TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE

A comprehensive set of rules and conduct governs the opening of the lion dance, the protocol of the dance itself, proper courtesies expressed by team members and the lion, the rituals of entering, meeting other lion dance teams or dragon teams, welcoming guests and in changing team member positions.

The lion dance is like a novel, during which performers must adhere to proper style and etiquette, following the principles of the ‘Three Courtesies, Four Customs and Five Taboos’. 1 There are over ten ‘chapters’, with the climax at the cai qing section. In these chapters are displayed more than thirteen special skills.

A top performer is one who perseveres and is empowered by martial arts training. He must express the spirit of the dance through the eight emotions of joy, anger, sadness, happiness, fear, doubt, excitement and calmness. Without martial skills, it would be difficult for the performers to act with appropriate flare and energy. Without martial arts, the dance is a superficial presentation, lacking depth and charisma.