SIBU: Lion dances are a part of every
Chinese New Year but this year, being a Dragon Year, dragon dances are in the
spotlight locally and worldwide.
The dragon marks the fifth of 12 animals in
the Chinese zodiac.
A dragon dance, like the lion dance, is
believed to bring good luck.
The qualities of a dragon are intense power,
dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness.
Said Yung Dah Looh, chief coach of Sibu
Martial Arts (Guansu) Association: “Dragon symbolises great power and
prosperity and they are things many Chinese families dream to have.”
For the first three days of the Chinese New
Year, Yung received invitations for the dragon dance to be performed at more
than two dozen homes.
In preparation for the Dragon Year, Yung
imported a dragon from the peninsula about a year ago.
The length and size of the body of the dragon
is 112 ft (34m) and it is divided into nine major sections.
Each section is 14 inches from the next, the
body having 81 rings in total.
The dragon moves in a wave-like pattern,
achieved by coordinated swinging of each section in succession.
‘While swinging constitutes the basic movement
of the dragon, executing more complex formations is limited only by a team’s
credibility,” he said.
“The basic skills of a dragon performer are
simple to learn but becoming a competent performer takes dedicated training
until the movement becomes second nature and complex formations can be
achieved, relying not only on the skill of one member but the team as a whole.”
Yung said.
Yung said the dragon he imported was made of
light materials like aluminum and plastic.
“Traditionally, dragons were made of wood with
bamboos on the inside so were heavy for the performers to carry around. Today
these wooden structures are replaced by light plastic which enhances
performance and credibility.”
During the dance, performers hold poles to
raise and lower the dragon.
Sometimes, one man holds a ‘Road of Wisdom’ on
a pole and he entices the dragon to follow him to the beat of the drum, as if
searching for wisdom and knowledge.
The dragon dance is believed to have
originated during the Han Dynasty. It was started by the Chinese who had great
respect for the dragon.
It is believed to have begun as part of the
farming and harvest culture, and as a method of healing and preventing
sicknesses.
Yung said he would continue to execute the
dragon dance so long as it was in demand by the people.
“Like the lion dance and the display of
firecrackers and fireworks, dragon dance forms part of Chinese culture that has
been around for more than 2,000 years.”
Philip Wong
Borneo Post
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