Keeping The Aging Art Of Lion Dance Young

By Law Zheng Yuan

Nestled deep within the stretching roads of the Toh Guan industrial district, one of many warehouses is home to a troupe of lion and dragon dance performers. With numerous accolades attained since 2004, even their junior teams have contributed to their acclaim thanks to the close bonds shared between generations of dancers.

A PRIDE’S CUBS: To introduce lion dance and preserve Chinese heritage while instilling traditional values in the young, Wenyang Sports Association first started The Cubs Club (TCC) lion dance training programme in June 2018, bringing in a new generation of dancers.

A POWERFUL DANCE: Of all the Northern and Southern variations of Chinese lion dance, the TCC cubs are taught the Southern Heshan as part of the course, which borrows many moves and postures from kung fu. Training for these cubs are held at Wenyang’s industrial building along Toh Guan Road.

ELDEST OF THE PACK: Glendon Low (left), 11, and Jayden Tan (right), 13, are the most senior among the TCC cubs - as the lead pair. Glendon shares that lion dancers must always work together so they can coordinate their movements effectively under the lion skin.

ATOP THE HIGH POSTS: The dance has evolved over the years to include more elaborate movements and skills in manoeuvring under the costume. 21-year-old TCC instructor, Jeremy Chui, describes acrobatic lion dance as a more artistic and strenuous form of the art - requiring more supervision as pillars can reach as high as 3 metres.

RAISING THE YOUNG: Jeremy shares a close relationship with the young cubs. Having won various awards for his performance atop the high posts and backed by his 17-year lion-dancing background, Jeremy shows Glendon the basic movements of acrobatic lion dance.  

AUSPICIOUS TRAINING: As the lion dance is a ritual to bring good fortune and bountiful earnings, the cubs are also taught how to perform using auspicious offerings like mandarin and vegetables during Chinese New Year. The dance usually involves tossing them up into a crowd from a seated position.

NEW BLOOD: The most recent batch of TCC students performed their graduation dance at Wenyang’s Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner on 11 Jan, where parents were invited to celebrate their induction into true lion dance cubs.

GRAND EXIT: The older TCC cubs, led by Glendon, end their performance with the same one that awarded them champion of the 2019 Singapore National Traditional Lion Dance Championship – Kids Category (Under 12).

GRADES OVER MANES: Low Siew Cheong, 45, expresses that he was willing to let his son join the trope out of interest, but not if it had affected his grades. Many parents of the TCC cubs also acknowledge the value of preserving the culture, but emphasize that academics always takes precedence.

INHERITING LEGACY: The association awards a yearly bursary to its cubs as encouragement to continue striving in both academics and their training. As explained by 36-year-old lead TCC instructor Carey Chin, the association hopes new generations of lion dancers will see that the art form continues well into the future.