Leo is back, by popular demand!  This giant golden parade lion dances in the aisles and pounces onstage to devour the special lettuce that makes him sleep.  With three Chinese acrobatic dancers inside, Leo brings good luck – and fun!

A Closer Look – About Lion Dancing:

The traditional lion dance began thousands of years ago.  Legend tells us that the practice of lion dancing began when the fierce and beast-like guard of the South Gate of heaven, Lin Shu, attacked a village on New Year's Day.  When the villagers' efforts to fight off the beast were all unsuccessful, the terrified villagers prayed to heaven to save them and their village.  They were told by the gods to feed the beast a vegetable with a powerful herb mixed in to intoxicate him.  The next time the beast came to attack the village, the villagers had already set a trap for it.  While they hid, the vegetable was placed in the middle of the village for the beast to see.  Thanks to the special herb in the vegetable, the beast found itself irresistibly attracted to it.  Being unsure of what it the vegetable was the beast slowly moved towards it to investigate.  After testing it for traps and checking for anyone nearby, it lunged toward the vegetable and engulfed it. Promptly afterwards, the beast became drowsy and eventually fell asleep.  Then as instructed, the villagers all came out of hiding and banged their pots and pans together with all their might, frightening him out of his sleep and out of their village.  The instructions from heaven worked - the beast ran away!

However, the very next day, the beast had returned.  The villagers, believing that the trap had failed, were once again terrified.  Luckily, instead of laying waste to the village, the beast had returned to protect them.  As time went on, the village grew and the beast eventually left the village.  To express their gratitude after the beast's departure, the inhabitants began the lion dance in memory of the beast and his transformation from evil to good, from the village's destruction to its protection.

A Closer Look – About the Artist:

The Tai Yim Kung Fu Lion Dancing Team has been performing in the United States for over 20 years.  The team members spend many hours each week practicing together and are committed to giving only the very best lion dancing performance.  For more information, please visit: http://www.taiyimkungfu.com/Lion.php.

China: An Incomparable Journey