Lion dances to new beat

Lion dance, often seen in festive celebrations in many countries, is a traditional performance in Chinese culture with a history of more than 1,000 years. It is usually performed by two people who mimic the movements of a lion in a specially made consume.

Lion dances can be broadly categorized into two styles, Northern and Southern. The Southern Lion dance originates from Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

But the creation of the dance lion head, an old and delicate craft, is on the wane in Guangzhou as there is a shortage of craftsmen. Few young men are willing to learn the complicated skill nowadays although the older generation still sticks to it.

Some factories in Guangzhou recently started large-scale production and sale by using modern technology. This will probably make it possible for the old art to have a brighter future.

A worker uses abrasive paper to tie the bamboo skin into the shape of a lion head at a factory in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on December 3. This is the first step and the most important one in the lion-head making. [Photo/IC]