© Lumiere Festival 2006
The Success Dragon Lion Dance Troupe has been performing in the Ottawa-Gatineau region for over 30 years; our objectives are to promote the traditional Chinese culture and to get involved with events in various communities.
We perform for celebrations, grand openings, weddings and various special events happening in Canada’s National Capital, Ottawa, Ontario.
Our troupe is also involved in the expression of the martial arts way. Chinese martial arts (Kung Fu) may be subdivided into five groups of awareness.
· Self-defense
· Health and fitness
· Character training
· Mind expansion
· Spiritual development
History of the Lion Dance
The Chinese Lion Dance is a 3000-year-old Chinese tradition that symbolizes prosperity, luck and happiness. According to legends, the dance tells about a creature that terrorized villagers with thunder, lightning and rain. However, the aftermath was an excellent harvest for the villages. Subsequently, the dance is performed in every festivity with the thundering sounds of drums, cymbals and gongs.
With the lion dance, the two most obvious manifestations of Kung Fu forms are patterns and sets. A pattern refers to a particular way in which a practitioner holds the hands, legs and body in position in motion. Sometimes it may refer to a short series of actions. A set is formed when numerous patterns are linked together for the convenience of training. Sets consist of different patterns ranging from 36 to 108 patterns. The lion dance movements goes from happy to playful and sleepy.
Details and objects of the lion consists of the horn and mirror. The horn pokes away the negative energy. The mirror between the eyes is there to reflect the sunlight and giving a brighter path forward. The back of the lion symbolizes longevity.
There you have it with the history of the lion dance. The importance of the lion dance is to have fun and happiness.
Certifications
We are the first lion dance troupe in Ottawa, Ontario to have coaching and judging certifications done by the Dragon & Lion Cultural Sports Association of Canada.
The certifications are recognized across Canada and to improve the culture and sport of dragon/lion dancing.
