Pho Leng Lion Dance

Practicing for Chinese New Year Event

2011-01-25T23:53:00.006+08:00

Time flies as arrow, we just keep practicing our dragon dance and lion dance for the coming Chinese New Year events.

20th Anniversary Celebration

2010-11-15T01:00:00.007+08:00

We just celebrated our 20th Anniversary of Pho Leng Lion Dance Instruction Centre at Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry.We are proud to have Mr Liang Eng Hwa PBM, MP of Holland/Bukit Timah GRC & Vice President of Singapore Wushu Dragon & Lion Dance Federation consented to officiate our 20th anniversary. We would like to thanks all our sponsors and guests whose attended our event as well.
We had arranged foods and some entertainments for everyone in our 20th Anniversary.

Just Enjoy Life

2010-09-05T12:54:00.007+08:00

We always work in a team, we always work hard and play hard; eat hard as well!

Game Props

2010-08-20T13:10:00.004+08:00

Other than doing lion dance and dragon dance performance, we handling events coordination and artiste management as well.
Some of our game props.

Family Day at Senoko South

2010-06-28T19:07:00.011+08:00

That was great we hard in-charge to organize a family day for one of our client. This is one of the big event we handle in this year.Client had estimate 800-1000 guests to be arrived, hence that was lots preparation and setting for this event.One of our stilt walker was in the event.We had arranged lots entertainment like lion dance, dragon dances, magicians, balloonist,silhouette artist, caricaturist, dough figurine demo, Chinese Rainbow Calligraphy and lot more things for our guests.

Event at Sengkang Riverside Park

2010-06-07T23:29:00.005+08:00

Our stilt walker just did an event on last Sunday at Sengkang Riverside Park.Our stilt walker was holding the panel for the starting point of the event.

Wushu Performance

2010-05-01T23:09:00.003+08:00

Chinese martial art or "Wushu" is one of the popular item during Chinese New Year and Cultural event.Sabre(刀),Qiang(枪),Sword(剑),Long Stick(棍),Quan/martial art without weapon(拳法)are the most popular performance items you can see during various events.

画龙点睛

2010-03-27T20:38:00.006+08:00

龙的制做,大可分为两种:
一是用草和纸张札成实体的龙,涂上色彩,披上绮罗,由舞龙壮士分节用长杆举而舞之.
一是用竹篾(劈成条状的竹片)构成骨架,在每一节系棍一支,复上五彩缤纷的龙被,由舞龙者隐身腹中,亦分节而舞之. (类似徐克导演的”黄飞鸿之狮王争霸”电影中看到)

现时制作的龙,多用后者的制作方法,而骨架可以分小节拆之以便收藏.
龙头的制作则与狮头的制作略同, 用”绸仔纱纸”及竹篾造外壳,然后糊上”竹纱札纸”, 成模型后着色及配上各类装饰便成.
龙头的制作比狮头的制作难度较高,需熟练的名师工匠方能制作出维妙维肖的形态.

在香港制作的龙,骨架是用竹篾,藤,铁线等原料札成,以求坚固耐用.
一条长十二丈,分为22节的龙头龙身,共重百斤的中型态龙, 制作费接近万元港币.

舞龙在于制作上,费用上,收藏上及舞动上属于”大阵丈”之举,需要较大的场地及众多的舞龙人员, 因此多在大型的表演及较隆重的场合方能见到.

一条龙在制作完成后,还未算是生龙,必须延请和尚或道士焚香,诵经,念咒作法等仪式, 之后再请有名望之人士作点睛仪式后方为生龙.

Dragon Dance Performance . 舞龙表演

2010-03-18T19:10:00.006+08:00

Dragon Dance Performance (舞龙表演)is one of the popular traditional performances during the Lunar New Year. Event companies also engaged Dragon Dance as one of the Cultural show programme.Basically for Dragon Dance, space is a factor. For Dragon Dance performance to commence, a bigger space is required unlike the Lion Dance as the latter required lesser manpower that the Dragon Dance.
As long as there is ample space, we will perform more interesting stances.

Roving Mascot

2010-03-17T00:19:00.006+08:00

Our pre Lunar New Year engagement by Carrefour Singapore..roving mascot of Tiger (to usher the year of the golden tiger) & God of Fortune Our mascot attracted lots of Carrefour shoppers!Yup! Roving mascot is one of our event items besides the traditional Lion & Dragon Dances.

