Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume.
Cultures
The lion dance is usually performed during the Chinese New Year and other cultural and religious festivals. It may also be performed at important occasions such as business opening events, special celebrations or wedding ceremonies, or may be used to honour special guests by the Chinese communities. In the dance usually two people act as a lion : one waving the lion head and the other waving the lion body and tail; or one performer acts as a cub, while the other holds a silk ball to play with it. They dance in tempo to the musical melody.
History
In Qin Dynasty, dancers performing exorcism rituals were described as wearing bearskin mask, and in Han Dynasty “Xiangren” performed as fish, dragons, and phoenixes. Detailed descriptions of Lion Dance appeared during Tang Dynasty.