The lion dancer
YESTERDAY, my son’s long time wish came true. He was able to finally witness the traditional Chinese Dragon and Lion dances first hand -not on YouTube.
Several months ago my 5 year old son, Marco Alonzo, came across a Youtube video of a group of very skilled Chinese Lion dancers. Since that moment, his fascination for the Lion Dance just escalated more and more.
Everyday, he would watch several videos of Lion dancers and he would try to copy their choreograpy and energetic moves. During their Halloween celebration in school, Alonzo insisted that he would dress up as a lion dancer. Since I could not find any store that sells the actual lion dance costume, I just came up with a substandard DIY costume for him and he was over the moon with it.
He didn’t mind that the “lion head” was made out of a stuffed ”puma” bonnet that was just covered with red crepe paper . For him, that "lion head" costume completed his outfit . For the Halloween talent show, he donned the DIY costume and performed a very energetic lion dance which he practiced everyday for weeks.
While on a family trip in Taiwan last year, Alonzo suddenly squeeled with delight when he got a glimpse of some Chinese temples. He excitedly screamed, "Look mommy! Lion Dance!" There were no lion dancers but the temples resembled the ones he sees on YouTube where lion dancers would perform.
I couldn't wait for Chinese New year to come so my son could finally witness the "Lion Dance". For the past months this was my bribe line, "Alonzo be a good boy and mommy will let you watch the lion dance."Alonzo watched the Lion Dance in SM City Baguio yesterday and he was in complete awe. He screamed, he clapped and he even danced with them! It was a moment he has waited for and it was as exciting as he pictured it to be. It was certainly a" Happy Chinese New" year for my little one.
The Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume to bring good luck and fortune. The lion dance is usually performed during the