As tradition strikes again, lion dancers will be shimmering through the streets of Victoria含羞草研究社檚 Chinatown to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year.
The Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club dancers have been practicing for the annual Grand Parade and several other Lunar New Year performances set for Greater Victoria throughout February.
含羞草研究社淔or up to eight weeks in advance of the Chinese New Year season, our club will put the kung fu aside and put more time into training for the parades,含羞草研究社� Daniel Low, who含羞草研究社檚 been lion dancing for 32 years, said in an interview.
After more than three decades of experience, lion dancing comes naturally to Low.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 like swimming,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 might not go to the pool for 10 years, but once I get in the water I know how to do it right.含羞草研究社�
Regardless of how long he含羞草研究社檚 been practicing, performing the traditional dance every year is thrilling for Low.
This Lunar New Year marks the Year of the Dragon, which Low calls the 含羞草研究社渕ost mythical of all creatures含羞草研究社� in Chinese culture. There have been five years represented by the Dragon leading up to 2024.
Low said people born in any of those years are intelligent, confident, lucky, gifted and powerful.
Dragons are most compatible with those born in years represented by the rat, monkey and rooster Chinese zodiac figures.
含羞草研究社淥n behalf of the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club, I含羞草研究社檇 like to wish everybody a happy, safe, healthy and prosperous Year of The Dragon,含羞草研究社� added Low.
Lion dancers are preparing for the Grand Parade to celebrate the at Victoria含羞草研究社檚 Chinatown.
含羞草研究社� Ella Matte (@EllaMatte2)
While the first day of the Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 10, the Grand Parade in Chinatown will be held on Feb. 18 at 11:30 a.m. Subsequent lion dance performances will take place that day at Uptown Mall in the afternoon and at Elements Casino at 8 p.m.
The dancers will have a show at the Esquimalt Town Square on Feb. 11 at 2:30 p.m.; at the Feb. 17 Victoria Royals game at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre; and at Mayfair Mall on Feb. 25.
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