A Penang lion dance troupe of youths aged 10 to 24 trains weekly to master the demanding art, blending ritual, discipline and cultural heritage for modern audiences.

GEORGE TOWN: On three evenings each week, while many youths unwind with phones and social media, a group of teenagers and young adults gather in a modest training space in Penang to keep an ancient tradition alive.

They are members of the Prosperity Lion Troupe, a close-knit group of 18 performers aged between 10 and 24, learning the demanding art of lion dancing, not just as a festive performance but also as a shared inheritance passed from one generation to the next.

“Some start very young. It takes time to develop the strength, coordination and trust needed,” said troupe spokesperson Gina Ng.

Training is held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, focusing on endurance, timing and synchronisation.

Each lion requires two performers – one controlling the head with blinking eyes and expressive gestures, and the other forming the body and tail – moving as one to give the illusion of a living creature.

Behind them, a six-member percussion ensemble consisting of a drum, four cymbals and a gong fills the space with rhythm. The drum sets the pace while the cymbals and gong punctuate every leap, bow and playful shake of the lion’s head.

A standard performance lasts about 20 minutes and usually involves two lions, although more may be requested depending on the occasion.

Fees range from RM288 to RM1,688, depending on the scale and venue requirements.

For many businesses and families, the lion dance is believed to bring luck and prosperity.

“The purpose of the lion dance is to increase business luck and fortune. We call this heng ong huat,” Ng said, referring to the Hokkien phrase associated with prosperity.

During Chinese New Year, the troupe also features Cai Shen, the God of Wealth, alongside the lions. Business owners prepare offerings such as oranges, vegetables, pomelos, pineapples and bananas, each carrying symbolic meaning.

Oranges represent wealth, pineapples prosperity, pomelos completeness and abundance, while vegetables symbolise growth and renewal.

The lion interacts with the offerings in a ritual known as cai qing, or plucking the greens, symbolising the receiving and spreading of good fortune.

Yet beneath the festive colours and booming drums lies a tradition shaped by discipline and respect.

Ng said performers observe strict customs and taboos to honour the ritual.

“When leaving the entrance, we must not use the lion’s head to leave. Instead, we exit using the lion’s tail,” she said, explaining that the act symbolises respect for the space just blessed.

Performers also avoid entering private areas such as bedrooms, as the dance is meant to bless public and business spaces.

The craft extends to the costumes themselves. The troupe’s lion shoes are custom-made with paw designs so footwork mimics animal movements rather than human steps.

Lion heads, costumes and drums are sourced from China, Vietnam and Malaysia, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern regional production.

For now, the troupe operates as a single unit known as Team A.

They have yet to enter competitions but are preparing to do so, with plans to learn the more complex dragon dance, which involves a long articulated dragon controlled by multiple performers.

As interest in traditional practices wanes among some youth, Ng said the lion dance remains a powerful way to connect with heritage and has also been embraced by other communities.

Beyond Chinese New Year, performances are common at business openings and ceremonial events, in which the lions are believed to ward off misfortune and usher in prosperity.

For the young performers, however, the weekly training sessions are about more than drums and costumes.

“It is discipline, teamwork and cultural continuity. It is a new generation deciding that this tradition is worth carrying forward.”

 The Sun Malaysia