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| That's no giant worm -- it's a lion at rest! |
I was so enthralled by the Lion Dance Competition I just happened upon at a nearby shopping mall the other day, I had to write about it again. "You learn something new every day," they say, and I gained a new appreciation for Chinese Lion Dance after seeing how these super competitors do it. There were no slouches among these folks, I assure you!
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| "Hey, Guys--come over here & bring me to life!" |
What amazes me, besides the athletic tricks, is the ability of the dancers to sort of "get inside the head" of the lion costume and make it come alive. When the dancers are inside, a gaudy collection of fake fur and shiny fabric suddenly becomes an almost living, breathing creature, one with character and personality. Those young lads inside can make a lion simper and flirt and frolic and coyly hesitate, all to build suspense. They have all the mannerisms - the huge, fluttering eyelids, the prancing and butt-wagging - all the right moves to make you believe it's real. And you kind of do. You completely forget that the butt is actually operated by a young fellow who's bent over, hanging from his partner's belt, balancing on flowerpots, and doing it all in swelteringly hot conditions. Zowie!
Adding to all the excitement is the non-stop clanging noise of cymbals, drumming and gong playing. At first I thought it was just loud and intrusive. Then I came to understand that it's really an important part of the performance in that it builds suspense and calls the audience's attention to each move the lion makes. How kids as young as this one can understand all this and make the right sound at the right time is beyond me.
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| Accompaniment to the Lion Dance |
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| One group's elaborate "colors" & the Malaysian flag |
Adding to the excitement is the fact that each group set up a little enclave where they rested and prepared to perform, since this competition took most of the day.
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| The motorbike version of the lion, who didn't dance. |
And here's an oddment -- a lion who came to Straits Quay by motorbike! i didn't see it arrive, but there's a little hole for the handlebars to poke out, so maybe someone did actually ride it around.
Speaking of youngsters, a whole herd of little kindergartners were all dressed up in their matching lion finery so they could be brought out to appreciate all this traditional culture -- plus a little lunch!