Chinese New Year Event at Grand Shanghai Restaurant Singapore

2010-03-15T22:10:00.005+08:00

Talking about lion dance performances for opening ceremonies, other than the basic lion dance skills and techniques that we have acquired, there are much more things that require us to take note.Examples are excessive props on the limited stage size..one of the great challenge as great care have to be taken to avoid any accidents..the props might be fagile..the stage may not be firm enough to accomodate big baffalos like us.

醒狮点睛

2010-03-03T10:19:00.004+08:00

随着时代文明与进步, 现代的狮子点睛仪式可说比以前简单得多了.
为狮子点睛的人士, 多是地方首长或社会名流. 点睛仪式有时也在武馆举行.从前的点睛开光仪式非常隆重, 大都选择在山林里举行, 为狮子主持点睛仪式的人士, 多是德高望重的武林前辈或高僧.点睛仪式就等于一个孩子的诞生一样, 狮子点睛后, 便有了新的生命, 可以为人消灾除害, 驱邪镇妖, 又可为商家呈祥献福, 带来财运.

所谓 “点睛”, 是用毛笔以朱砂点在狮子上的天灵、眼睛、鼻子、嘴巴、舌头、耳朵、狮角、狮头、狮身及狮脚.点完之后, 在狮子内的`舞狮者即舞动狮子, 做出洗眼、抹鼻、擦耳等等的动作. 所有的程序一样样做好后, 狮子还要拜 “四门” 以及拜 “五路财神”, 然后表演出林、出洞、望月等动作.

Lion Dance Opening for Yahoo! Chinese New Year Event

2010-02-22T23:26:00.005+08:00

Our last stop for tonight:-Lion Dance performance for Yahoo Singapore's Lunar New Year Event held at Mandarin Oriental Hotel.Our Lion Dance comrades.

Stilt Walker at Chingay Singapore 2010

2010-02-21T04:20:00.008+08:00

Chingay is one of the grand activities occured in Singapore during the Lunar New Year. Every year either our club or other of our students clubs would participate whole heartedly in this grand event. This year, we supplied our stilt walkers to participate in this yearly affair.
Our stilt walkers participated in Chingay Singapore 2010 (19th Feb - 20 Feb 2010)Our Stilt walker is getting ready to 'cheong'

Plucking Green at Singapore Cricket Club

2010-02-20T02:04:00.007+08:00

For every Lion Dance Clubs, Chinese New Year is our peak period...the only time of the year rushing from one location to another, forgoing our loved ones, our meals our families...just for our passion....lion & dragon dances.
This evening, we are proud to be engaged to present our professional 'Plucking of the Green' for Singapore Cricket Club.'Plucking of the green' is the highlight for Lion Dance performance, be it during the Lunar New Year or the Opening Ceremony of business concerns. Zero mistake is allow for 'plucking of the green' as a minor mistake may be critical.

Swift, professional, firm, sharp and stable is the few words I always instilled in the mind of my comrades. !My dear daddy was engaged for one of the fringe activities by providing Chinese Calligraphy services.

Chinese Wealth God

2010-01-24T02:17:00.005+08:00

Chinese Wealth God or God of Fortune (财神）is one of the highly demand 'Mingling Artiste" during the Lunar New Year period. It is forever one of the most popular items that is requested by our clients to usher good luck and prosperity.You can easily witness the Chinese Wealth God roving around shopping malls during this auspicious period of the year.

Not only the Chinese welcomed the Wealth God. Many other races also loved the Wealth God!

Event with Ong Lei (王雷)

2010-01-18T22:50:00.006+08:00

It was a great pleasure that I have the chance to host in various getais (歌台) and events.

One of the most exciting encounter is that I am able to meet different talents from all walks of life.
I met 王雷 Ong Lei while Hosting for Long Quan Sports Association's 11th Anniversary Celebration held on 2 Jan 2010! Ong Lei is a 3F (friendly, funny and famous) singer in Singapore and South East Asia countries .

