Camouflaged as a lion, the dancer makes quick, vigorous and skillful moves extracted from traditional martial arts. These are the typical characteristics of the dance. The dancing lion may also be accompanied by a gorilla and a monkey.
Nung Phan Slinh lion dance shows are usually performed during rituals at shrines, or during New Year’s and other festive occasions to evoke the spirit of unity and boost the air of exultance in the community. The dance also expresses the noble militarism, bravery and the values that the Nung Phan Slinh people utilized in the process of surviving and becoming one with nature.
The lion dance is especially lively, gay and flamboyant during the long tong (getting down to the fields) festival that usually takes place somewhere between the 4th and 25th of the first lunar month after the New Year to pray to heaven and the deities, asking for favorable weather, good crops and abundance.
In every long tong festival, usually five lion dances are performed, each with its own meaning, purpose and unique characteristics.
This story is from the Vietnam Heritage - December 2018 - January 2019 edition of Vietnam Heritage.
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This story is from the Vietnam Heritage - December 2018 - January 2019 edition of Vietnam Heritage.
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