‘Baby lions’ get into the big time to herald new year
Two 8-year-olds, Elvis Tiau and Choo Guoyong, are buzzing after being included in a group of 25 from the Epacs Lion Dance Troupe to perform for the Prime Minister as she marks the start of Lunar New Year festivities here.
Jacinda Ardern will this morning partake in an “eye-dotting ceremony” of Chinese lions at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds to make the start of celebrations for the Lunar New Year, which falls on February 12.
Elvis says it’s “like a dream” that he has been selected to perform in one of the festival’s main events in Auckland, just two months after joining the troupe.
“I like watching lion dance and it’s like a dream that I am actually going to perform in front of the Prime Minister,” Elvis said.
Lion dance is a traditional Chinese dance performed at Chinese New Year and is designed to bring good luck and chase away evil spirits.
Elvis, of Whangapar¯aoa Primary, will be performing as the head of the lion and dance to the rhythm of beating drums, clashing symbols and striking gongs with a partner at the back.
Guoyong, who will be on drums, said he has been putting in extra hours of practice to perfect his beats.
“There will be many important people there, so I don’t want to make any mistakes,” said the Te Uho o te Nikau Primary School student.
Troupe master and founder Peter Low said he has been actively recruiting children to join his team as a way to pass on the art.
“Many people think lion dancing is just something that people in the 20s or 30s do, but I want to show that it is never too young for people to start,” Low said.
He has been running workshops to recruit “baby lion” performers in the hope that the tradition of lion dancing can be passed on to the next generation.
“This is not just any old dance, it has strong symbolism and significance, and in a way spiritual too,” said Low, originally from Singapore.
Lion dancing is believed to have originated during the Tang dynasty (618-906 AD) and over the years became widely seen as a symbol of good luck throughout China and the Chinese diaspora.
Connie Wong has five of her children, including Elvis, enrolled as members of Low’s troupe.
Originally from Malaysia, she believes lion dancing helps build fitness, discipline and agility.