The lion dances that we perform today are traditions that have been handed down over the centuries stemming from a mixture of folklore and mythology. There have been many myths on how lion dancing came about, but many believe it started in a small village during the Han Dynasty. The village was being terrorized by a powerful creature called the “Nien” (the word “year” in Chinese), causing chaos and destruction. Suddenly, a magical lion descended from its heavenly cave and defended the citizens of the village. After defeating and chasing away the beast, the lion returned to the skies.

Due to the lion’s righteousness, he was believed to be one of the deities that symbolized power, courage, and prosperity. The citizens of the village created a lion puppet to portray their savior. In addition to honoring the lion’s good deed, it was a precautionary measure against future attacks from similar creatures.

Along with scaring away evil spirits, this mythological deity was assurance for an auspicious beginning. As a result, the presence of lion dancing can be seen in many festive events and holidays. Custom dictates that the lion dance accompanied with music consisting of cymbals, gongs, and drums will bring luck along with prosperity to the people.

During a lion dance, store owners and villagers will set up puzzles and obstacles to challenge the lion. In order for the lion to retrieve its food of greens and fruits, it must overcome these obstacles. The retrieval of the greens and fruits signifies the path of an individual’s life. It indicates that with determination, an individual can overcome any difficulties that he or she encounters throughout their life.

Our organization has performed the art of lion dancing for over thirty years. We have participated in numerous events for businesses and corporations nationwide. With a commitment to enhance community activism in New York City ’s Chinatown , our lion dance team is dedicated to partake in the Chinese New Year celebrations on a yearly basis.

To highlight the art of lion dancing, our team has continued to create new and entertaining routines for the viewing public. We have a variety of lion dance segments that includes acrobatic stunts done on top of tables and above a 15 ft. pole.