CHINESE LION DANCE

Welcome to the competition area, heart of Yangon China Town

These are TROPHIES for the winners… Cash Valued 1,000,000 Kyats for FIRST PRIZE

Seeing this, your ego buds awakened…

Judges mark with a precise scheme, especially how much it looks like a real lion…

To do this aint an easy job, needs a perfect balance between 2 players…

A score earning point by FLYING SILVER LION KUNG FU CLUB…

Every type of movement has a specific musical rhyme and the music mimics the move of the Lion. The drum beat follows the Lion and the cymbals and gong players follow the drum.

Lions need to pay homage to the Judges before the competition starts, that’s a MUST…

A raise of total balance by YSL (Youth Silver Lion) Kung Fu Troupe

A harmonious movement that makes the audiences WOW…

That’s a mighty look which gives the total spirit of a LION…

A backward jump by Kyaw Sin Thant (Head Dancer) of YSL…

Super Jump which deserves a praise… I heard a roaming applause from the audiences…

Seeing from outside seems easy… can you imagine how hard they are trying inside???

HISTORY

According to experts lion dance originated over 1500 years ago, the lion itself is not native to China. The first one was brought to China as a tribute during the reign of the Emperor Shun (126-145) of the Han dynasty. The Lion Dance combines art, history and martial arts in an extraordinary performance art. Normally, the performers have some martial arts background as the dance requires suppleness, flexibility, fitness, strength and balance. Every type of movement has a specific musical rhyme and the music mimics the move of the Lion. The drum beat follows the Lion and the cymbals and gong players follow the drum. The whole dance requires precision and to be unison from each member of the team. Through the years, the Lion Dance has undergone many changes and developments. After nearly two thousand years of creative thinking and practice, the Lion Dance has become a genuine performance art that is spiritually fulfilling as well as expressing optimism, unity and bravery of people.

BELIEVES

It is believed that loud noises scare away evil spirits so firecrackers and loud banging of the music are often used to scare away evil or bad karma. The lion dance brings good luck and happiness. The Chinese people regard the Lion as a symbol of bravery and peace. They hoped that by using the bravery of the lion, they might chase away evil spirits. This is why they always build statues id lions outside their homes in order to prevent evil occurrences from happening.

EVENT

These shots are results of a milestone set by a group of tough Chinese businessmen in 2005 Chinese New Year. They have thought of nurturing Chinese new generations with Lion Dancing spirit. They started funding to host LION DANCING CHAMPIONSHIP. That’s the foundation of this competition. 2009, they have come to the 4th time championship and 10 teams in total are in line to compete each other. The competition takes place in SIN OH DANN Street of LATHA Township, Yangon (Rangoon). It’s a 5 days competition started by 26th JAN and planned to hold the final round by 30th JAN. The first prize is said to be ONE MILLION KYATS funded by various Chinese businesses around Burma. My shots taken on 27th and 28th JAN and I am sharing for my friends.

Enjoy the Lion Dance and may you be bestowed with Lion Spirits in this Lunar New Year of Ox. Once again, GONG XI FAH CAI.