Ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations, communities around the world, including in Brisbane, Australia, are gearing up to celebrate the Year of the Horse with a lion dance tradition believed to bring good luck.
In a modest training ground, a group of dancers of different ages dedicate themselves to mastering this traditional art that demands high discipline and close teamwork.
Trainers like Jordan Do are now focused on passing down this cultural legacy to a younger generation of Asian-Australians, including young students such as Aston Guo and Remy Vrecko.
The exercises include synchronizing costume movements with drum rhythms thought to be the heartbeat of a lion, to high-level techniques atop an iron pole or jong performed by the senior dancers.
As well as being a means of cultural preservation, lion dance in Brisbane is now evolving into an inclusive competitive sport.
With a track record of competition up to international level, the performing arts continues to evolve into a proud cultural bridge for a new generation in Australia.
