Tags: Dance, Performing Arts
By Alexander Villafania
MANILA, METRO MANILA — During the recent Chinese New Year celebrations , nearly every commercial street in the Binondo Chinatown area had one or more lion and dragon dances happening. These are usually composed of a group of nubile young men who can perform acrobatic leaps while sustaining a choreographed dance. Along with lion dances, there were also some groups that performaned dragon dances, which, while not as acrobatic as the two-person lion dances, are just as visually artistic.
Lion dancers always come in pairs; two people operating one lion costume. It is also common for four lion dancers to be hired to do the “blessing” of an owner’s establishment. Sometimes, lion dancers would chase after firecrackers (usually the Judas belt) laid out on the streets by shop owners. They would then bless the shop owners’ establishments by dancing in front of the property, all the way to the interior of the establishment.
It would be a treat to get lion dancers to grace the opening of a new business establishment. Though the colorful costumes follow certain Feng Shui beliefs, they also serve to attract potential costumers to the business.
The history of lion dancing is just as colorful as the designs of the lion dance costumes. Lion dancers are commonly seen during Chinese New Year but many entrepreneurs hire lion dancers when they open new business establishments. Lion dancing is thought to give good fortune to the business and to its owner. Although there are no lions (tigers are more common) in China, Chinese emperors thousands of years ago were introduced to the big cats through trading on the Silk Road.
There are two types of lion dances — one is from Northern China while the other is Southern Cantonese style. The latter is more commonly known among lion dancers inthe Philippines. Nevertheless, both styles are always accompanied by a group of drummers who synchronize the movements of the lion dancers.
The history of the lion dance in the Philippine goes way back during the Spanish occupation when Filpinos and Spanish land owners traded with the Chinese. But modern lion dances here started by Ling Nam Athletic Association, which was established in the 1958. Not until 1980 when Ling Nam hired Hong Kong martial arts master Poon Wai Ying that lion dances became a professional activity. They also entered several competitions which saw Ling Nam’s Rolando Villamora and Richard Lim studying their competitor’s lion dance styles that they emulated upon returning to the Philippines.
There are already several martial arts schools that teach the lion dance, as well as the dragon dance, to their students. In many cases, they are hired by Chinese businessmen to grace the opening of a new business. As the economy slowly recovers, it is expected that more businesses would open. Seeing a shop with a group of lion dancers could just mean that business is booming.
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