LION DANCELion dances can be found in many cultures around the world and most have stemmed from the Asian continent. In Japan the Lion Dance is called Shishimai and the style of dance and costume varies from region to region. Mostly the Lion Dance is performed for good luck, in Japan it is often associated with a good harvest or for good health and safety. You can even find Lion Dancing in Africa where they perform it to ward off evil spirits. Although Lions are not indigenous to Asia, they are very respected there. Lions are believed to bring good luck and ward off evil because the legend has it the emperor had a dream one night in which a strange looking animal saved his life. The next day he described his dream to his ministers. One minister told the emperor the animal in his dream resembled an animal from the west, known as a lion. Because the strange animal saved the emperor in his dream, the lion quickly became a symbol of good luck through out China.Today's Lion Dance will be a traditional Southern Style Chinese Lion Dance, which is thought to bring good luck and long life with a few adapted western elements for our contemporary audience. Lion Dances are often performed at great celebrations, business grand openings, birthdays, weddings where it entertains the guests and brings the couple one hundred years of good luck. In ancient times a lion would visit villages and scare away bad or evil spirits, the villagers would join in banging pots and pans and making a lot of noise, this is why today's lions are accompanied by an ensemble playing drums, gongs and cymbals. Performing a Lion Dance requires excellent physical conditioning, stamina, and Kung Fu skills. Therefore the dance troupe traditionally comes from a top martial arts school. The dance begins with the lion looking around and exploring his environment a little bit. He then becomes sleepy staggers and will lay down to sleep, when he sleeps he brings his audience into his dream world where he gathers his good luck to share with the crowd. Then you will see the lion begin to wake up and clean himself. (wipe the sleep from his eyes, clear his nose, scratch it's ears , and wash his legs) The lion must first be pure and clean to bring good luck. This is where the performers face may be seen as they bow to show respect to their host. Next he will spot a gift left for him, typically lettuce of some type for the lion to "eat". (there is always a gift of "good luck" to pay the lion money in a red envelope attached to the greens). The lion will carefully approach the greens and maybe even test it to be sure it's safe and not a firecracker or other dangerous item. While testing to the left, right and center the lion will do a "3 star" routine to ward off any others who may want to eat his greens. The lion will then pick up his green in his mouth and "chew" it. He'll tear the lettuce apart and throw it out to the crowd, first to the left, then the right and then to the middle. This is to spread prosperity in all directions for the crowd to share and take home with them. The music then changes to a happy dance and the head will be raised up and moved as the lion is happy to have consumed his prize. It is during the happy dance the lion may choose to interact and play with the crowd while at the same time hunting for any offerings (tips) being made through the passing of a red envelope with greens in it into the lions mouth. A gift accepted and eaten by the lion is supposed to bring good fortune to the giver, their family and their hosts.
In place of the lion performing the "choy cheng" or eating of the greens, Ricardo's Family Karate/Kung fu often substitutes the greens with multi colored confetti mixed with messages of good luck. (Kids of all ages like to search for their messages and good fortune among the greens confetti to bring home to their families). After the lion has done it's job and is well fed he will go back to sleep where he will wait to be summonsed another day, but we invite you to continue in the lions dreams and join us with the rest of the Kung fu demonstration.
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Our Lion Dance Is A Great Wedding Entertainment Choice !
Traditional Chinese lion dance and dragon dance are types of celebrations popular at many weddings, Lunar New Year, opening of stores and birthday parties. The rich color, lively performance, incredible stunts and dramatic gongs and drums create an unforgettable cultural feast of unique sight and sound for your guest and are said to bring 100 years of good Luck to the bride and groom or the event host . Our modern performing group offers different packages for weddings and other events. A simple version of the dance may include two or three lions and the band. Depending on the package, they may perform at the reception, or escorts/leads the groom and his groomsmen as they go to fetch the bride from her home. A more elaborate package would include a group of dragon dancers for a spectacular parade of movement and color. Making your wedding day or other special events a day full of colorful blessings, good fortune, and exciting larger than life memories !
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