Lion Dance 101
Reference

Videos

Groups marked READ were read in full for this guide, from captions or burned-in subtitles. Elsewhere each video has a note: CAPTIONS READ means its captions were read and summarised, with key points linked to the moment; CAPTIONS CHECKED means the captions held only music, lyrics or crowd noise; FROM TITLE AND DESCRIPTION means the note rests only on what the uploader wrote, and the footage has not been reviewed.

READ: 《廣東醒獅》文化傳承與獅藝教程, Foshan tutorials (burned-in subtitles read and translated)

Hong Kong-style performance playlist

Further videos

  • 【纪录片】探索发现·手艺 S05E07 佛山狮头 瞄星人的大杂烩 The title and description name episode S05E07 of the documentary series 探索发现·手艺 (Discovery: Craft), on Foshan lion heads (佛山狮头).
  • 【40年歷史老夫子獅頭製作】大馬製造全球熱賣｜醒獅界前輩 | 一代宗師 馬來西亞咗Malaysia Jor The title and description say this is a video on lion head making by 林明國, known as 一代宗師 (master of his generation), whose 老夫子 lion heads are sold worldwide. The description says 會長可媛 (club president 可媛) will share the making process.
  • 中華舞龍舞獅運動總會-南獅會獅規定套路 ctdlda The title names the southern lion compulsory routine (南獅會獅規定套路) of the 中華舞龍舞獅運動總會 (China Dragon and Lion Dance Sports Association). The description says the routine uses simple, interactive, fun lion forms so learners can understand the sport and later choose a style.
  • 84年希爾頓國際醒獅大賽 yunfootong The title and description name the 84年希爾頓國際醒獅大賽, the 1984 Hilton International Lion Dance Competition. No place or troupe is named.
  • 1984 年希爾頓大賽 -- 澳門 citycharmed The title names the 1984 Hilton competition (希爾頓大賽) held in Macau (澳門). The description says 醒獅比賽 (lion dance competition).
  • DANCE, THE LION DOCUMENTARY - PART 1 ManKind-MK Films Part 1 of ManKind-MK Films' English documentary on the origins of lion dance. Followers from Malaysia visit Guangdong to pay respects to a late grand master, while the narrator covers origin legends, the lion's arrival in China and the early history of pole performance. Key points: 01:42 The lion reached China during the Han dynasty, probably in the first century AD, likely via Buddhist missionaries on the Silk Road; 05:37 The origin of the lion dance is obscure, and many legends and myths describe it; 13:04 The lion symbolizes power and good fortune and is treated as a sacred animal that drives away evil; 13:49 The term choi cheng has an older meaning of crushing the Qing dynasty and a modern meaning of plucking good fortune; 15:22 The speaker says pole lion dance began in 1983, at a competition their group organized; 17:50 Wooden poles gave way to iron ones, and the standard pole height is under three meters.
  • DANCE, THE LION DOCUMENTARY - PART 2 ManKind-MK Films Part 2 of ManKind-MK Films' English documentary on lion dance in Malaysia. Speakers include competition organizers and a performer, who discuss the growth of pole and tournament-level competition, the judging system, and the sport's past links to gangs. Key points: 03:55 The marking tray uses four colored cuts: red for big falls, black for medium falls, yellow for small falls and green for mistakes; 04:19 Every competition has seven judges. If their cuts split, the chief judge calls a vote on the final verdict; 07:26 The speaker says Malaysia has more than 2,000 lion dance troupes working to promote the dance worldwide; 14:35 In the 1980s and 1990s, parents feared that joining a lion dance troupe meant getting involved in gangsterism; 16:53 The speaker says the lion dance carried a hidden aim in the Qing era: overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming dynasty; 18:15 Malaysian lion dance associations are now legal and can apply for proper licensing.
  • DANCE, THE LION DOCUMENTARY - PART 3 ManKind-MK Films Part 3 of ManKind-MK Films' English documentary, set in Indonesia. Speakers include a former performer, an international judge who came to help with Indonesia's first national championship, and an organizer, who discuss the lifting of restrictions on Chinese culture and the 2007 national championship. Key points: 01:09 In 1967 the Jakarta municipal government banned public Chinese New Year celebrations, the same year Indonesia and China broke off diplomatic relations; 02:22 Under the Suharto government, public performances such as the lion dance were banned for almost 30 years; 03:02 In October 1999 Indonesia recognized Chinese New Year as a national festival; 07:49 The speaker says 45 lion dance associations signed up for the national championship, and nearly all Indonesian associations took part; 09:28 The speaker says the lion dance is rooted in religion for some people, while others see it as a sport that will keep growing; 10:31 The speaker says there is talk of including the lion dance as an Olympic event.
  • ..www.lionworld.com.hk世界龍獅討論區黃飛鴻系列..飛鴻擊鼓 fv932kf The title and description name a clip titled 飛鴻擊鼓 from the 黃飛鴻系列 (Wong Fei-hung series), posted with the forum name 世界龍獅討論區 (lionworld.com.hk). The title gives no further detail.
  • The 18 Moves of Foshan Lion Dance Episode 4 Foot Techniques (second part) - 佛山醒狮十八式第四集步法（下） - 英字粤配 嘉侨文化 The title names episode 4 (foot techniques, second part) of The 18 Moves of Foshan Lion Dance (佛山醒狮十八式), with English subtitles and Cantonese dubbing. The description asks how footwork changes express lion movements and says the series teaches three more moves.
  • Traditional Lion Dance Routine: 7 Stars And Half Moon SurfingCamel The title names a traditional routine, 7 Stars And Half Moon. The description calls it a demonstration of an old routine, done without preparation, and says the music was looped, so the drum beats may not match.
  • 三歲習武周身傷　女舞獅盼男女平等：我的獅頭跟男生用的一樣重丨隱形香港 香港01 The title and description feature Yuki, a female lion dancer who began martial arts at three and has won the All-Hong Kong Open title four times. The description says she jokes that her lion head weighs about the same as the boys' heads.
  • 【藝行者】舞獅表演—夏國璋龍獅團 #10 New TV The title and description name episode 10 of the 藝行者 series, featuring the 夏國璋龍獅團 troupe. The description says it features the third and fourth generation heads of that troupe, 夏德建 and 夏敬文, heirs of a lion master described as 一代獅王 (lion king of his generation).
  • 金門天震堂鼓藝教學影片 - 十八路鼓 Jay Yang The title and description say this is a drumming teaching video from 金門天震堂 in Kinmen, covering the 十八路鼓 drum sequence in 鶴山沙坪 (呂派) lion art. The demonstrator is coach 鄭俊偉, and the video was recorded on 4 January 2021.
  • 工具人｜舞狮头制作师傅林明国 TheInterview访问 The title and description profile 林明国, a lion head maker, and the three tools he says are essential: a claw hammer, serrated grip pliers and a manual rivet gun. He says he learned head making after repairing imported heads and has worked at it for 38 years.

