The Lion Dance in Manila Chinatown

The Lion Dance is an ancient dance performed in traditional Chinese celebrations, in which the dancers--attired in Lion's costume--mimics the Lion's movements in a free form. The mythical lion is often regarded as a guardian in Chinese culture, thus many marble and stone lion representations are often to be found guarding Chinese palaces, houses, and tombs.

Stone Lions serve as guardians to many Chinese structures

The Lion dance has a long history dating back to more than a thousand years. Records in scrolls found in Imperial China depict drawings of the Lion dance being performed for the pleasure of the Chinese Emperor. Apparently, there are two styles of the Lion Dance, the Northern Style and the Southern Style. The Northern Style is being used mostly in imperial courts (so this already a defunct style), while the Southern Style is usually performed to drive away the evil spirits, such as the ones performed during the celebration of the Lunar New year.

The Lion Dance is usually composed of two Lions--performed by two dancers for each Lion. The dancers are men costumed in Lion's appearance, one is holding the head and front limbs, while the other is holding the lion's torso and the hind limbs. Amidst explosions of firecrackers and drum rolls, the Lion dancers perform a fascinating dance meant to drive the evil spirits away. As a token for their performance, the business establishments give the Lion dancers money in red packets hanging on top of their doors, to be picked up by the Lion dancers during the performance.

I have often witnessed Lion Dances on many a Fiesta around Manila(I witnessed one during the Quiapo Feast Day, and another during the Tondo Fiesta). But I can say that the most beautiful and theatrical Lion Dances are to be witnessed during the Chinese Lunar Year celebrations.

The Lion Dance I covered in Chinatown last New Year celebrations was truly a spectacle of pomp and circumstance. The Lions danced joyfully in fantastic rhythmic harmony with the drum rolls and firecrackers. The explosions are ear-shattering, and the smoke blinding, and many spectators are covering their eyes and ears. I myself almost stopped taking photographs to cover my ears. But it was fun, really fun to see these Lions perform their ancient dance rituals for modern spectators.