Chinese New Year - not smoke and mirrors

Gong Xi Fat Cai - Selamat Tahun Baru Cina - Happy Chinese New Year!  No matter how you say it, it still means colour, noise and food!

In February of this year, we were really lucky to be able to see lion dances with lots of lions.  There is a kind of magic to it.  

The young men who become lions

These young men practise long and hard to improve and extend their routines and then perform, one being the back legs and the lifter and the other being the head and the front legs.  They're just skilful young men - who turn into lions!

The lions

The pleasure for the audience comes from seeing their skill - as they dance over the high metal poles, jumping from one to the other, pretending to fall, rearing up and roaring down.  And we love recognising the character of the lion - as it shakes and turns its head, twitches its ears, flutters its eyelids, flips its tail - even scratches itself.



Noise & action; concern & appreciation



The group that comes together is a real team and you can see the drummers and cymbal players watching the lions and sometimes leading them.  You can also see the anxiety on the faces of some of the members as the lions perform particularly tricky jumps and lifts and then their sheer pleasure and appreciation as the lions show their character and leap confidently to the ground.

It's almost as much fun to watch those watching the lions as it is to watch the lions themselves.  

The legs, the heads, the cymbals & drums,
the reason, the eye, the tail,
the altar with its red packet for the lion

Overall I am left with a wonderful sense of colour and movement, noise and ritual.  I am so looking forward to seeing the lion dances again next year!
I would love to hear from you - comments, questions, responses.  Write to me on:  jude@astsabah.com