Celebratory lion dance at Melbourne Chinese weddings
Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume to bring good luck and fortune. We of course have lion dance teams in Melbourne too!
In Melbourne, there are a fair few teams for lion dance. Hong De Lion and Dragon Dance Association's team for one - they perform with happy lions that originates from Hok San. Currently, they are the only Hok San Team in Melbourne and the only team to participate in competitions overseas, so it just shows that they do really take this craft seriously! Their performances always come fully equipped with full costumes. Although not the cheapest in the market, but they do offer better quality.
During a wedding reception, the lions usually enter after speeches and rove around to engage with the audience. Then they would perform a routine on stage where the traditional scrolls with the Chinese writing "Forever One Heart" and "One Hundred Years Together" would be dropped from the lions mouths. The bride and the groom would have the opportunity to take photos with the lions at the end of the performance.
For Hong De Lion and Dragon Dance Association's contact details and a list of other recommended wedding suppliers - please visit Nikki's Journal here!
