Lion dance marks Chinese New Year – year of the Ox

PORT Moresby residents are being treated to a taste of Chinese culture with the lion dance shows to celebrate the Chinese New Year – the year of the Ox – which is today.
The newly-formed Cathay Club Lion Dance Team in Port Moresby has been performing the Mui Fa Jong (jumping poles) in their shows.
On Wednesday, they performed for city residents at Bank South Pacific (BSP) Port Moresby branch (Downtown) and again at the Waigani Banking Centre yesterday in front of customers and the public.
Cathay Club Lion Dance Team group leader Pyan Ng told The National that they had scheduled to perform more than 50 shows until next week.
He said the lion dance involved a new act called the “Jongs/Poles”
Cathay Club Lion Dance Team also includes Ken and Dak Seeto and Nicholas Tsoupis.
The Cathay Club-Port Moresby Team is also made up of locally-based males and females – a development initiative for culturally diverse young PNG locals between the ages of 6 and 25 years.
Cathay Club provides invaluable skills development and performance opportunities for up and coming Lion dance performers.
Participants come from Port Moresby communities to a safe, creative space where they’re able to develop their creative potential through the Chinese tradition – Lion dance.
The club aims to keep the tradition of lion dancing alive in PNG as it has been since the 1960s.
Many of the youths participating have a background in dance and acrobatics.
The lion is a symbol of power, wisdom and good fortune and is believed to bring good luck, longevity, prosperity.