Roaring With the Lion Dancers of New York’s Chinatown

Lion dancing is an age-old Chinese tradition meant to ward off evil spirits and welcome good ones. The dance—with its giant, dual-dancer costumes and kung fu-based movements—dates back to the Tang Dynasty of the 7th century. It’s a demanding sport that requires the strength and stability of kung fu, but Kelly Wong and the lion dancers of the Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club in New York City’s Chinatown make it look effortless.

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[hinatananase]

As a part of Chinese class, during the Chinese lunar festival for the lion dance, I played the tail. It was really fun too :)

[honda]

I absolutely love this channel and all the grate content. This is my favorite so far. Please keep up the great work.

[hhdeng]

i think its awesome that there is a female who is leading or involve in the lion dance community... not to say there isn't any girls in your typical lion dance troupe but for her to be an instructor as well is quite amazing... she must of been doing this in her early childhood... it tastes a long long time before one can really be qualify to be an instructor or master in the troupe... good for her...

[tomek]

I love these... wait, what?? Lion?? I always thought it was a dragon... TIME TO LEARN!!

[weii_out]

Dragon and Lion dances are both two completely different things

[donkeykongkong]

I love these culture videos because it enlightens me about the world and the human customs!

[guardians]

I'm so glad to see more publicity around lion dance. As a millenials kung fu practitioner and lion dancer it's great to see other young people practice tradition... And no it's not a dragon!

[sappy.xe]

I was always scared of the dragons when I was a kid. Now I'm fascinated. I love visiting Chinatown and seeing this.

[MartinTabanag]

preserving culture is always amazing. i would love to see lion dances in china. i'll get there someday and hopefully make a mini documentary about it.

[judymoy]

Really great video. I love that she's the instructor! In the past, lion dancing was males only.

[lilPopper]

I notice that none of the lion heads eyes are not dotted red. Didn't each lion head go though the eye dotting ceremony?

[ry]

Help me understand this. Why would anyone click on a thumb-down button for this? Does this video in any way offend them???

[coffeeder]

WHERE is your school for lion dance located in chinatown?

[browniebearyt]

I thought this was dragon dancing... Are you Lion to me?

[CVE]

Modern lion dance vs traditional lion dance

[boogergoober]

On chinease newyear when I was probably 8 or 7 years old, I had this in my school. The lion dancers were climbing on a very tall pole lol it was shaking

[bryantchen]

i was across the park where they were filming

[invictus]

THATS MY COUSINNNN! I'm so surprised! Good job!👍🤗

[gracesantoli]

A lot of this info isn’t true. I walked into my team practice for the first time and pick up a lion head and now after about 5-6 months I’m one of the better lion dancers on my team.

[anotherfool]

This is really cool. But it's not lost in America, it's just not part of the American culture. But really what is our culture? I guess whatever another culture isn't, is our culture lol

But I hope this spreads and becomes popular. Also what's with Asian cultures and training for years before beginning the first step. 1 year before holding the head? Damn guys lol