With the Spring Festival just around the corner, a lion dance troupe in London is putting the finishing touches on its performances, blending martial arts, acrobatics, and music to energize the celebrations. Falling on Feb 17 this year, the Spring Festival marks the start of the Chinese New Year and ushers in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac.
The Sun Lion Dance troupe is perfecting every movement, beat, and detail for their upcoming shows. What appears as a playful and spontaneous dance is the result of hours of highly technical behind-the-scenes work.
"We do a lot of work with the lion itself. But also to do the little details that make the lion look more realistic when performing. The drumming is to do with basically the history of lion dance, so it goes with helping ward off evil creatures," said Jonathan Peng, a drummer.
The costumes themselves carry deep symbolism. Each lion head is crafted with traditional elements believed to bring luck and ward off misfortune. For example, the mirror is designed to ward off evil spirits, reflecting their own image back to them. The horn is a symbol of strength and connection to the heavens, and the different bright colors represent auspicious elements like good fortune, luck, longevity and honor.
Centuries ago, lion heads were made of heavy wood and metal and were used in actual combat. Today, they are crafted from lightweight bamboo and papier mache, allowing for greater agility.
The performance requires seamless coordination between two dancers, with one taking the head, the other the tail.
"You need to be able to have a good relationship with the tail, so you need to be able to communicate. You need to know when to jump and when the shake comes, what it means. You need to have that mutual respect and understanding," said Jacqueline Wong, a dancer.
For the Sun Lion Dance troupe, community lies at the heart of its mission. Young members were training to become lions themselves, including one entire family. A pair of siblings shared the biggest challenge they faced during practice.
"We do a lot of continuous jumps so just carrying on and keeping the momentum is hard," said Zi Ching Chan-Lau, the elder brother.
"We do a lot of stacks. A stack is where you go on someone's head or shoulders or standing on their knees or legs," said Ziqiao Chan-Lau, the younger sister.
Their parents said lion dance has become a beloved activity that unites their entire family.
"I think it's lovely that we can do it as a family, it's one activity where all four of us can get involved," said William Lau, the father.
"I love the fact the parents can do it with their kids, rather than on our phones or having a coffee, it's good to be physical with the kids as well," said Suki Chan, the mother.
The troupe's next stop is set to be London's Chinatown, where they are expected to welcome the Chinese New Year with brilliant shows and bring good fortune to the community for the year ahead.
London lion dance troupe leaps into action for Spring Festival celebrations
