Hey Jason,

Maybe the San Diego release is gonna be a few days late or something. Can't wait to see it!

Speaking of movies with lion dance scenes in them, I thought the ending of Jackie Chan's Shanghai Noon was a bit weak compared to the rest of the movie. The short lion dance at the end was definitely the best part in my opinion. :)

Does anyone have any footage of Jackie Chan lion dancing live? I've seen his performances in movies like the Young Master and First Strike (both are great scenes) but would like to see him perform "for real."

Chris

Hi guys,

Actually the lion dance group from Vietnamm did not attend this year, hope to see them again though as they did surprise us with a relatively high level of skills. During 1998, the lion they brought over was a fatt Shan lion with a light and dark blue lion, the colour pattern was the interesting. The pants they used was also unique as they had straps over the body. They however decided to use the new lion they bought from Master Siow. That was a pity as the uncoordinated colours(lion body and paws) would had penalised them a bit.

George,
Malaysia

Laine,

Go to any Vietnamese Music/Video store (if there are any near you) The first video, i forgot what it is called, but on the cover you can see southern lions, northern lions and dragons. its like a red-orange cover. The 2nd video tape is Pan Asia Video Vol. 29. It is a 2 tape set. The Lion Dancing, along with northern lion dancing and dragon dancing is on the 2nd tape. THe first is just a tape with people singing with little segments of lion dancing. Vietnamese Lion Dancing in its own right a whole different style. But don't get this confused with Vietnamese People doing Chinese Lion Dancing. The basis of Vietnamese Lion Dancing is the totally different drumming style and the use of a steel gong instead of copper. If you can't the videos, i'll try to see what i can do for you.

Albert

Albert,

Hi! Thanks alot for the information on the vietnamese lion dance on video tape . I appreciate it , because here in Hawaii we do have the vietnamese community . And and during the chinese new year , they have their very own lunar new year celebration , and our club the gee yung international martial arts and lion dance association , woud always perform the lion dance and kung fu demo . Anyway , thanks again for the information . And take care .

Laine

Chris,

How you doing ? Anyway , can you tell me more about the art of war ? Is it a movie or one of those real life brawl matches ? Respond to me whenever possible for you , thanks , and take care .

Laine

George,

Hello ! Do you know if anybody was taking videos on the lion dance competitions ? You can respond to my e - mail whenever you can thanks , and take care .

Laine

anywayz to get the tape off the net??

Heello

im jus replyin to say i know why they use steel gong...well accordin to my dad and a lot of other people./....becuase durin chinese new year in vietnam....there are a lot of lion dance troupe....and sometime they be performin next to each other or across the street....and u dont want to hear the othe person music...u want to hear yo own music....so u wont get mess...and the steel gong make the noise louder so u can hear it better....i seen some group wit like 2 steel gong bnefore......well jus want to share this information.bai bai

Mark

Heello

im jus replyin to say i know why they use steel gong...well accordin to my dad and a lot of other people./....becuase durin chinese new year in vietnam....there are a lot of lion dance troupe....and sometime they be performin next to each other or across the street....and u dont want to hear the othe person music...u want to hear yo own music....so u wont get mess...and the steel gong make the noise louder so u can hear it better....i seen some group wit like 2 steel gong bnefore......well jus want to share this information.bai bai

Mark

I figured that out too. During the parade down here, i would always hear the loud gong from dozens of blocks down. I personally do not know if you can get off the internet. I'll try to find out for you guys.

Albert L

Perry,

Hi ! How is the status of the ground , formation of the lion dance seminar ? I have'nt heard from you for awhile . And I still have to make the time to contact patrick hodges , myself . Anyway , respond to my e - mail whenever you can , thanks , and take care.

Laine

Geof,

Hi ! How you doing ? Anyway , I myself , never heard of a female dragon . But its going to happen in that performance you were talking about . Infact , that's Yin & Yang . Anyway , if you're going to take videos on it or take pictures of the performance . Then is it possible for me to get a copy of it ? Or are you going to put it on the lion dance website when its fully constructed ? Anyway , take care .

Laine

Liane, just was wondering what school you belong too? in your prior E-mail you stated that you were from Gee Yung, but yet you know Patrick Hodges from Jing Moo. Do you belong to Chinese Physical Culture now?

Hi Laine,

The tapes/VCD should be out in November over here. It should be of the same quality as the last time, ie. with interviews and competitions. David Lei of SF has offer to distribute them in the US, so I just have to figure how to get them there. There were individual people videoing the competitons but I suggest that we all get the official VCD, as not only is its quality better, but I think we should surport any company who is surpport the sport of lion dancing by producing quality VCDs. Anyway, I will let you know as soon as it gets on the market.

George

George,

Hi! Thank you for the information , and yes , keep me posted on how I can get those lion dance champioship videos . And you're right we have to support the company whose involved with filming the lion dance championships . Thank you and take care my friend.

Laine

http://www.myweb.com.my/webmaster/liondance/

This site is pretty good--it's got information on everything from the history of lion dance in Malaysia to the present, and information on performances, and a short section on how to make the lion head.

It seems to be part of some sort of website design contest. I've added it to the Lion's Cave, but does anyone know who did it?

Wait I've got a question- is it true what he said about Hoksan heads? Being easier to perform?

Aside from cosmetic differences between the Fatsan and Hoksan heads, what are the differences between the 2 heads? Are they similar in the way they feel when you perform in them?

Hi Ninja boy,

No there two different feeling when playing the Hok-San and Fut-San. First of all, the Hok-San head is alot shallow inside then the Fat-San, the Fat-San seems to be roomier when playing. Alot of our students like to play the Hok-San when competing, they feel it is easier to control due to the smaller area inside the head. Also the way the Hok-San is played is more of a relax style compared to the fast pace Fut-San.

