The Universiti Malaya Lion Dance Troupe is once again organizing the UM Lion Dance Night, the third such event after successful editions in 2007 and 2008 (click on the years to view pictures and videos from the events).
Date: 27-09-09
Time: 7.00pm Venue: Dewan Tunku Canselor, Universiti Malaya Ticket Price: RM8.00
Guest Performers:
I. Persatuan Tarian Singa Dan Naga Kun Seng Keng
II. Persatuan Tarian Singa Kwong Ngai
III. Persatuan Tarian Naga Yahya Awal
Among the highlights this year would again be a lion dance drama, which was very well pulled off by them for the first time in the 2008 edition of the UM Lion Dance Night.
Other performers for the night include regulars Kwong Ngai Lion Dance Association and Yahya Awal Dragon Dance Association, who have been guest performers for every edition of the event. A new addition to the line up this year is the highly acclaimed Kun Seng Keng Lion & Dragon Dance Association.
For more information about the event in chinese, visit http://cforum6.cari.com.my/viewthread.php?tid=1721352&extra=page%3D1
Also, you can check the team's website at www.umliondance.com
A traditional lion dance competition was organized by the Selayang Hong Wu Lion Dance Association on the 23rd of August 2009 at the Selayang Baru Chinese Primary School Hall.
Khuan loke Dragon & Lion Dance Association Team E - 8.52
Kelab Sukan Bangau (Hok Ngai) - 8.26 (8.56)
Selayang Hong Wu Team A - 8.8
Kee Ling Kok - 8.6 (8.7)
Selayang Hong Wu Team B - 8.27 (8.67)
Ulu Langat Hokkien Lion Dance Team - 8.8
Chung Wu Tai Chi Society - 8.45 (8.65)
Selayang Hong Teck -9.06
Subang Hong Teck - 8.75
Seng Wai - 8.48 (8.58)
Puchong Batu 14 Association - 8.44 (8.54)
风山寺光前村醒狮团 - 8.34 (8.54)
Pandamaran (B) School - 8.78
Lin Hua Gong - 8.79
Khuan Ngai - 8.84
Sungai Buloh Hong Teck - 8.73 (8.83)
Cheras Hong Wu - 8.62
Loong Seng - 8.71
Teluk Intan Hong Teck - 8.84
Kok Hing - 8.74 (8.84)
Opening ceremony of the competition, which featured a dragon dance performance by the Selayang Hong Wu team.
World champions Kun Seng Keng Lion & Dragon Dance Association had on the 7th of August 2009 organized a one day competition, in conjunction with their anniversary dinner which was on the following day.
This was no ordinary competition, as it was a mixture of both traditional and high poles(jongs), the first of it's kind. Participants were given two sets of fixed jongs to choose from. The jongs are about half the length of actual competition regulation jongs and had a platform at the end of them, akin to a bridge.
Aside from this, competing teams were also given the choice to use provided props such as plants and a cave. Participants were allowed to bring and use their own props as well.
The aim of the competition is obviously to put more focus on the all-roundedness of the dancers, as they have to have to be good at both expressions and jumps to excel. This is really taxing on the teams who have to complete their routine in a span of 10 to 15 minutes.
The competition attracted 14 teams in total, with two foreign teams coming from Indonesia and Hong Kong. Here are the results from the competition.
Chung Wu Tai Chi, Wilayah Persekutuan- 7.73 (8.53) SUPP Miri, Sarawak - 8.3 (8.6) Subang Hong Teck, Selangor - 8.64 (8.74) Kok Hing, Selangor - 8.68 Wei Yang, Kelantan - 7.77 (8.57) Selayang Hong Teck, Selangor - 8.82 Kin Cho Hong, Pahang - 8.69 Chan Ka Fai, Hong Kong -8.36 (?) Hok Seng, Wilayah Persekutuan - 9.04 Hong Teck, Kedah - 8.85 Khuan Loke, Selangor - 7.74 (8.74) Bukit Aman Kun Seng Keng, Johor - 8.7 (?) Indonesia - 9.04 Muar Kun Seng Keng, Johor - 9.05
Gold Award(awarded to teams who score above 9)
Muar Kun Seng Keng, Johor - 9.05
Hok Seng, Wilayah Persekutuan - 9.04
Indonesia - 9.04
Silver Award(awarded to teams who score above 8.5 and below 9)
Hong Teck, Kedah - 8.85
Selayang Hong Teck, Selangor - 8.82
Bukit Aman Kun Seng Keng, Johor - 8.7
Kin Cho Hong, Pahang - 8.69
Kok Hing, Selangor - 8.68
Subang Hong Teck, Selangor - 8.64
Bronze Award(awarded to teams who score above 8 and below 8.5) (note- I'm not too sure about this..)
Chan Ka Fai, Hong Kong -8.36
SUPP Miri, Sarawak - 8.3
NOTE: Videos will be added in in the coming days, so do check back often
MALAYSIA’S biggest and most established lion dance championship is back!
The 14th Malaysia National Lion Dance Championship 2009 will be held in Genting Highlands from Nov 20 to 22, with prizes worth up to RM40,000 up for grabs.
