression of the lion, said Mr Teo.

“Every dance has a storyline. For example, before the lion gets to find its food or the "qing" (auspicious green lettuce usually part of the performance), it has to go through different obstacles, which may cause the lion to feel afraid … or feel happy once it gets its food,” he said.

The performers try to imitate real-life emotions and expressions such as happiness, drunkenness, and excitement, and bring them to life on their lion. These include batting the lion’s eyes, tilting its head, scratching its ears and wagging its tail.

The winning team secured 9.73 points while the other team placed third with 9.58 points.

But even after such a feat, the troupe is not going to take a break. Its lion dancers are going straight back to training for another competition in September.

Both Mr Tock and Mr Teo said they hope that following their win, the sport can attract more interest from Singaporeans, particularly the younger generation.

“We will continue our current efforts and train more teams. We hope that more people can join us and preserve our culture,” said Mr Teo.

This team has grit.

[GeneChing]

Strengthening ties between China and Peru through lion dance
Dancing beyond oceans
By Bi Mengying and Jiang Li
Published: Nov 13, 2024 11:39 PM

Participants perform at the 16th National Dragon and Lion Dance Championships in late October in Jiangyin, East China's Jiangsu Province. Photo: Courtesy of the Lion Dance Team at Guangzhou Sport University


During the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, the capital of Peru, visitors from around the world, including Chinese delegates, experienced the warm hospitality of the Peruvian people. Despite the physical distance between China and Peru, the friendship between the peoples of both countries goes way back in history. The deep bond has been evident through the example of the lion dance.

With the support of the Chinese Embassy and Chinese community in Peru, Atilo Alfredo Sarmiento Rivera and three other young members of the Ton Huy Chong Koc Chinese Central Charitable Society's lion dance troupe traveled a great distance from Peru to South China's Guangdong Province in late October. They came to study lion dance techniques and experience Chinese culture firsthand, the People's Daily reported.

Long journey

The Chinese community in Peru has an over 170-year history. In 1886, the Qing (1644-1911) government established the Ton Huy Chong Koc Chinese Central Charitable Society in Lima. The organization manages charitable initiatives within the Chinese community in Peru, aiming to foster mutual support and preserve and promote Chinese cultural values.

Generations of Chinese immigrants have been known for their hard work and friendliness, earning respect and recognition in Peruvian society. Peruvians warmly refer to their ethnically Chinese counterparts as compatriots. In 1988, the Ton Huy Chong Koc founded a lion dance troupe with the aim to unite Chinese expatriates in Peru through traditional Chinese culture while enriching Peru's diverse cultural landscape.

"As part of intangible cultural heritage, the lion dance holds great significance for the preservation and promotion of traditional Chinese culture," Zou Weiming, captain of the Lion Dance Team at Guangzhou Sport University, who has hosted Rivera and his peers for the training, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The lion dance, as a traditional art form rich in Chinese characteristics, is not only beloved within China, but has also gained widespread acceptance and demand worldwide, thanks to the efforts of overseas Chinese communities. In many overseas Chinese communities, the lion dance has become an important cultural tradition. In regions like Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe, with significant Chinese populations, lion dance performances are an essential part of celebrations during traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, Zou said.

Today, dragon and lion dances have become part of Peruvian society. Each Spring Festival, the lion dance troupe parades through Chinatown, with gongs and drums enthralling the crowd. Locals line the streets, eager to watch and touch the lions for good luck - a cherished folk tradition. Lion dances have also become a popular feature at Peruvian weddings.

"As people's demand for diverse cultures continues to grow, lion dance culture, as a unique art form, holds considerable appeal in the international market," Hua Haixiong from the Lion Dance Team at Guangzhou Sport University, told the Global Times.


Participants perform at the 16th National Dragon and Lion Dance Championships in late October in Jiangyin, East China's Jiangsu Province. Photo: Courtesy of the Lion Dance Team at Guangzhou Sport University

Global art form

"Taking part in international exchanges allows lion dance troupes to raise the global profile of this traditional art form while promoting exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations," Zou said.

The Ton Huy Chong Koc's Lion Dance Troupe is the largest of its kind in Peru, with over 200 members, including both locals and Chinese Peruvians, ranging in age from 9 to 55. The troupe is a vibrant feature at public events and international cultural festivals throughout Peru.

As one of the first Latin American countries to welcome Chinese immigrants, Peru now has the largest Chinese community in the region. The local population and the Chinese community have a deep appreciation for traditional Chinese culture, including the dragon and lion dances, embodying the strong, enduring friendship between China and Peru.

During an interview with the People's Daily, Rivera said he had been looking forward to visiting China for a long time. His great-grandfather was Chinese and made the journey across the oceans to settle in Peru, bringing with him a deep sense of nostalgia for his homeland.

"Chinese culture has influenced me greatly - I started learning martial arts and the lion dance when I was very young," Rivera said. Returning to the country his great-grandfather often spoke about, he felt a strong sense of familiarity and was eager to learn more, dedicating himself fully to the lion dance.

In his free time, Rivera enjoyed exploring the local sights. When he was training in Foshan, South China's Guangdong Province, he visited the Foshan Ancestral Temple, where the intricate architecture and ancient charm made him feel like he was stepping into a folk art museum. He also toured the picturesque water towns of Shunde in Foshan, immersing himself in the poetic beauty of traditional Chinese life.

This trip to China is a great opportunity to learn and gain experience. The participants not only have a chance to learn professional lion dance techniques, but also get to immerse themselves in China's traditional culture and modern development, Chen Xiaodan, associate professor of Guangzhou Sport University and coach of the university's dragon and lion dance team, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"Such cross-cultural exchanges help the peoples of the two countries to gain a deeper understanding of the cultures of the other and foster greater appreciation for the diversity of global civilizations," Chen said.

Didn't embed the pix because it's too much trouble for this one.

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