The Chinese Lion dance is a symbolic dance performed to bring luck and ward off evil. Each lion costume contains two people from a Kung Fu school who use the steps they have learned to perform the dance. If the dance is performed well, the school's reputation improves.
Instructions
Make the Dance Authentic
1. Begin and end the lion dance with a bow. If there are dignitaries present, the lion should bow to them three times.
2. Simulate the movements of a lion in your dance. The dance consists of various Kung Fu styles. Your style will depend on your Kung Fu school.
3. Move the eyes and mouth of the lion during the dance. The person in front pulls strings to control the eyes of the lion and moves the apparatus behind the mouth to make it open and close.
4. Move the tail of the lion during the dance. The person at the tail end of the lion follows the first dancers lead, making the body movements of the lion look realistic.
5. Make the lion stand several times during the dance using the stack or half-stack positions. To perform the half stack, the person behind lifts the person in front onto his thighs and then up to sit on his shoulders. The full stack involves the person in front standing on the shoulders of the person behind.
6. Follow the Buddha. The performer dressed as a Buddha leads the lion through the dance and helps it to find its food. The Buddha also teases the lion with a ball or fan and the moody lion bites, kicks, chases or plays with him in return.
7. Interact with the crowd. Tease and play with the crowd when you dance close.
Perform the "Lion Eating" Dance
8. Pretend to eat food given to you by the crowd. Business owners usually tuck a red envelope filled with money into a head of lettuce.
9. Approach the lettuce cautiously and then back away from it. Do this three times.
10. "Eat" the lettuce. Pick the lettuce up with the lion's mouth and take the envelope out within the lion's head.
11. Pretend the lion is eating the lettuce and spitting some of the leaves out.
12. Kick the fallen leaves into the crowd when the lettuce is finished.
Do the "Sleeping Lion" Dance
13. Stumble about as if sleepy and then sit down. Have both dancers sit with their legs stretched out to the side.
14. Make the lion look believably sleepy. Have the dancer at the head of the lion sway the head from side to side, opening and closing the lion's mouth as if it is panting. Have the dancer at the tail flap the fabric body of the lion to make it look as if it is breathing heavily.
15. Make the lion sleep. Let the lion's head drop down and stop moving.
16. Make the lion wake up suddenly, as if bothered by a flea. Scratch, and then fall asleep again. Do this a few times.
17.Make the lion wake up finally to groom itself. Have the dancer at the head rub one foot against the lion's beard. Have the dancer at the tail rub one foot against the lion's ear.
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