Organised by Genting – City of Entertainment and the Selangor & Federal Territory Lion and Dragon Dance Association, the biennial national event is expected to attract 40 of the best lion dance troupes from all over Malaysia.
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Selangor & Federal Territory Dragon and Lion Dance Association chairman Leong Lik Thong announced that the championship would be divided into two categories — Single Lion Category and Double Lions Category.
Let the lions roar!: (First row, from left) Federation of Selangor & Federal Territory Dragon and Lion Dance Association officers Lim Seng Chia, Lai and Yap, Wong, Leong and Siow and other invited guests at the press conference.
The Two Lions category, which is being introduced for the first time, will involve two lions performing thrilling stunts in the court, which guarantees a more challenging and breathtaking competition among the lion dance troupes.
Also at the press conference were Federation of Selangor & Federal Territory Dragon and Lion Dance Association officers Siow Hong Phiew, Yap Chee Keong and Lai Shee Lum, and Genting Malaysia Berhad promotion and entertainment department assistant manager Wong Kok Chee.
The champion in the Single Lion category will receive RM10,000, while the first, second and third runners-up will take home RM6,000, RM3,000 and RM2,000 respectively. The teams will also receive a trophy and medals.
The four other finalists will receive RM1,000 each.
In the Double Lions category, the champion will receive RM5,000, while the first and second runners-up will take home RM3,000 and RM2,000 respecively. The teams will also receive a trophy and medals.
The two consolation winners will receive RM800 each.
The championship will be held for three days. The preliminary rounds will be held on Nov 20 and 21, while the grand finals will take place on Nov 22. The competition will begin at 2pm and end at 10pm daily.
Genting WorldCard members can watch the preliminary rounds for free by redeeming entry passes at the Genting WorldCard Centre in Genting Highlands or at Genting Sales Offices.
While the ticket price for the grand finals will be announced later (log on to Genting’s website for more info), Genting WorldCard members will be entitled to a special discount.
Infants and children below three years old will not be admitted for the shows, while children aged three years and above require tickets for admission.
For details and ticket reservations, log on to www.genting.com.my or call 03-2718 1118.
Khuan Loke Dragon & Lion Dance Association recently celebrated it's 7th Anniversary Dinner with an event themed 'Cultural Night'. The performance-laddened event was held at the Sungai Way Chinese Primary School on the night of 25th July 2009, to an approximate audience of 1,300 attendees.
As a run up to the event, a short prayer session was held at the association's clubhouse not too far away from the dinner venue.
4 lions were stationed at the entrance of the dinner hall to welcome guests.
The arrival of Mr Leong Lik Thong, Vice President of the International Dragon & Lion Dance Federation.
The reception counter.
The 24 Festive Drummers.
The walking in ceremony led by 4 lions and a dragon from the team.
VVIP table for the night.
The night was kicked off with the 24 Festive Drums performance, comprising of mostly junior members of the team. This performance showed the crowd a glimpse of the future of Khuan Loke, with many of the members being below 12, and the youngest being only 6 years old. Among the fray of performers were also a handful of girls and malay kids, showing that interest in the art and culture that the troupe has been upholding all this while isn't dwindling.
After a video presentation of what the team has been up to in the past year and the future of the team, the Northern Lion Dance took centre stage. While not top notch material yet, it should be taken note that this is the first ever northern lion dance performance being performed by the team, plus the fact that the whole group of dancers were made out of kids. One of the lion heads is a malay kid. With more experience and training, they can only get better.
Moving on, the audience was feated to the highlight of the night, a drama entitled 'Carp Leaps Over Dragon Gate'. This drama-based performance is a take on the folklore of the Carp Leaps Over Dragon Gate, which depicts the story of how a carp is able to turn into a dragon if it is able to leap over the Dragon Gate. The whole story is a metaphor of how we can attain success if we work hard for it.
In a fresh new twist of performing the traditional lion and dragon dance, the association incorporates modern and traditional musical instruments, mixed with traditional equipment and modern visual effects.
Unfortunately I can't get the video and audio to sync, so please bear with the poor quality of the two-part videos..
Part 1
Part 2
Sponsors of the event and the honourable guests were called up on stage for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Cutting the birthday cuke.
The night continued on with prize giving ceremonies for the achievements that the team had garnered in international competitions over the past year, among them being 2 silver medals and a bronze medal.
Also slotted in for the night was a certificate-giving ceremony for the 8 members from the team that had successfully passed the recent 2nd Malaysian Dragon Dance Judging Course. The contingent from the team did extremely well in the course, having claimed the top 4 slots in the judging exam.
The events of the night proceeded with a wushu performance.
After that was the new disciple ceremony. This year's anniversary dinner saw Master Siow accepting another 10 disciples, 5 of them being from Khuan Loke. This has raised the total of his official disciples to a whopping 49, with Khuan Loke proudly having 15 members in that number, the largest from any team.
Alas, all good things come to an end. Before the curtains closed on the auspicious night, the 1,300-strong crowd were treated to an acrobatic lion dance performance. The performance by a single lion on poles, or more popularly known as jongs to the lion dance public, was as usual a crowd pleaser and had the spectators on the verge of their seats.
PS: Do check back in future as I will be updating the post with pictures as I get them.
