The Lion Dance in Guangzhou
In southern China Guangzhou City, Lunar New Year is marked with a series of
jolly activities, among which lion dance always attracts the biggest audience.
As lion is regarded traditionally as a mascot, lion dances are performed to
bring luck and to ward off evil spirits. The lion makes dramatic head thrusts to
the sound of drums and gongs. Either the person performing in the lion head or
the drummer initiates the movement and signals the other, so that the movement
and music is synchronized. Certain movements must follow a specified sequence.
Variations to the basic beats help keep the music lively. The loud music, along
with the firecrackers and lion movements, is used to scare away "evil spirits"
so that good luck will follow.
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