In recognising and celebrating the upcoming lunar new year, I speak on the age-old tradition of lion dancing. This vibrant and energetic art form celebrates the lunar new year, weddings, community events, festivals and business openings. It symbolises good luck, prosperity, protection and fortune. Beyond being a spectacle, lion dancing is a form of expressing cultural heritage and unity. It is passed down from generation to generation, providing an avenue for children to discover their roots and practise their cultural customs. It plays a vital role in the preservation of Asian culture, especially Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean culture, in a modernised world.
My electorate is proudly home to multiple lion dancing teams, some of which are qing fong, yun yee tong, trung han qun, dragon style, dong thanh, dong tam and others. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of those teams and have witnessed their performances live at our lunar new year, moon festivals and other community events. The teams are comprised of dedicated members ranging from age eight to 50 and above. They allocate many hours to refining their craftsmanship, performing acrobatic acts and stunts for our viewing pleasure. Each performance is complemented with elaborate music to convey a unique narrative catered to the event.
Lion dancing costumes consist of large, ornate lion heads with colourful and shimmering bodies. The heads have moveable jaws and animated eyelids. The entire lion is manoeuvred by two dancers, thus requiring collaboration and synergy to imitate a lion's pounce, strut and personality. The accompanying music team involves drums, cymbals and gongs played with precision, power and speed. The movements of lion dancing require skilled individuals to master stunts on poles and stilts. Performers must possess incredible strength and coordination as these stunts are performed by two people—a head and a tail joined at the waist, acting as one.
Lion dancing serves as a bridge connecting our first‑generation children to their immigrant parents and cultural heritage. It can be disheartening when first‑generation children are unable to communicate with their hardworking immigrant parents due to language barriers, a lack of common interest and differences in values. Participating in lion dancing teaches children the history and traditions behind their culture. It acts as a form of communication with their parents and grandparents. It allows them to recognise the significance of events, such as the Lunar New Year and the beliefs that are tied to it, including wearing nice clothes, going to the temple or church, sharing meals, exchanging gifts, paying respects to ancestors and thoroughly cleaning the house to welcome the new year.
To adapt to modern society, lion dancing has also developed from a cultural tradition into a competitive sport. The performances are evaluated based on the team's movement, harmony, creativity, uniforms, props and skill difficulty. For participants, this can add purpose and ignite passion for their training and performances. By achieving goals and refining their craft together, teams foster a sense of belonging and community. In young lion dancers, this can have an immense impact on their sociability and confidence, while experienced lion dancers are continually invigorated and devoted to improvement. Lion dancing is a sport that preserves ancient Asian cultures and traditions. It is a symbol of cultural expression and unity. For many participants, their lion dancing team is a safe home and second family. For the audience, lion dancing is a representation of luck, good fortune and celebration. I encourage people to look out for lion dancing events in their local area and discover this art form for themselves as we welcome the New Lunar Year in two days time—the Year of the Dragon
