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The Bendigo Chinese Association Lion Team performs many services around Australia. Lions are used to awaken Dragons, and they may also scare away evil spirits. The Lion Team has Junior and Senior sections, both training every Monday night, (Juniors for 1 & 1⁄2 hours and the Seniors putting in a minimum of 3 hours). In this training, the members not only learn about the Lion Dance, but also martial art stances and movements as well as various aspects of Chinese Culture. |  |
The Chinese "Lion" is a different creature to the "Dragon". Only two performers operate the lion, (one in the "head" or front legs, the other as the body and hind legs, or "tail"). Teams of at least 8-10 people are required for small dragons, with up to 52 people under 'Sun Loong'.
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The Bendigo Chinese Association Lion
Team perform two types of lions. The 'Southern Lion' which is very cat like, based on martial
arts movements, being regarded as the 'protector of dragons'. We have approximately six of the
Southern Lions in use. This lion is often accompanied by a 'monk', who's task is to play and
encourage the lion. The other lion is the 'Northern Lion', commonly called the 'Peking', which
are from the cold north, being very dog like with long fur. Their movements are more acrobatic
and playful. We have two pairs of these and one baby lion. Girls known as teasers, dance and
tease them along the way. Both types of lions are performed with an instrumental group which
includes a drum, gongs, and cymbals. |
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The Bendigo Chinese Association Lion Team have an excellent reputation not only in the Bendigo
district but throughout the whole of Victoria. The Lion Team perform at many various events
which include Chinese New Year (which takes the team all over Victoria). Easter
in Bendigo, Cultural Events, Parades, Conferences and Weddings, plus many more.
Some of the dances the lions perform are: The Awakening of the Lion The Drunken Lion The Donation Dance (Picking of the Green) Blessing Performances for: Businesses, Homes, Weddings, Formal Functions. |
The Team travels all throughout the Bendigo region and Victoria to perform. Albury, Ararat, Castlemaine, Gisborne, Heathcote, Preston, Sunbury, Seymour, Thomastown and Traralgon are some examples of the distances travelled by the team. Some senior members have travelled interstate, even as far as Cairns to conduct workshops and training sessions. We have also conducted many educational workshops for Primary and Secondary Schools, and various other groups, which have proven to be very successful.
For every performance the BCA Lion Team transports team members, lions, costumes, musical instruments, (including the drum and drum cart), as well as props, such as wooden benches, for the performances. All have to be transported to the performances whether in Bendigo or throughout Victoria.
The BCA Lion Team is available for hire along with the BCA Dragon team who perform under Choi Loong and the BCA Dancing Team Plum Blossom who perform traditional chinese dances such as the fan, ribbon and drum dance.
For more details and booking contact the museum on 03 5441 5044 or email info@goldendragonmuseum.org
