How to Have a Lion Dance at a Chinese Wedding

A lion dance is often performed at Chinese weddings to bring the newlyweds good luck and ward off evil spirits.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scrolls
• Calligraphy Books
• Calligraphy Pens
• Chairs
• Tables
• Chairs
• Tables

1. Decide how elaborate a performance you want and how many lions. (One or two lions is customary.) Remember that the "lions" are costumes that are manipulated by dancers.

2. Select the style of lion you prefer. Northern lions have a mane with four legs and look more realistic than southern lions. Southern lions resemble a dragon and have two to four legs.

3. Do a search online, ask family and friends, or check with local Chinese businesses for tips about lion dance troops you can interview.

4. Decide how much you can afford to spend, and gather prices for the various options. (The price varies depending on the performers' level of expertise and experience.)

5. Ask to preview a performance before hiring a team.

6. Prepare a scroll with a calligraphic message that the lion can unfurl during the performance. Consider writing "Bac Nien Ho Hop" or "100 Years of Happiness Together."

7. Save the scroll as a wedding memento.

8. Set aside space at your reception hall for the performance to take place.

9. Have drums and gongs play for the lion to dance to their beat.

10. Understand that the southern lion tends to thrust its head to the rhythm while the northern lion prances on its hind legs.

11. Ask your photographer or guests to take pictures of the dance for you.

12. Reserve a table for the lion team to eat dinner following their performance.

Tips & Warnings

• Expect at least two performers for one lion. One moves the lion's head while the other crouches at its feet under the draped costume.
• The Chinese lion dance dates back 1,000 years. An early form of the lion dance was recorded in the early Ch'in and Han Dynasties in the third century B.C.

on 3/30/2006 My friends got married and had a traditional Chinese wedding with a tea ceremony, funny kissing games, etc. and of course, a lion dance.
The crowd had lots of fun that night. The funny man with the lion dance team was too hilarious. He did funny things with the groom that nearly made the bride cry! The bride secretly told us before the wedding to bring red envelopes for the surprise lion dance. So our whole table did. We waved the red envelopes to the lions and wow, did we get a close show! I just wish every lion dance at the weddings we go to were this fun.

on 2/21/2006 Firecrackers are lit outside the door first. Lion dancers prance, trot, and show curiosity outside the window looking in. Dancers enter the restaurant, roam around each corner, then salute 3 times to the table.
Awaken fiercely after the bow and freestyle around the restaurant.
Perform the standing stunt to reach the lai si and greens. Chew the greens, take the lai si and spit the greens all over the main entrance or register. Spitting the greens is spreading the wealth (choi sounds like greens and wealth, thus auspicious).
Lion leaves the restaurant tail first. Very important!

on 11/22/2005 Two lions are considered better than one. Though in some Chinese subcultures (e.g., Hakka), two unicorns are used in place of the second lion.

With respect to pricing, you might be told there are three levels of performers with correspondingly higher prices. But according to one insider, it's the same performers, whether you pick the more expensive level A or the cheaper level C.

on 11/22/2005 This is a great way to get your guests into a celebratory mood! What else can bring such a dazzling display of color, awesome thunder of percussion and festive atmosphere to a couple's day of days? Not to mention the exciting display of acrobatics and hilarious impromptu comedy of talented masked performers.

Messy? The lion is supposed to scatter lettuce. It represents the spreading of wealth. Loud? Yes, the drums and brass instruments can be loud, but experienced performers know how to ratchet down the volume when necessary. Talented musicians know to vary the volume of the lion dance music to avoid monotony.

Prices do vary, but like many things in life, you generally get what you pay for. A banquet table for the performers is never a requirement; inviting them to stay for a meal is an optional gesture of appreciation. Couples often like to feed the lion(s) money-filled red envelopes as a customary token of gratitude.

When you shop for a lion dance team, consider the following: Do the performers offer insights on the symbolism of the lion dance specifically related to weddings without being asked? Can they offer an engaging explanation to your guests to enhance their appreciation of this traditional performance? Do they bring equipment that is in excellent condition? Are they dressed in traditional costume or are they wearing t-shirts and sneakers? Do they offer the performance of one or more masked escorts (a rich and lively part of the lion dance tradition that has mostly disappeared)? Will their lions unfurl auspicious scrolls appropriate to your happy occasion?

on 11/22/2005 Take a look at some groups that are very popular. Make sure they have some nice-looking lions. You don't want some lions that fall apart during the performance. And if you are at a restaurant, have firecrackers outside before they come in the dining room.