Lion Dance in Singapore: From the First Troupe to a Flourishing Tradition

Lion dance is an important part of Singapore’s intangible cultural heritage. Every Chinese New Year, local lion dance troupes commonly perform “plucking the greens” (caiqing) performances, symbolising good fortune and wealth. These performances are iconic of the Southern lion dance style that remains widely practised today in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Canada. This talk explores the culture of lion dance and its various facets, including the origins of Northern and Southern lion dance styles, the anti-Qing roots of Southern lion dance, the rise of local troupes, and the significance of lion dance performances during Qingming and Chongyang festivals.

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Speaker 

Lee Kok Leong

Lee Kok Leong has had a strong interest in the humanities and social sciences since his secondary school days. At the age of 50, he pivoted from a career in warship engineering to pursue research into local Chinese heritage. Lee shares his research through a personal blog, social media, public lectures, newspapers, and publications. His books Guangdong Majie and Breaking the Waves were shortlisted for the Singapore Book Prize (Non-Fiction). Reviving Qixi: Singapore’s Forgotten Seven Sisters Festival, co-authored with Lynn Wong, received second prize at the National University of Singapore’s Singapore History Prize in 2024.