READ: The 18 Moves of Foshan Lion Dance (subtitles of the trailer and all 20 episodes read)

READ: Dance, The Lion (documentary, parts 1-3, captions)

  • DANCE, THE LION DOCUMENTARY - PART 1 ManKind-MK Films Part 1 of ManKind-MK Films' English documentary on the origins of lion dance. Followers from Malaysia visit Guangdong to pay respects to a late grand master, while the narrator covers origin legends, the lion's arrival in China and the early history of pole performance. Key points: 01:42 The lion reached China during the Han dynasty, probably in the first century AD, likely via Buddhist missionaries on the Silk Road; 05:37 The origin of the lion dance is obscure, and many legends and myths describe it; 13:04 The lion symbolizes power and good fortune and is treated as a sacred animal that drives away evil; 13:49 The term choi cheng has an older meaning of crushing the Qing dynasty and a modern meaning of plucking good fortune; 15:22 The speaker says pole lion dance began in 1983, at a competition their group organized; 17:50 Wooden poles gave way to iron ones, and the standard pole height is under three meters.
  • DANCE, THE LION DOCUMENTARY - PART 2 ManKind-MK Films Part 2 of ManKind-MK Films' English documentary on lion dance in Malaysia. Speakers include competition organizers and a performer, who discuss the growth of pole and tournament-level competition, the judging system, and the sport's past links to gangs. Key points: 03:55 The marking tray uses four colored cuts: red for big falls, black for medium falls, yellow for small falls and green for mistakes; 04:19 Every competition has seven judges. If their cuts split, the chief judge calls a vote on the final verdict; 07:26 The speaker says Malaysia has more than 2,000 lion dance troupes working to promote the dance worldwide; 14:35 In the 1980s and 1990s, parents feared that joining a lion dance troupe meant getting involved in gangsterism; 16:53 The speaker says the lion dance carried a hidden aim in the Qing era: overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming dynasty; 18:15 Malaysian lion dance associations are now legal and can apply for proper licensing.
  • DANCE, THE LION DOCUMENTARY - PART 3 ManKind-MK Films Part 3 of ManKind-MK Films' English documentary, set in Indonesia. Speakers include a former performer, an international judge who came to help with Indonesia's first national championship, and an organizer, who discuss the lifting of restrictions on Chinese culture and the 2007 national championship. Key points: 01:09 In 1967 the Jakarta municipal government banned public Chinese New Year celebrations, the same year Indonesia and China broke off diplomatic relations; 02:22 Under the Suharto government, public performances such as the lion dance were banned for almost 30 years; 03:02 In October 1999 Indonesia recognized Chinese New Year as a national festival; 07:49 The speaker says 45 lion dance associations signed up for the national championship, and nearly all Indonesian associations took part; 09:28 The speaker says the lion dance is rooted in religion for some people, while others see it as a sport that will keep growing; 10:31 The speaker says there is talk of including the lion dance as an Olympic event.

