Lion Dance

Image Source: Xinhua

Chinese festivals and celebrations often feature lion dances to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits.

Lion dances are typically performed by a pair of dancers. One controls the lion's head, while the other manages the rear end.

While the Northern lion dance is closely related to kungfu and involves more dynamic movements such as leaps, jumps, and climbs, the southern lion dance draws inspiration from the lion's behavior, incorporating playful actions like fur-licking and body shaking.

Learning this skill involves lots of falls and many years of hard work. Nowadays, the most advanced lion dances include hopping across columns that are as tall as 3 meters.