Dance Origin: China Genre: Chinese Lion Dance Artistic Director: Jimmy Leung Choreographer: Daniel Leung First Appearance in SF EDF: 2007 Website:www.sfwhitecrane.com
China's lion dance originated
over 1500 years ago. The lion is not native to China,
but was introduced by travelers along the Silk Road,
when a performing lion and a trainer were given as a tribute to Emperor Shun
(126-145 BCE). Travelers from India
and Nepal
carried in Buddhist images of the lion, a symbol of strength and dignity.
Throughout China,
the lion came to symbolize strength,
luck, and joy, and acrobats
donned costumes to bring the lion alive. For over a thousand years, China's lions have been dancing—to entertain imperial courts, and to bless farming
societies, official celebrations, temples,
plantings and harvests, religious rites, and in modern times, business
openings, births, and weddings.
Leung's
White Crane Lion & Dragon Dance Association was
founded in 1971 by Leung brothers,Kuen,
Kwan, and Allen. The brothers' long association with the lion dance began as
children playing in China:
at home, they invented a lion costume out of a large bamboo basket and a
blanket, and danced while banging on empty kerosene cans. Boyhood play grew to
a serious study of martial arts and lion dancing in China, and they brought their
skills to the Bay Area. Over
thirty-seven years, Leung’s White Crane has promoted and participated in a long
list of shows, celebrations, films, competitions, and charity work all over
North America and Asia. In 1992, the Leung’s took 2nd place in the Hong Kong World Lion Dance Tournament, and their amusing and joyful lions dance annually at the grand
finale of San Francisco’s
Chinese New Year Parade. Kuen's son, Daniel, is headmaster of martial arts; Kwan's
son, Jimmy, coaches advanced lion dance; and Allen's son, Clifton, manages operations.
2009 PERFORMANCE
Title: Curious Lion Seeking Immortal Green Flower Dancers: Danny Luong, Peter Luong Musicians: Morgan Liao, David Luong, Victor Leung
The
southern lion dance, performed today by Leung’s White Crane Lion & Dragon
Dance Association, remains a dance of entertainment. China's early choreographers had
never seen a lion, so the southern lion looks and acts more like a cat, and
this northern lion—short, stocky, and furry—resembles an oversized Pekinese. One performer holds the lion’s head with both hands
and another crouches at the lion’s tail. The dancers make great use of the
animal's prancing legs, and their movements follow a specified sequence. The dance is
highly acrobatic and it requires extensive training in martial arts. Traditionally, a martial artist leads the dance; with
a pair of adult lions and one or two young cubs. The traditional payment for lion
dancers is also amusing: it is made
through the Choy Cheng, or “Eating of the Green (Vegetable)." A
leafy green vegetable is tied to a lucky
red envelope filled with money. The lion approaches, tests the food to make
sure it's not a firecracker, dances to ward off competitors, and then eats its
pay.
2007 PERFORMANCE
TITLE:Lion Leaping Through the Plum Blossom Mountain to Reach the High Green CHOREOGRAPHERS/COACHES: Daniel Leung and Jimmy Leung DANCERS: Danny Luong and Peter Luong MUSICIANS: Larry Chan, Morgan Liao, David Luong, Kevin Yu
There are many different kinds of lion dances with distinctive styles and historical roots. Leung’s White Crane presents a Cantonese style similar to the type preserved by Cantonese opera groups in the late 18th century. Lion Leaping Through the Plum Blossom Mountain to Reach the High Green symbolizes the goals that human beings try to attain during their lifetimes, and the eight posts represent the obstacles and challenges encountered in life to reach those goals. With hard work, discipline, imagination, and teamwork, the lion achieves its goals and brings joy and luck to the people.
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