Martial arts association hopes SDMC relax SOP on lion, dragon dance
SIBU: The Sibu Martial Arts Association (SMAA) hopes the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) will allow lion dances to be performed this Chinese New Year (CNY). This following the decision by SDMC to review the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the festival. SMAA head coach Gilbert Wong said after hearing this, they were relieved and […]
SPA chairman supports proposal to recognise lion dance as sport
BY JACINTHA JOLENE KUCHING: Datuk Dr John Lau Pang Heng supports the proposal to recognise lion dance as an official sport. The Sarawak Patriot Association (SPA) chairman commented that it would be good for everyone to learn lion dance as Malaysia is a multicultural country. “In this case, one day Malaysia can participate and win […]
CNY SOP to curb spread of Covid-19 and variants
BY JACINTHA JOLENE KUCHING: Many lion dance associations and groups want the authorities to allow lion dance performances for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration. The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) had recently released the standard operating procedures (SOP) for Chinese New Year 2022. Open houses, house visits, lion dance performances and celebrations at temples […]
Yes, recognise lion dance as sports
BY JACINTHA JOLENE KUCHING: Chairman of Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak Prof Datuk Seri Dr Song Swee Hee supports the motion of recognising lion dance as official sports. “Yes, lion dance should be classified as one of the sports events under the Sports Development Act “This traditional arts has developed itself as a competitive sports […]
Dragons and lions forced to take a break
KUCHING: Dragon and Lion dance troupes are going to have to take a break and probably lose their income during the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) as the traditional shows will not be allowed during the celebration due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Sarawak Elite Dragon and Lion Dance Association here is no exception. For […]
Muted CNY as pandemic tames lion, dragon dancers
SANDAKAN: It will be a quiet Chinese New Year with the on-going pandemic and movement control order (MCO) and one person already affected by the subdued traditional festivities is lion dance costume repairer Lu Tshun Yaw. Every year, days before the arrival of the New Year, Lu, 41, will be kept busy sewing and repairing […]
The Lions from St. Joseph
In November 2017, when a group of Form Two boys from the St Joseph Private School asked a teacher whether they can perform a Lion Dance for Chinese New Year celebration in school, the teacher was taken aback, but still told the boys, “Spend some time practising over the Christmas holidays and record the practice […]
Lion dance: Heritage alive
BAU: Ivan Chai Xun Fu was just a nine-year-old kid when he decided to learn to perform the lion dance. Three years ago, he became a lion dance instructor and has so far trained 50 people aged between 10 and 20 in the art, one of the most important traditions observed by the Chinese community […]
Dragon and Lion dance – More than just a cultural symbol
An internationally-recognised sport As a little boy, Nelson Nguang used to rush whenever he heard the sounds of a dragon and lion dance performance. “In the morning of CNY, whenever I hear the drum sounds nearby, I would already feel excited. I would run to it, even my slippers were nowhere to be found. As […]
Lion dance fosters unity
MIRI: Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting believe that lion dance can foster unity among Sarawak’s multiracial community. “The lion dance, despites being a Chinese culture, is enjoyed by other ethnic groups as well,” he said. Sarawakian of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, he added, had been living in harmony and had […]
