Chinese lion dance

Chinese Culture Dancing The lion dance has been part of the Chinese culture for thousands of years and is performed many times on many places such as weddings, store openings, festivals and celebrations. The lion is a symbol of power, wisdom, and good fortune. It chases away evil spirits and brings happiness and good luck. The lion is made up of a head and a body. The lion head is made of paper-mache, bamboo, and wire. Inside the head there are levers and pull-strings that are used to make the lion's eyes open and close, the ears twist and flap, and the mouth open and close. The head is painted in bright colors and decorated with string, tassels and bells. The body of the lion is made from bright multi-colored cloth and is also decorated with hair, bells, and other decorations. Two specially trained people form the lion. The dance is based on traditional Kung fu footwork, kicks and stances. The head of the lion requires strength and stamina. The dancer must balance the lion's head and control the lion's facial expressions (eyes, ears, mouth) with his upper body, while performing stances and footwork with his lower body. It is this dancer that gives the lion its personality and attitude. The second dancer follows the lead dancer and does a bent over position making the body and the tail of the lion.