Malaysian lion dancers bring new spirit to ancient tradition

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – When her maternity go away ended, Mariam Abdul Nazar returned to work and her ardour, lion dancing.

A Malaysian Muslim, she began studying lion dancing when she was 13, after accompanying her then 14-year-old brother to his coaching classes.

“I used to be drawn to the vitality from the music, particularly the drums. And I assumed the lions had been cute, with their massive, massive eyes,” Mariam, a 27-year-old content material reviewer, advised Al Jazeera.

In multiracial Malaysia, lion dancing has develop into so in style that it’s not simply the nation’s ethnic Chinese language taking on the artwork.

The Muhibah Lion Dance Troupe, established in 1984, is the primary multiracial lion dance group within the nation. Its title, Muhibah, is from the Malay phrase “muhibbah”, which implies a sense of friendship or camaraderie.

On the Khuan Loke Dragon and Lion Dance Affiliation, the place Mariam trains, her teammates are made up of Malays, the ethnic majority in Malaysia, Indians, an ethnic minority, and a handful of foreigners.

Now a working grownup and a brand new mum, Mariam finds it tough to decide to the three-times-a-week coaching schedule, however she returns to assist out throughout the Lunar New 12 months, one of many busiest instances for lion dance troupes in Malaysia.

Festive temper

The lion is a standard image of excellent luck in Chinese language tradition and lion dancing is believed to usher in good luck and prosperity whereas driving away evil and unhealthy luck.

Chinese language households and Chinese language-owned companies rent lion dancers to carry out of their properties and places of work, believing it’s going to deliver success for the remainder of the yr.

Procuring malls additionally rent lion dance troupes to placed on exhibits all through the 15-day celebration in addition to within the weeks main as much as the Lunar New 12 months.

There are Fb pages devoted to monitoring the place and when performances are held.

Sarah Thiang and her household attempt to catch a minimum of one present yearly.

“It’s a part of Chinese language tradition. It’s enjoyable and actually places me in a festive temper,” she stated, watching an acrobatic efficiency in a shopping center.

“It’s a bit nerve-racking watching them [the lion dancers] on excessive poles, however I wasn’t nervous for them. I’ve confidence of their capability,” she added.

The acrobatic lion dance is carried out on excessive poles starting from one to a few metres in top.

Performers should be agile and robust, and each transfer must be completely coordinated.

A misstep or a mistimed transfer might end in critical damage.

The lion dance custom might have originated in China some 1,000 years in the past, however it’s Malaysia that’s setting the tempo and Kuala Lumpur that’s thought of the lion dance capital of the world.

Acting on excessive poles is a comparatively new improvement, invented within the Nineties by Malaysian Siow Ho Phiew, who later created a excessive pole sequence that grew to become the brand new commonplace in acrobatic lion dance worldwide.

Siow, or Grasp Siow as he’s typically referred to as in a nod to his experience, can also be a grasp craftsman of lion heads and a world-renowned coach.

One in all his college students is Harlen Lee, proprietor and head teacher at Gee Yung Worldwide Martial Arts, Dragon and Lion Dance Sports activities Affiliation in Hawaii in america.

Lee remembers a time when lion dancing was principally carried out by and for folks within the Chinese language group.

“Now, virtually each nation has a lion dance crew. That’s fairly superior, that our tradition, our background has touched different cultures. I’m happy with that,” stated Lee, who relies in Honolulu.

He makes it a degree to return to Malaysia yearly to coach with a neighborhood crew, and if he’s unable to take action, he sends one in all his college students as an alternative.

“Simply being in that environment, going into the center of studying lion dance mastery, helps us enhance,” Lee stated.

Music is the ‘heartbeat’

“One of many causes Malaysian lion dance groups maintain successful competitions is as a result of our lions are life-like, they’ve spirit,” stated Eric Fong, secretary common and coach of Khuan Loke.

Fong, who additionally judges lion dance competitions, says the artwork of lion dancing is just not solely about performing stunts but in addition in regards to the capability to convey feelings.

A flap of the ears, a flutter of the eyelids — these gestures can be utilized to specific playfulness, pleasure or ferocity.

At Khuan Loke, all lion dance performers begin by studying to play the devices — the drums, the cymbals and the gong.

“The music is the heartbeat of a lion dance,” Fong defined. “There is no such thing as a shortcut.”

The coaching and the efficiency schedule are gruelling.

It typically means Fong and his crew should skip virtually all Lunar New 12 months celebrations, save the normal household reunion dinner held on the eve of the pageant.

Fong says his household have gotten used to seeing little of him throughout a time when household gatherings are cherished.

“They’re extra understanding now. It’s not like I’m doing something unhealthy. I’m retaining custom alive, and I’m doing one thing that each one Malaysians will be part of,” he stated.