The Revolution On Lion Dance

Sunday, April 20, 2008

The Development Of Stilts, Skills and the Rules

In Malaysia the art reach another revolution. Dates back to 1976. First Lion and Dragon Dance Federation was founded. In 1983, the first lion dance competition was organized in Malaysia with the theme of only traditional “cheng” by just using table and pots.

Then through lion dancers creativity, the first wooden stilts/pole was invented by Hing Tung Lok lion dance association. At that time the set stilts/pole, only contain 5 poles. This poles also named as mei hua zhuang, (The Plum Blossom Poles).

Latter then, when the 5 stakes plum blossom was introduced, many other troups get an idea to reinvent the poles, in the later competition, some troups came out with a whole set of poles which some is higher than 20 feet in height.

Considering that the danger and also performance limit, performance limit simply means that, because of those stilts is too high, performer have to be extremely carefull as a single slip may cause fatal. That is also the main reason that the performance on pole is not so exciting at that time. So with all these consideration, Malaysian’s lion dance federation community, with the relationship of many other lion dance involvers overseas, unite to form INTERNATIONAL LION AND DRAGON DANCE FEDERATION in Hong Kong dates back at the year 1992. Purpose is to set an international standard in lion dance competition and also judging standard. 1993, the proposal of standardizing the competition rules in terms of pole height, pole length, performance time length and also other miscellaneous rules was officially submitted to the International Dragon and Lion Dance Federation committee. In the year 1995 Febuary of the 23^rd,International Dragon & Lion Dance Federation officially operating with their new rules and regulation and that has form today’s standard high stilts acrobatic lion dance competition and performance. 1997, International Dragon & Lion Dance Federation moved from Hong Kong to Beijing China. Besides organizing lion dance competition, the International Dragon & Lion Dance Federation also train many qualified competition judges around the world by going through strict procedure, Training and also Examinations.

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Dangerous Height. Touches More Than 20 Feet.

The New X Standard Stilts(In Malaysia's Genting Competition Only At The Moment)

THE STANDARD X FEATURES STILTS

Years After competition runs in many different country, in year 2007, new regulation was set FOR MALAYSIA’S GENTING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP only due to consideration of the convenient to troups that fly far from overseas, bringing their sets of stilts together with them which is a burden to them in terms of financial and expenses on shipping or board them on plane, So the committee had came out with a suggestions to standardize and fix the stilts lay out. So the came out with today’s cross X looking stilts which allows troups to start from any corner out of 4 corners. Also end with any desired corner as how they practice at their home ground. Procedures of the competition is, the competition committee will first inform the qualified troup around the world and give them the measurement so that they can assemble the exact measurement in their home training ground to train. As they arrive to the competition ground, they can just easily perform and no need of assembling and unscrewing. Much time efficient as the stilts will set there un move till the competition ends.

RELATED VIDEO

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Solo Went More

THE DOUBLE OR MORE LIONS ON POLE

Years after adapting the plum blossom pole, Malaysian's creativity came to another change in the art, considering the
value on entertainment, todays Malaysian lion dance performer entertain crowd with not only one lion leaping on pole but some times up to 4 lions on pole. By doing so, it more crowd entertaining and also creates a dramatic skillful atmosphere. Since its existence, many country such as Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, US, Indonesia, Singapore, and many more had adapt this high in entertainment value style of performing.The art never just stop at the value of entertainment, in year 2005 1st Double Lion Freestyle Championship in Summit USJ Shopping Complex located in Selangor, Malaysia was carried out under the strict judgment of well qualified judges from the International Lion Dance Federation.

It is far harder that a single lion performing on pole because perfection in one is not enough. Marks are judge on the Degree of difficulty, style, coordination, and steps, not only 1 but the coordination of both of the lions. One of them makes the mistake whole troup will get mark deduction

RELATED IMAGE

Newspaper Cuttings At The Late 90"s

KSK Perform During Shaolin Kungfu Performer came to Malaysia

(Newspaper Cuttings After year 2000)

Image Source from The Net

The Trend Change.

Noticing that, during the late 80’s till the early 90’s, many lion dancers are Futshan Base Dancers. Its really Hard to find Hoksan lions around. Then when time comes to the mid 90’s We can see Some changes that Hoksan Lions are appearing more, When it comes to late 90’s and early 2000, More and more Hoksan Style appears and now almost majority that appears in international competitions are Hoksan Lion Dancers.

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