Chinese Fan Calligraphy

2010-01-16T22:04:00.009+08:00

Did Chinese Fan Calligraphy for a Janpanese Company's Dinner and Dance's pre-event activities today at Fairmont Hotel Singapore.Calligraphy on Chinese fan is one of the popular event items for Company's Dinner and Dance, Corporate Events, Cultural Events and Especially the Lunar New Year that is around the corner..
Whenever I was engaged by event companies for pre-dinner activites, my most pleasure moment is meeting my fellow pre-dinner events comrades who are being hired for the same show. One of my comrades is the renowned Mr Welles Tan the one and only caricaturist in Singapore who is capable of using both his left and right hand when sketching. Mr Welles is able to sketch 2 different characters using both his hands at the same time. Where to find such genius in the universe?? I've engaged Mr Welles for various shows and one of the most memorable one is for our Lion Dance Centre's secretary cum treasurer cum events coordinator cum our cutie pie the Singapore's renowned host and most famous female singer Lee Pei Fen's (李佩芬)21st Birthday celebration held on 9.12.08 at The Pines...The birthday girl and the invited guests were very delighted to have Mr Welles for the pre-dinner event as he protrayed a professional image and even stay another extra hour as the demand for his sketching is over whelming....Well Done Mr Welles.

Some Special Green in Lion Dance

2010-01-14T15:06:00.009+08:00

The setting of the ‘Green’ (青) in Lion Dance performance have many types and patterns, for related opening ceremony or Chinese New Year, the ‘Green’ (青) for Chinese restaurant was commonly set in ‘Crab Green’ --蟹青, which related to their business (Crab is one of the popular Chinese Cuisine).For Supermarket wise, we use “Five Luck Coming to You” (五福临门), for rice merchandiser or warehouse companies which not welcoming the rats that always spoilt their good stocks, we usually using “Snake Green” (蛇青) because rats always scared snakes.

There are lot more unique Greens in lion dance performance which you should be seldom seen them.

This is ‘Cheers with the Deity’ (八仙敬酒)Encounter the Hero under the Moon (月下访英雄)One of the very unique and hardly seen Green --- “9 Segment Formation” (九子连环青)

Advance Level Lion Dance

2010-01-07T22:32:00.009+08:00

In advance level of lion dance performance, means more interesting stuffs to be seen, thus the props using in lion dance performance will be more complex. The most common performance was lion dancing on the wooden poles, in Chinese is called 梅花桩 which means ‘Poles of Plum Blossom. It was commonly seen in the present lion dance competitions.

Chinese pottery chair is one of the prop.

On Chinese bench.
Even on n Chinese Claypot! Haahaa! I will tell you the story about lion dance in Chinese Claypot in my future posting.
The even more advance level: Using combinations of different props!

Plucking the Green in Lion Dance . 采青

2010-01-06T15:54:00.004+08:00

To make the performance of plucking the green in lion dance much more interesting, the ‘Green’ (or the “food” for the lion) had been designed in various formations. The design of the ‘Green’s formation is also used to test the skills of the lion dancers. There were many type of ‘Green’ Formations and given in many different names.
"五福临门青"(Five Prosperity Green)is one of the common Green formations in various commercial events.
"仙人指路青"(Deity's Guidance Green)
"蜈蚣青"(Centipede Green)
"北斗七星阵" (Seven Northern Stars Formation)

Plucking the Green in Lion Dance . 采青

2010-01-05T21:35:00.004+08:00

Usually, after the lion dance performance for either Chinese New Year or opening ceremony, the related party will pay us the fees, other than events booking.

In traditional and standard lion dance way, the payment will put in the Chinese Red package (红包袋) and tie with green vegetables and then put them on the floor or hang them on bamboo .
All of us see this ‘Lion’ as a live animal; hence we let it ‘eat’ its ‘food’ in an animal’s habit, which was the reason. At the end of the performance, the lion will ‘eat’ it ‘food’, the name given of this ‘food’ is called “青” in Chinese Character, in English is called “Green” while we translate directly.

In pure stage lion dance performances we may not see the lion do any ‘food eating action’, but it will happen commonly during Chinese New Year events and Opening Ceremony.

The ‘food eating action’ in lion dance performance in Chinese word is called “采青”, means “Plucking the Green”, we believe this will bring lucks to everyone especially the related parties.

Chinese Electronic Fire Cracker / Fire Works

2010-01-05T00:15:00.006+08:00

When mentioning about the Lunar New Year, the older generation will recalled fire crackers. I mentioned the word ‘recalled’ as real fire crackers are no longer allowed to sparkle off in Singapore. This banned have not been lifted since it was spelled out many years ago.

