Dragon
Dragon Dance has a long history and was already a popular event during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD).
The mythological Chinese dragon is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and Chinese people often consider themselves ‘descendants of the dragon’. It is believed that the dragon is a kind of amphibian with the ability to move on land, fly through the air and swim in the sea.
Its physical form is a combination of many animals such as the horns of a stag, the head of a camel, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a rabbit and the scales of a carp. Traditionally the dragons are considered the governors of cloud and rain in Chinese culture. They are believed to bring good luck to people and symbolise great power, dignity, and auspiciousness. Dragon dancing is therefore a celebration of this powerful mythological creature and performs an important ceremonial role in Chinese festivals.
Dragon dancing requires stamina and fitness, strength and speed, coordination and grace. Above all, a convincing and impressive dragon dancing performance requires perfect teamwork. A seamless performance requires each and every performer to have keen awareness of their specific role in the dragon as hesitation, lack of confidence or inattention by one performer can cause the entire dragon to stumble to an unsightly halt. No where is it more apparent that a team is only as good as its weakest team member.
CYSM’s dragon dance team also has major performance runs in many suburban areas during the Chinese New Year celebrations. At other times, the dragon dance team is engaged to perform at any community or charitable events and at corporate functions. Outside of Melbourne, CYSM also regularly performs in regional and rural Victoria, such as Bairnsdale, Warnambool, Inverloch, Albury-Wodonga, and Bendigo.