1984 Hilton International Lion Dance Competition

  • 1984年希爾頓大賽 ---馬來西亞 citycharmed The title names the 1984 Hilton competition (希爾頓大賽) held in Malaysia (馬來西亞). The description gives only 醒獅大賽 (lion dance competition).
  • 1984 年希爾頓大賽 -- 澳門 citycharmed The title names the 1984 Hilton competition (希爾頓大賽) held in Macau (澳門). The description says 醒獅比賽 (lion dance competition).
  • 1984 年希爾頓大賽 -- 新加坡 citycharmed The title names the 1984 Hilton competition (希爾頓大賽) held in Singapore (新加坡). The description says 醒獅比賽 (lion dance competition).
  • 1984年希爾頓大賽 -- 香港隊 citycharmed The title names the 1984 Hilton competition (希爾頓大賽) and the 香港隊 (Hong Kong team). The description says 醒獅比賽 (lion dance competition).
  • tvb 1984年醒獅比賽 citycharmed The title credits TVB and names a 1984 lion dance competition (醒獅比賽). The description says 傳統獅比賽 (traditional lion competition).
  • 傳統獅1984年 citycharmed The title names a 1984 traditional lion (傳統獅) video. The description says 傳統獅比賽 (traditional lion competition) with an opening group lion performance (開場表演 群獅).
  • 84年希爾頓國際醒獅大賽 yunfootong The title and description name the 84年希爾頓國際醒獅大賽, the 1984 Hilton International Lion Dance Competition. No place or troupe is named.
  • LionDance Competition yunfootong The title names a lion dance competition with no date or place. The description is a single line, 'The winer', with nothing else stated.

Wong Fei-hung series (lionworld.com.hk)

Sar Ping eighteen-route drum lessons (titles used as evidence) and Leroy Lee lessons (five read from subtitles, partly legible)

Traditional routines and drumming (SurfingCamel, Taiwan federation)

  • Traditional Lion Dance Routine: 7 Stars And Half Moon SurfingCamel The title names a traditional routine, 7 Stars And Half Moon. The description calls it a demonstration of an old routine, done without preparation, and says the music was looped, so the drum beats may not match.
  • Traditional Lion Dance Routine: Snake Cheng SurfingCamel The title names a traditional routine, Snake Cheng. The description calls it a demonstration of an old routine, done without preparation, and gives an alternate title, Poisonous Snake Impedes the Path.
  • Fook Sing -- Lion Eating the Snake SurfingCamel The title names Lion Eating the Snake by Fook Sing. The description says the Fook Sing Lion Dance Troupe performed it for the NFLDC in 2003.
  • Lion Eats the Snake SurfingCamel Wong Tat Mau Sifu demonstrates and explains the routine Lion Eats the Snake. The automatic captions are rough and much of the audio is marked as music, so only the clearer lines are used. Key points: 00:04 The props stand for the snake: a spear for its body, a butterfly knife for its teeth, oranges for its eyes and lettuce for its food; 03:54 The lion eats one eye first, then moves to the other side and eats the second eye; 05:37 In the old traditional performance, after the eyes the lion stops and a performer comes out to perform a butterfly knife form; 07:08 The lion must eat the snake from the head, not the tail, because eating from the tail lets the snake turn and bite; 08:25 It is a long routine that needs kung fu practice and stamina.
  • 7 Star and 3 Star Drumming SurfingCamel The channel SurfingCamel posts an English-language drumming explainer on the three-star and seven-star drum beats and the steps that go with them. The description credits the material to the Leung Ting and Overseas Chinese Commission informational videos. Key points: 00:42 In the three-star grip, the thumb and index finger form a ring around the stick, and the other three fingers rest lightly on its end; 01:12 A performance rarely uses only three-star and five-star drumming, since most techniques combine the two or use them as transitional beats; 01:32 A seven-star beat is made by linking a three-star beat with a five-star beat and leaving out the rim beat; 02:28 The three-star step has the left foot step forward and down, then the right repeats the step while moving forward; 02:55 During the beard step with three-star hooks, the lion's head moves three times left and right as the dancer points a toe.
  • 中華舞龍舞獅運動總會-南獅會獅規定套路 ctdlda The title names the southern lion compulsory routine (南獅會獅規定套路) of the 中華舞龍舞獅運動總會 (China Dragon and Lion Dance Sports Association). The description says the routine uses simple, interactive, fun lion forms so learners can understand the sport and later choose a style.

READ (captions): Jow Ga Kung Fu NYC Chinatown lion dance lessons (1, 2, 5 and 6; 3 and 4 have no captions)

READ (captions): Lectures on lion dance in America

READ (captions): Sar Ping in the US and Canadian Chinatown history

READ (captions): Documentaries and history talks

READ (captions): Drumming, lion heads and eye-dotting

READ (captions): Vietnamese (múa lân)

READ (captions): Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia

READ (captions): Taishan villages, Guangdong and Chinatown parades

READ (captions): News features, explainers and team profiles

Wai Mou, Lofochi and Xuan Long

龍獅相傳 LongShiStories, a dragon and lion dance podcast (episodes with English captions read; shorts and uncaptioned episodes described)