Tonight, along with family and friends, we celebrated the Year of the Dog. Of course, no Chinese New Year is successfully brought in without a Lion Dance. With Sifu’s Clements, Playter, Davies, and Robertson in Fu Hsing, and the new Zhang Fei, Master Brinker, Sifu Freitag, and Sifu Hayes to lead, and the two Milne girls as Bhudda’s, the night couldn’t have begun more perfectly. The puzzle and dance was absolutely phenomenal. I know the entire hall was blown away with the skill and talent of the team.
As a new member of the Lion Dance team, I am truly inspired by them. I never realized the strength, stamina, skill, and imagination that was required to accomplish a dance. They make it look so effortless up there. Not to mention the nerves it takes to perform in front of so many people. I know I was a nervous wreck before I got up there for my debut. Even though you are hidden behind these enormous heads/or tails, you know there are still a thousand eyes on you.
But all in all, us newbies did all right. We didn’t fall, or trip, or forget what we were doing, and we got through the dance and the crowd to collect the red packets. I am feeling more confident each time I practice, but I know I have a long way to go. I am truly inspired by the main Lion Dance team, and the amazing things they do during a performance. Shoulder rolls for instance.
I want to congratulate everyone for the awesome jobs they did that night. It wouldn’t have been so successful if it wasn’t for everyone’s hard work.
Tania Wilson
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