Established in January 1999, the Cambridge University Lion Dance Troupe (劍橋大學醒獅團) aims to build interest in the ancient Chinese art of lion dance, and provide a service to the community by putting up performances when requested or invited to do so.

Our first coach, Tzehan Yeo, founded the society. Tzehan had always enjoyed performing and watching lion dance in his home country Singapore, and so by the time he came to Cambridge to study, he had already been practicing lion dance for seven years. Wanting to further hone his lion dance skills, as well as pass them on, he decided to set up a lion dance troupe in Cambridge.

We follow the He Shan (鶴山) or Crane Mountain school of lion dance, a form of traditional lion dance passed down through generations by word of mouth. (There are many contemporary forms of lion dance nowadays that have evolved out of the age-old traditional form.) We hope to further encourage Easterners and Westerners alike to take up the age-old art form of Lion Dancing!

The archives contain videos, photos and newspaper clippings of several of our previous performances.

Traditionally, lion dances are performed during happy Chinese occasions such as Chinese New Year, opening ceremonies for businesses, wedding receptions, or simply any happy occasion where the blessing of good luck is required. In Cambridge we have diversified our portfolio to include performances at May Balls and many College events.

Every lion dance performance is filled with meaning. The performers, with their intricate movements, weave a story with the lion. Some performances have a lion crossing a bridge (usually done during the Chinese New Year) to signify the leaving of the old year behind and the welcoming of the New Year. Others have the lion standing on its two hind legs to eat an offering of vegetables - "Cai" (菜) in Mandarin, which sounds like the word for "fortune" (財) - which is followed by the sprinkling of the vegetable over the audience, representing a showering of good luck. There are other countless performance sequences that have been passed down by word of mouth through generations of lion dancers. One even has the lion ascending up a "mountain" of tables stacked on top of each other!

Our lions belong to the Southern lion style of lion dancing. Southern lion dancing is characterized by strong yet agile dancing, with an emphasis on realism, whereas Northern lions often bring out a circus-like atmosphere with their many acrobatic stunts.

Another part of most lion dance performances is the "Da Tou Fuo" (大頭佛) or "Laughing Buddha", represented by a person dressed up in a monk's robes, with a mask over his head. The Laughing Buddha constantly taunts and plays with the lion, leading it on in the performance.

Lastly, we cannot forget the supporting role of the drummer, the gong player and the cymbalists, whose music guides the entire performance.

All the different components of lion dance - the lion, the instruments, the "Laughing Buddha" and the story combine to make up a spectacular performance bringing good luck and blessings to all!

President: Jo-anne Tay, Queens' College (jaslt2)
Coach: Yi Jin Liew, Magdalene College (yjl24)
Logistics: Chern Leing Lee, Sidney Sussex College (cll44)
Secretary: Wang Chi Cheung, Magdalene College (wcc31)
Treasurer:Calvin Qiu, Pembroke College (yq211)