Lion Dance

Thursday (6/11/2011)

a) Zhi Feng’s Lion Dance Model.
• Zhi Feng brought his lion model and shared with the class. We thanked him and started examining it. Before doing a simple performance, we talked about the associated tools included drums and cymbals.
• The kids got into pairs as Lion dance require 2 dancers. I arranged 3 chairs apart from one another. I switched on Zhe Qing’s CD on CNY music. The kids danced creatively around the chairs. Some stood on them and tried jumping down just as in a real performance. I disguised as the little Buddha monk with a fan in my hand. I lured the lion and guided it. The class was really very merry…. 

b) Video clip: Lion dance performance.
• First, we watched Malaysia Lion Dance Competition. We watched the champion which was a white lion. Qian Joe said he had watched a lion dance competition in Genting Highlands.
• The kids were curiosed to see only a lion performing.
Zhe Qing/ Kwong Yong/ Yun Xin/ Soon Yu: Where are the other lions?
Teacher: The lion will perform separately and the judges will give them points to decide the champion.
• We observed that the white lion dance was very playful. It danced around and then jumped onto the poles. It pretended to fall but didn’t and the kids screamed! It danced with energy when the drum beats were loud and fast and otherwise.

c) Video Clip: Dragon dance performance.
• As a comparison and to assist the kids decide which to learn about, I showed them a video clip on Dragon dance Performance.
• The kids said it was interesting but needed a lot of people. I asked them if it would be heavy? Some said “no”. They thought that the ball the dragon chased; looked like a colourful lollipop….haaaa!