Last year, the government had lifted the banned and allow real fire crackers to glitter in some major events, but strict rules and regulation have to be adhere to and approval of consent must be seek from the relevant authority.

Thus, Electronic Fire Crackers have become the substitute for real fire cracker to twinkle during the Lunar New Year or any other auspicious ocassions.

Getai Show for New Year Eve . 歌台秀

2010-01-04T01:55:00.012+08:00

Organised a ‘Getai Show’（歌台秀） for Aljunied GRC countdown party last week.

Getai show is one of the unique events in Singapore. It usually sparks off during the Chinese Ghost Festival (or the 7th month of the Lunar calandar). The dying Getai came into life (all thanks to our Singapore's renowned film director Mr Royston Tan) after the Singapore movie ‘881’ which describe singers and related performers in Getai shows.
Our host,Li Pei Fen 李佩芬(Singapore's best female singer 2009, great singer who sings 8 languages, host) and Comedian Han Xing.
Pong Pong Girls.Cold fireworks adds as an extra ambience for the countdown."二姑“蔡平开!Another Emcee for the night!

Big Head Doll with Lion Dance

2010-01-04T00:30:00.003+08:00

In carnival type of events, lion dancing performance will be walk together with wealth god and big head doll. Big head doll which is a lion dance member that worn a big head mask with a smiling face that holding a Chinese fan and playing a role that like a clown to create some atmosphere in the event.

Chinese New Year – Chinese Wealth God

2010-01-02T22:47:00.003+08:00

Chinese New Year – Chinese Wealth God During Chinese New Year, one of the most popular people that everyone loves to see ---- that is Wealth God ( 财神爷)。

Wealth God is one of the god that believed can bring the family good luck and wealth, hence it play the very important role in every heart of Chinese.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T13:24:00.003+08:00

Time fly as arrow, today is first day of 2010!
After yesterday’s celebration, you can found that the decoration of the street and shopping centers are changing to Chinese New Year themes, many shops was selling Chinese New Year stuffs.Talking about Chinese New Year, for those in the Chinese Cultural related industries, which providing lion dance, dragon dance and related entertainment and merchandise will be having the busies period starting from this month January and February.

Northern Lion Dance. 北狮

2009-12-30T00:14:00.001+08:00

Since lion dance is a culture of Chinese and developed since from ancient China, it can be divided in northern type (北狮) and southern type (南狮).
Not like Southern Lion Dance, the performers of the Northern Lion Dance usually need 3 persons besides the percussion team to play for the background ‘music’, which 2 person doing the lion dance and one person play the role as a warrior.
The rhythm of the drum beat for Northern Lion Dance was slower than Southern Lion Dance, and some of the music instruments were smaller as well.

Lion Dance and Mei Hua Zhuang (梅花桩)

2009-12-29T00:37:00.007+08:00

To do the lion dance, you definite need to went through the basic foot job steps of Kung Fu training, usually is the ‘ma bu’ (马步), because this is the most important basic requirement in doing lion dance yet follow by how good you coordinate with your partner. In advance Kung Fu foot job steps training, we need to do our basic step posing on top of the wooden poles (木桩)with about the palm size thickness which start from the height about 1 foot height, and these poles were called Mei Hua Zhuang (梅花桩).
In higher level, these Mei Hua Zhuang (梅花桩) poles could be in about 5 foots to about 12 foots!

Since lion dance is Chinese martial art with performance criteria, doing lion dance on the wooden poles (nowadays all of us was using metal based poles) is a very interesting art.

Lion Dance and Huang Fei Hong Films

2009-12-28T00:01:00.002+08:00

Talking about ‘Wong Fei Hong’ (黄飞鸿) film (or Huang Fei Hong), other than ‘Wong Fei Hong’ film was act by Jet Li (李连杰), for those who near my age or elder people, they sure know ‘Kuan Tak-Hing’ (关德兴) who acted as Wong Fei Hong’ (黄飞鸿) in the films from 50s to 70s or 80s.
If you known this, I bet you sure know the best ‘Bad Guy’ in the films, which is Sek Kin (石坚).

