In big Chinese communities abroad, people will see lion dance on occasion of important festival or ceremony. Lion dance not only add more festivity to the special day but also provides opportunities for foreigners to know about the Chinese culture.
The lion dance is a traditional Chinese folk performing art. With a history of over 1,500 years, it became popular since Northern and Southern Dynasties. In Buddhism, lion is the mount of Bodhisattva Manjusri, representing luck and blessing. Besides, lion is strong and powerful, generally regarded as the king of all beasts, and thus people think it is able to expel evils and bring good fortune. On a festive celebration, people like to perform lion dance accompanied by drums and gongs. Dotting the eyes of the lion is a very important procedure before the lion dance. Usually, an honorable guest would be invited to dot the lion's eyes with red pigment, symbolizing giving life to the lion. The performance will begin after that. The performers are usually dressed up like a lion and imitate various lion movements such as looking, standing, walking, running, rolling, jumping, and shaking heads to the rhythm of the music, which are quite lively and adorable.
The lion dance is an art which combines martial arts, dance and music together. Nowadays, it has been made popular by overseas Chinese in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and the USA.