Moon Dance

Lion dance is an indispensable part of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Symbol of blessing

The custom of lion dance originates from folk legends, in which the lion, a sacred animal in the Four Sacred Animals (Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix), symbolizes good luck, prosperity and peace . Legend has it that on a full moon day in August, the villagers were once frightened by a monster. Thanks to the sound of drums and gongs and the magic fan of a monk, the monster was driven away. Since then, the image of the gentle lion, led by the Earth God, has become a symbol of peace and happiness for all people and is especially performed every Mid-Autumn Festival.

According to folklore researcher Tong Dai Hong, in Eastern beliefs, the lion is one of the “Four Spirits”, the embodiment of good luck and kindness, meaning to bring fortune and luck to everyone; lion dance is also a testament to the enduring vitality of a folk art form, flexibly adapting to modern life. With the symbolic meaning of blessings, lion dance is not only a special dance during the moon season but also appears in holidays, New Year, store openings, cultural events, even on international stages.

To perform the lion dance, many props must be prepared, from the colorful lion image, the Earth God with a cheerful face and a benevolent palm-leaf fan, along with the accompaniment of drums, gongs, and cymbals. The drum keeps the main rhythm, the cymbals and cymbals create highlights, blending into a vibrant harmony. That sound makes the streets bustling, multiplies the joy of children during the festival, is the glue that binds the community, helps to ward off evil and invite blessings. For Vietnamese children, the lion dance becomes an indispensable spiritual gift during the full moon season.

Child artists at the Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe of Duong Canh Ky ( Ha Giang 2 ward).

These days, throughout the streets of Tuyen Quang , in the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the lion dance is bustling again. Together with the Lion Dance Troupe of Duong Canh Ky, Ha Giang 2 ward, the lion dance at 26/3 Square, the bustling, joyful atmosphere is clearly visible on every child's face. This art troupe currently has more than 20 members, aged 13 - 17. Mr. Dang Phi Canh, Head of the art troupe, shared: “The art troupe was established in 2010 and has performed in many places in the province and other provinces. Up to now, more than 50 agencies, units, schools and residential groups in the province have invited the art troupe to perform lion dances during this year's Mid-Autumn Festival. On weekends, the troupe organizes performances at 26/3 Square, helping children enjoy attractive lion dances, adding joy, motivation and wishes for good luck, helping them to be confident and study better.”

Creativity in performance

Over time, modern lion dance has developed with many unique innovations to attract more audiences. In addition to traditional movements such as jumping on the hook, climbing on the thigh, today many lion dance teams also combine effects such as fire-breathing, using LED lights in costumes to create eye-catching lighting effects, fireworks, or pole climbing techniques, complex acrobatics, creating eye-catching performances. Lion dancers need to have a foundation of health and dexterity to perform high jumps, spins and complex moves.

To vividly portray the image of the lion, the dancers must coordinate movements such as prancing, shaking their heads and flexibly bending their bodies. In addition, they must also perform acrobatic moves, jump on stairs and even perform on high iron scaffolds, requiring balance and muscle strength. In particular, for veteran lion dancers, the dances on high iron poles have elevated the art of lion dance from a folk performance to a martial arts performance combined with circus, requiring dexterity, strength and absolute team spirit.

Most provinces and cities have clubs, art troupes or lion dance performance teams. This not only helps children improve their health and collective skills, but also fosters their love for traditional culture. Mr. Dang Phi Canh added: “To dance lion well, children must be in good health, go through a process of practicing skills diligently and persistently, especially when performing difficult, dangerous movements that require high precision.”

In each lion dance, solidarity and close coordination between members are important factors to create success. Each member of the team must not only master individual skills but also understand and react well to other members, especially when performing group movements such as formation dance and circle dance. The sound of drums and musical instruments must be synchronized with each dancer's rhythm, creating harmony between sound and movement. Lion dancers must devote themselves and put their soul into each movement. Each of their expressions and gestures is intended to convey the spirit of the lion, a symbol of luck and peace.

Along with that, to create diversity and appeal, each lion head is made very elaborately, meticulously with many sophisticated details, from the horns, eyes, beard to the fabric body embroidered with eye-catching patterns. The diversity in style and color not only creates artistic beauty but also shows the unique features of each sect and region. This diversity creates a rich artistic picture, attracting viewers with unique and novel performances.

Tue Nhi

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/202509/vu-dieu-mua-trang-9d00b25/