The lion and dragon dance are part of Taiwan culture and also other Chinese communities. These dances were traditionally meant to perform to bring rain and bless the community by chasing away plagues. However, nowadays, they are performed to bring good luck as well as bring the lively mood at festivals and celebration. The lion dance will need lesser dancers as compared to dragon dance. A lion dance will only need 2 dancers, one animating the head and front legs and the other animating the rear legs, thus creating the image of a dancing lion. As for dragon dance, the number of dancers needed is determined by the length of the dragon body. The first dancer will carry and dragon head while the last carry the tail.
Similar to other Taiwanese culture, dance traditions have been greatly affected by Western culture. The original dance of Taiwan had been altered in the 20th century to modern dance. Many dancers study ballet and Western modern dance, but they go on to develop distinctively Taiwanese dance pieces that draw elements of their own culture in the context of a modern dance style (Davison, Reed, 1998). Modern dance in Taiwan had developed with the contributions of Liu Feng-hsueh, teacher of National Taiwan Normal University and Lin Hwai-min, founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre. The buoyant of the modern dance scene in Taiwan represents the dynamic elements of Taiwan culture.
The follow is a video by the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, titled Songs of Wanderers
References:
- Asiarooms, Music and Dance of Taiwan. Retrieved on 4 December, 2010 from http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/taiwan/culture-of-taiwan/music-and-dance-in-taiwan.html
- Davison, G.M., Reed. B.E. (1998) Culture and Custom of Taiwan. pp82-86
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