Hong Kong's Modern Take on Traditional Chinese Lion Dancing

The lion dancers perform a daring leap across two poles, with the goal of reaching the last and highest one.

Ma Chun-kit, who handles the lion's head, jumps onto the knees of Keith Lim Tiong-heng, who is responsible for the tail.

Next, Ma slips forward, hanging upside-down and securing himself to Lim's waist using only his legs.

"The audience always gasps during that fall," says Tang Siu-lun, the dancers' trainer, during one of their practice sessions.

Tang is the third generation to lead the Hong Kong Cheung Keung Martial Arts Association, one of the city's largest lion dance teams.

The club was founded by Tang's grandfather 50 years ago.

"At first, the audience thinks an accident is about to happen, but they cheer when they realize it's all part of the performance," Tang shares.

Lim lifts Ma onto his shoulders and carefully spins around to face the other direction.

Hong Kong: Insider Travel Guide

Reinventing lion dancing for a contemporary crowd

At first glance, Tang's lion dance troupe seems deeply traditional, with incense offerings before and after each performance and consecration rituals for the lion heads.

However, when it comes to performing, Tang's team is eager to update the ancient Chinese tradition to appeal to a modern audience.

Lion dancing has many different styles. The Cheung Keung Martial Arts Association is part of the southern tradition, which focuses more on the powerful 'horse stance' (a key kung fu posture) than on flashy displays.

Tang aims to change that.

'We incorporate stage effects and visual elements into the performance,' says Tang, who took over the family dance team over two decades ago.

'It's a performance. The person controlling the behind-the-scenes effects is just as important as the lion dancers themselves.'

This type of innovation is what sets Hong Kong's lion dancing apart.

'We're leading the way in terms of creativity – the new moves we create are often copied by teams from other countries.'

'We've introduced several daring elements to lion dancing, such as walking on a wire that could snap at any moment.'

'In some performances, we use machine-controlled high steel poles that can rise, fall, and rotate,' explains Tang.

Hong Kong's best dim sum: How to yum cha like a Cantonese

World Lion Dance Champions

Not everyone is on board with these significant changes.

'The greatest resistance comes from the older generation of lion dance masters, but today's audience absolutely loves it.'

And it's not just the public who's praising the changes.

The team recently took home the top prize at the biennial World Lion Dance Championship, which was held in Hong Kong earlier this year.

The dancers have also been invited to countries like Singapore, Australia, and mainland China to help train local lion dance teams.

During this year’s Lunar New Year parade, organized by Hong Kong’s tourism board, the lion will leap from pole to pole while passing through a fire hoop.

(In the video above, part of the hoop is set on fire during one of their practice sessions).

'We’ll need to carefully control the jump height to avoid singeing the lion’s fur,' says Ma, who will be holding the head and using his fingers to manipulate the strings that control the lion’s eyelids and ears.

To keep up with the constant influx of new moves, the team trains between three and five nights a week, dedicating several hours each session.

'As the head, you have to place complete trust in your partner behind you,' Ma explains, referring to Lim.

Lim, who holds Ma’s belt with both hands, is responsible for controlling Ma’s jump height and, with perfect timing, ensuring where he lands.

'It’s all about developing an unspoken understanding,' says Lim. 'The trust goes both ways.'

How to be a Hong Kong local: 10 tips

Celebrating the New Year in style

The Hong Kong Chinese New Year Night Parade kicks off at 8 p.m. on February 8. It begins at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza in Tsim Sha Tsui (for ticket holders only) and wraps up outside the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers (open to the public). For more details, visit Discover Hong Kong’s website.