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La Danza del Leone di Wong Fei Hung
Lion Dance is always tied to the Kung Fu and its dancers' skill. They jump, perform evolutions, hold up each other, but
they keep on moving with the basic Kung Fu footsteps. If you are a good artist, you have more chances to be a great dancer.
Representing the eight lion phases needs a lot of training, in order to perform it with incredible harmony. The phases are "beginning, suspicious, exploring, venal, pleased, anger, afflict, happy." During the exhibition, it's very important to drive with the waist, change direction immediately or keep on moving with an energetic and agile style, not to mention the coordination. Normally, we use the typical Kung Fu footsteps (Kirin Bo, Haai Ying Bo, Lip Ying Bo, Has Gung Bo, Diu Tai But and Jing Bo). Starting slowly and ending faster: only in this way, according to the tradition, it will be good-omened. Great importance also fot the music: the rhythmic part is performed with drum, dishes and gong (for this reason it is happy and strong). 
Often in the Lion Dance, a character called "The Buddha with the great head" or Daaith Tou Fat appears: he extracts
a fan and, with harmonious movements, force the doubtful Lion to trust him. Now he can tame it. Then he wakes up the Lion let
it showing its ability.
A hard training is necessary, because the dancers need to jump or stand on benches and poles, without losing the balance. They have to perform these evolutions with great precision. We can observe three kind of dance: Northern, Southern and Young Lion Dance. The Northern Lion Dance is more similar to a circus exhibition: its movements are very different. Concernig to the Young Lion Dance, we have not specific references, but we can find some informations on "The building of the Five Emperors": «they used a mythological animal to send away the tiger». 
The origins of the Southern Lion go up again in the popular tradition instead: every beginning year, a monstrous beast visited
the village, accompanied by bronze bell sound, gusts of wind and a sound breathed says "Nian Nian". If farmers
were opposed the beast it ate the whole crop: besides it didn't attack the men, but it did raids of livestock and pets.
Inhabitants built an animal with cloth: they thought only a beast could win another beast. When that beast reappeared, all the inhabitants started doing noise using utensils, screaming and dancing. The beast Nian, frightened, escaped. This is the birth of the "animal of cloth": only subsequently, thanks to the studies effected, animal was identified with a Lion. Seen the success gotten on Nian, this animal was interpreted many times in "Dance of Nian" and subsequently in "Lion Dance" Lion Dance begins with three bows Yat Bao, Yi Bao, Saam Bao and finishes with petards noise. Petards are shooten with some bamboo. Lion makes bow as sign of good wish, subsequently done its duty, and begins to play happy.  
Sometimes it happens to see Lion Fighiting, where young pupils trained dancing. Young spirit realizes himself demonstrating its Martial Arts skills through Lion Dance. 
Basic Elements
TO SLEEP: This part is composed in three moments - sleeping, awakening and washing himself. Awakening represents Spirit awakening. Cleaning that strengthens, removes old image and refreshes. After having cleaned every part of its body, it shakes three times its head and after being him purified (cleaned), Lion "is capable" and it is ready to give benediction. TO WAKE UP: Lion is in a pure state and it can be seen as a religious hero. It is chasing wicked spirit. First of all, it bows for three times - respect and honour. In the Chinese culture, three bows represent reverence for someone or something. This number (3) is used many times in this dance: it is a magic number. These three bows can be connected to twelve animals purifying building, while shaking head purification spirit.  TO PLAY:
during this part Lion jumps on roofs or in courtyards, showing great skills and equilibrium. It shows its value to
crowd, it shows to be a "hero." Often, it seems it is palying witha big ball or pearl.
SEEKING: Lion abandons that game to look for food. It has to feed itself to take part in the spiritual battle. However, it has to climb over many obstacles to conquer this food, demonstrating skill and heroism. FIGHT: It fights only when there are more than two Lions in this ceremony and only after eating. Even if Lions are in the same team, they fight for getting a prize. They need this phase in order to choose the strongest Lion, who will be "hero": horn over each head symbolizes this virtue. TO EAT: usually, this part is in the last phase of this dance. Food can be lettuce or mandarins. Lettuce or Chin symbolizes fortune and health. In USA, instead, green is the colour of dollar. Mandarins represent longevity for their spherical form. Lion eats food, then he redistributes it for health and happiness. First on the left, then on the right and finally in the center. CLOSING: at this point, benediction is given and Lion is free to finish its sequence. It cleans beard and does three bows again as before. Beard represents Lion longevity. TO SLEEP: Lion returns to sleep as gods keeper.  
MUSIC: rhythm change according to phases, slower during awakening, faster when Lion completes its duty. 
FIRE CRACKERS: Fire crackers are shooten when Lion forces wicked spirits to escape. An example of New Year's Eve
Lion Dance: music begins and Lion wakes up. Lion is gruff, it begins to turn around and snarl. Then he makes its bows to
the audience. After all exercises, Lion returns calm. Now, it is hungry and it begins to hunt for food
"Chai Chin." Lion brings lettuce to its mouth, to redistribute. Fire crackers and applauses depart.
In case of marriages, births or Tournament openings, Lion opens a red cloth "Hung Bao" written
whit fortunate words. BAAI: Lion visits houses during New Year's Eve to wish a good luck.
Gallery - Visit our Photo Gallery Video - Martone Kwoon Lion Dance ----------------------- |
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