'We want to preserve our culture': Leeds Chinese Association appeals for next generation of lion dancers

The tradition, which dates back to the Han Dynasty, began as a ritual to ward off evil spirits and to invite good fortune, and is performed across the world.

Now the Leeds Chinese Community Association is looking for the next generation of lion dancers to learn the art and keep the tradition alive.

Terry Lo, a member of Leeds Chinese Community Association, first learned to lion dance as a schoolboy in Hong Kong.

He was taught by a martial art teacher and before he could learn lion dance, Terry was first taught kung fu.

Terry said: “You have to learn kung fu first because there’s a lot of strength in your steps.

“The basic thing in lion dance is the martial art foundation. Then, you need to know how to balance and how to relax yourself with core strength.”

Lion dancers perform in troupes. Typically two members will adorn a bright stylised costume which is a mythic representation of a lion rather than a realistic depiction. The other members will play percussive instruments like drums, cymbals, and a gong, to accompany the movements of the lion dancers.

Terry, now 61, moved to the UK 23 years ago, and has continued the lion dancing tradition as part of the Leeds Chinese Community Association.

He highlighted that in China, Hong Kong, and other parts of Asia, lion dance, alongside the similar traditions of dragon dance and qilin dance, were and still are popular for young people to be involved in.

Terry said: “In (my) younger days, it was like young people playing computer games. It was something that all the young people were interested in. It’s the tradition.”

However as lion dance is less popular in the UK, the Leeds Chinese Community Association now wants to teach more people the art form to keep it alive.

Sally Pegg, volunteer at the Leeds Chinese Community Association, said: “We try to plan performances but we have not got enough people to do it.

“There are no young people who want to learn any more.”

Lion dance is an important part of Chinese New Year, which will take place this year from February 17 to March 3.

For Sally, it is important to continue lion dance at the Leeds Chinese Community Association to uphold the tradition of Chinese New Year festivities themselves.

Sally said: “(Chinese New Year) is important for us to uphold because we want to preserve our culture.

“The lunar calendar goes back 1000s and 1000s of years and we don’t want to lose that.”

The volunteer-run organisation is willing to train new lion dancers aged 18 and above who can commit to three to six months training.