Lion Dance Team

Our Lion Dance Team regularly performs at both private and public parties, cultural events, schools, festivals, and celebrations such as New Years, weddings, new business openings, anniversaries, etc.

Our skilled performers practice the “Fut Shan Southern Chinese” style Lion Dance. Under the leadership of Sifu Robin Young, the WKFA Lion Dance Team began practicing the lion dance in 2013. Since that time, Sigung David Moylan has continued to evolve the dance to capture the unique spirit of our Academy.

Lion Dance Symbolism

A deeply rooted Chinese tradition for over one thousand years, the lion symbolizes courage, strength, and wisdom. Colourful and noisy, the lion dance uses movements based on the martial art of kung-fu to capture the attention of the crowd through the spirit of the lion. It brings presence and positive energy to the event, as well as honouring the host, to whom the lion always bows respectfully. In return, the host offers the lion a “meal” in the form of a red envelope called a laisee.

Each lion dance tells a story. Common themes include the lion waking up, leaving its den, eating, meeting another lion, or crossing a bridge. The dance captures a particular emotion of the lion, such as curiosity, gaiety, ferocity, caution, or anger.

Culturally, the lion dance connects the first generation Chinese community to their roots. When they see a lion dance, they see a picture of their past. When the Canadian generation sees the dance, they connect to their rich cultural heritage. Regardless of the audience’s cultural roots, the lion dance uplifts the spirit and brings a smile to every face in the room!

Lion Dance Music

The Lion Dance band plays music called Seven-Star Drumming, based on a 7-beat rhythm. The music brings energy to the lion. The lion plays to the drum and the drum plays to the lion. Through the drum, the drummer also communicates with the lion, for instance, signalling the lion to change their routine.

Lion Dance Costumes

There are traditionally three lion costumes, representing three brothers from Chinese history:

• Zhang Fei – Black Face with Black Fur: Young Feisty Lion – The Fighting Lion
• Guan Gong – Red Face with black Fur: Brave or Loyal Lion – The Awakened Lion
• Liu Bei – Yellow Face with White Fur: Wise Old Lion – The Auspicious Lion

Lion Dance History

In old China, all Kung-Fu Clubs had Lion Dance Teams. The Lion Dance provided the Kung-Fu students and masters with a way to connect with the community and bring a cultural aspect of the Martial Arts to the people.

Lion Dance Folklore

Although there are no specific records documenting the origins of the Lion Dance, tales have been passed down orally from generation to generation. One tale tells of a mythical monster named Nian. Every year, Nian destroyed the village’s crops until the Prince of Heaven sent down a mighty lion to scare Nian away. Since the villagers had never seen a lion, they created a creature based on several animals, called it a lion, and danced the Lion Dance yearly to keep Nian and all monsters at bay, thereby protecting their crops from that time on.