Lion dance is a folk recreational and sporting activity, imitating the movement of lions. As an important tradition in China, it is usually performed with the dragon dance on auspicious occasions, as lions express joy and happiness. A good performance is believed to bring luck and happiness. Lion dance needs more skills of martial arts than dragon dance. There usually are two performers who play the lion. One, handling the lion's head, leads the dance and shows the lion's emotions. The other plays the body and the tail. They hide themselves under a cloth hide attached with the head. For a proper show, the movements must match the music played by a minimum of three pieces: drum, gong and cymbal. Either the person performing in the lion head or the drummer initiates the movement and signals the other, so that the movement and music is synchronized. The loud music, along with the firecrackers and lion movements, is used to scare away "evil spirits" so that good luck will follow. Throughout the performance, the lion will mimic various moods and demonstrate similar physical gestures allowing the lion to look life-like. Emotions and expressions portrayed by the dancers include excitement, caution, curiosity, playful, anger, sleepiness, confusion, happiness, sadness, and many others.
Chinese lion dance has two traditions, the Northern style (seen in Peking Opera or acrobatic performances) and the older Southern style (more symbolic). The first time I watched a real lion dance was when I enjoyed a variety show of acrobatics. Lion dance embrace the beauty, art, culture, traditions, and history of China. It is an extension of the Chinese martial arts and is often performed by martial artists. This highly skilled performance often brings about an atmosphere of breathtaking warmth that adds fun to the festivals.
