15th Ngee Ann City National Lion Dance Championships

Info: Witness the agility and superb skills of these top lion dance teams as they pit their skills among one another to prance off with the Champion title and represent Singapore in the international competitions. Competition events include Southern Lion Free Style Routines and Southern Lion Traditional Open.

Location: Community Club (Zonal), Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza (Final), Singapore

Date: July-August (Zonal), September (Final)

Results: West Zone

Video:  West Zone, North Zone

Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, more...

14th Malaysia National Lion Dance Championship
Location: Arena of Stars, Genting, Malaysia

Date: 20th to 22nd of November
 

2nd 'LTPK Cup' National Competitive Dragon Dance Championship
Location: Singapore

Date: 24th & 28th May

Results: Full

The Art & History of Lion Dance

Legend has it that there were continual famines in ancient China. One day, a single horned monster appeared. Since then, the famine never came again. The villagers named the monster nian. Using bamboos and papers, they recreated the monster. They filled bamboo shoots with gunpowder and covered the village in red decorations. Every year they celebrated te harvest or festivals by performing the Lion Dance and setting off firecrakers to commemorate the day and to ward off evil spirits.

China Culture- Lion Dance

Lion dance is an outstanding traditional folk art in China. When it is the Lantern Festival or other festive occasion, people often organize lion dance to add to the fun. If well performed, the lion dance is believed to bring luck and happiness.

Chinese Lion Dance in Malaysia

The lion dance is a vigorous form of dance that is usually performed during Chinese festivals such as Chinese New Year. The origins of the lion dance are linked closely to the origins of the Chinese New Year celebrations. It is said that in ancient times, a mythological creature known as Nian terrorised China and devoured its people on the eve of the new year. The only animal that managed to wound this beast was the lion. Thus, in an attempt to frighten the beast, the villagers decided to mimic the lion with lions made of cloth.

Types of Lions

There are two main styles of lion dancing: The Golden Northern Lion and the Southern Lion. The Northern Lion is shaggy and is usually red, orange and yellow in color. It is sometimes referred to as the 'Peking Lion' for its resemblance of a Pekinese dog. The Northern Lion Dance is less common than the other styles of lions.

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2nd Jan 2010

- Home Page updated. More new updates coming up, 2010.

- Updated Equipment

1st August 2009

- Updated Competition, Home page

- More groups added to Singapore +3

- Updated Australia groups section.

30th July 2009

- Competitions from Malaysia, Singapore added. More competition updates on August.

29th July 2009

- More updates on groups section on Australia, Singapore, Taiwan is commencing on August.

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28th July 2009

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