
Even as lion and dragon dances still dominate festive celebrations, a rarer traditional Chinese folk performance is quietly gaining traction here.
Mr Eugene Wan, 44, who helms the Yan Wong Cultural Troupe the only professional troupe for the Hakka Qilin, or Chinese unicorn, dance in Singapore is determined to preserve and promote the art form.
The Hakka Qilin dance, with a history of more than 450 years, embodies the spirit of the Hakka community, who developed the dance to preserve their tradition and express their cultural heritage.
The qilin, a mythical creature in Chinese folklore, takes centre stage in this spirited and agile dance, symbolising prosperity, good fortune and protection.
Unlike the Western unicorn, the Chinese qilin is often depicted as a hybrid creature with features of different animals, such as a dragon's head and a deer's body.
"I like being unique," said Mr Wan, who is Cantonese but finds the qilin dance "mesmerising".
"There were unicorn dances here in Singapore in the past, but many went extinct over time. I want to revive this." The unicorn dance is more difficult than the lion dance, he said.
Dancers have to perform intricate footwork, spins and formations to mimic the majestic creature.
This story is from the February 12, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 12, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In

CDL in global spotlight as father, son tussle for board control
Shares of OCBC, Yangzijiang take beating despite firms reporting surge in net profit

Charting a new course: How Indonesia's untapped opportunities are poised for growth
Businesses should look for a local partner that shares their vision, says entrepreneur

Gene Hackman likely died nine days before he was found: Sheriff
American actor Gene Hackman likely died nine days before he and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead inside their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the county sheriff said on Feb. 28.

We Are Not Swayed By Ads, Say Parents Who Get Tuition For Their Kids
Some tuition centres promise the moon about what their programmes can do, while others predict doom for students who do not get their help, but many parents are not biting.
Knapp Cognisant of Title Chance With One-Shot Lead
MIAMI - Jake Knapp had a strange round on March 1 at the Cognizant Classic, but he was back in first place when it concluded.
Letter of the day We need to step up collectively to protect the young and helpless
I read with horror and sadness the article \"Couple abused 4-year-old girl for more than a year, burned her body after she died\" (Feb 28).

China Could Gain Diplomatic Leverage as Trump-Zelensky Clash Highlights US Volatility
Beijing Can Boost Its Soft Power Globally by Pushing for Multilateralism, Says Expert

Australia Confronts the New World Disorder
Faced with a more aggressive China and questions about US reliability and internal cohesion, a serious rethink of what national security means is needed.

HSBC Women's World Championship 2025 KO'S UNCANNY MANIFESTATION
Major champion dreams of victory the night before sealing her first title in 11 tries

Self-driving tech poised for wider adoption in China
Fierce competition is driving down costs of smart features in world's largest car market