In my memory, almost all ‘Wong Fei Hong’ films, you sure see lion dances; I think the popularity of these films also made lion dances became well known Chinese cultural items around the world, hence whether it acted by Kuan Tak-Hing (关德兴) or Jet Li (李连杰), most of us sure think about ‘Wong Fei Hong’ while doing lion dance, or either think about ‘Wong Fei Hong’ while seeing lion dance performance, it just my personal feeling for today.

Lion Dance . 醒狮表演

2009-12-27T22:42:00.004+08:00

Lion Dance is traditional Chinese Cultural. It was commonly seen in Chinese New Years and various opening ceremony, the welcoming ceremony of important VIP in the events and more.Due the Kung Fu movie had been became popular in the world, everyone know what is lion dance and especially Chinese sure commonly seen it a lot in ‘Wong Fei Hong’(黄飞鸿) film.

I think the more impressive version for the younger generation, should be the ‘Wong Fei Hong’ film which act by Jet Li (李连杰) and the film named “Once Upon China”, which this film in Chinese named “黄飞鸿”, using the name of one of famous Chinese Kung Fu Master directly.

Luminous Dragon Dance . 夜光龙表演

2009-12-25T21:26:00.003+08:00

顾名思义，夜光龙即是在夜里发光的舞龙表演。
无论大小型节目皆老少喜爱的特别项目。
Luminous Dragon Dance is a unique dance performance which is the dragon body having bright luminous effect during night time dark performance. Whether it is small size or big event, is a great night events for all type of audiences.

Acrobatics

2009-12-24T01:46:00.005+08:00

Acrobatics is one of the popular item in many events like dinner and dance, family days, private functions like birthday parties, and especially in Chinese theme events like Chinese New Year, ‘Shanghai Theme’ event, Cultural theme events.Talking about acrobatics, the acrobatic performer must have the Chinese Kung Fu training background like the legs split, backward stands, upside down by using hand stands and etc…Why people like to see acrobatics performance? Because most people like to watch how the performer does the dangerous or stunning actions without and hurts; the effect could be same as watching magician doing some dangerous magic.

Triple Stick linked with Metal Chain

2009-12-23T02:48:00.005+08:00

I you had seen Bruce Lee's movie, you definitely seen his trademarked stunning chained stick weapon. This triple sticks chained with metals, which is called "三节棍"。In Japanese martial art also having such weapon as well and it usually in double sticks and named "Nunchaku".
Double chained stick "双节棍" or "两节棍"(or triple chained stick, "三节棍") in traditional Chinese martial usually was much longer at what you seen in Bruce Lee movie.

Drum Performance. 击鼓表演

2009-12-21T14:17:00.002+08:00

Drum or percussion are one of the common items hired by event organisers. Chinese drum is one if the common hired for production launching, opening ceremony other than lion dancing. The drums we use were same as what we use for Chinese lion dance. Usually the performer for such event will be 5 drummers to 7 drummers or more, it depends how big of the event.

Stilt Walker

2009-12-20T01:32:00.004+08:00

Stilt Walker is someone who uses a special made wooden stick tight on his / her foot and then walks on the crowd to increase the event’s entertaining value and atmosphere.We had commonly see stilt walker worn some theme related costume and walk in the related area to woo the crowd, I guess we may not know what a professional stilt walker can do other than just doing their ‘cat walk’ in the crowd.

Look! They can do something different!And more!

Our Students

2009-12-18T04:17:00.004+08:00

Due to the popularity of Chinese Gong Fu movie, lots people were interested in Chinese Gong Fu.You definitely know Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen and related Chinese Gong Fu super stars, and we definitely not forgot the great hero that promote and introduce Chinese Gong Fu to the world --- Bruce Lee.

I felt great that our lion dance and wushu school (chinsee martial art) also having some students from many countries.

Lion Dance

2009-12-18T03:58:00.002+08:00

Lion Dance definitely is an art that involve physical stamina, the coordination skill with your partner in the lion dance movement, the choreography design of the lion dance and etc.

Lion Dance

2009-12-18T03:14:00.003+08:00

Lion Dance is one of traditional Chinese custom that commonly use during Chinese New Yearin China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

Other than Chinese New Year event, you can see Lion Dance performance during product launching and various events in Asia country.

2009-11-30T02:50:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting our blog!
Let me introduce myself, I am Edwin Tan, who is Adviser , Choreographer and Chief Instructor of Pho Leng Lion Dance Instruction Centre.