I also noticed the way the dancers shake the heads from "side to side" as opposed to just "twisting" the head. I've tried doing this on a Fat San head but it seems harder to do.

Hi Chris!

Thank you for sharing the website address , we all can learn something from the website . And sorry I too don't know who did it . But thanks again . Take care.

Laine

Hi all just thought Id share some photos from one of the performances our group is in. These pictures were taken from one of our members at the Nihonmachi Street Fair in Japan Town in San Francisco this past weekend. Enjoy!

here's the link: http://WWW.oocities.com/superteec/nihonmachi.html

Great pics. What was the occasion?

thanks for sharing

"The fair, which runs through Sunday, is a unique blend of culture and community — a line of booths on blocked-off Post Street were as likely to peddle pottery and T-shirts that said "Got sushi?" as to provide information on a host of Asian American community services, from the Asian Law Caucus to Boy Scout Troop 29." -Annie Nakao, SF Examiner

Our troupe performs there every year. I didnt make it to this occasion though.

hello ninja boy,

Thank you for sharing the information . Take care.

Laine

Your from west coast! i recognized your logo. My..i see you guys moving up with all those new malaysian lions. hope your team keeps it up. I'll you guys it the SF parade in 2001. For those who are in the bay area, this years chinese new year parade is on february 4th(found out when i went to the parade offices today).

Albert le

Yah Im also trying to learn the modern style of lion dancing too. In October Ill be performing at my cousin's wedding and I should have plenty of photos to share with you all. Also, this goes out to anyone- if you should ever see us, please stop by and say hello. More than likely I will be at the parade so maybe we can meet up or something Albert. Take care.

Hello Albert,

Thank you for sharing the information on the chinese new year parade in San Francisco for 20001 . But , when is the real chinese new year ? I just wanted to know , so I'll know when there ' re going to celebrate it , in Honolulu , Hawaii . In Hawaii , the chinese new year festivity is always celebrate it , before the day of the regular chinese new year . But get back to me , as to when the real chinese new year is . What animal are you ? And what month and day were you born on , just curious , thank you and take care.

Laine

Hello Ninja Boy,

You just need to practice your lion dance moves . And you'll do great , when I was doing lion dance one time at a wedding I did a minor mistake , but I learned from it . There are times when no matter how hard you practice we're only humans we can make mistakes .

At one time this club the head dancer was playing wild almost knocked the wedding cake down , but luckily it did'nt happen . Just do your best , and you'll do fine . The modern way of lion dancing to me would be to utilize your 5 kung fu stances , bowing , eating and dancing in a regular way . What club or group do you belong to anyway ? If you've been doing lion dances all the time and belong to a group , then you would know how to lion dance . Anyway , you'll do great just got to practice , and take care.

Laine

Fellow Lion Dancers,

For those who are interested in Honolulu's Chinese New Year's schedule, here it is!!

January 13, 2001 Saturday Day and Night in Chinatown Celebration including food booths, stage performances, souvenier sales, narcissus plants demonstrations and sales, lots of Chinese stuff on sale. Starts at 10:00 A.M. thru 11:00 P.M. along Maunakea Street from Beretania Street to King Street. It's a Chinese block party. There is a parade from the state capital along Hotel Street to River Street starting at 4:00 P.M. with lion dance groups, marching bands, dragon dance groups, floats, model cars, various martial arts groups, etc.

January 24, 2001 Wednesday Chinese New Year-Year of the Snake

January 26, 2001 Friday Annual Chinatown Open House beginning at 6:30 P.M. at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and winding along the various streets within the Chinatown area. There will be 10 lion groups dancing for lisee among billions and billions of firecrackers burning!!! Goes on until all the firecrackers are burned or 11:00 P.M., whichever comes first.

January 26, 2001 Friday Chinatown Cultural Plaza from 5:30 P.M. thru 11:00 P.M. Lots of food booths, calligraphy, stage entertainments, lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations, narcissus plants demonstration and sales, etc.

January 27, 2001 Saturday Chinatown Cultural Plaza-same as Friday night's activities

January 27, 2001 Saturday Ala Moana Shopping Center-12 lion dance groups are scheduled to prance throughout the shopping center beginning at 2:00 P.M.

Aloha,

Ernie

Hey

nice lions..i like that red and yellow one./..it look nice....but how come the pants dont match??

Pk

Sure. Usually during the parade in the past years i've been with my group doing dragon, but in the past couple of years we haven't been doing our golden dragon but we've been doing costumes and floats (our leader makes half of the SF floats and supplies most of the costumes). I didn't want to be doing because I rather be doing lion dancing. The past couple of years i've been with Loong Mah, maybe i'll try something new. See you at the parade.

Albert Le

I think new years is January 20 because on the poster for the SF festivities, it said it's going to run from Jan. 20 to Feb 4. I'm the year of the Rat(84), in the month may and on the 17th day. How about you?

albert le

I just got back from china. I've got a ton of email to check.

Sorry, but I don't think the ground formation conference is going to happen. Had quite a learning experience in China about kung fu and human nature in general.....

Perry

Ernie, Hi! How you doing ? Thanks alot for sharing the information on the Hawaii Chinese New Year Celebration , I appreciate it . I'm from Honolulu too , temporarily , I 'm not with any club , for now . But , I was involved with the Gee Yung Physical Culture Assn . Infact , I m planning to help them out , this choy chiang night . And one day go back training with them . So , I guess us people will be busy on that saturday , when Ala Moana has their chinese new year event ? Just like you Lung Kong people . By the way , I'm just curious how come you folks don't come out for stage performance . On the saturday night after choy chiang night ? It'll be nice if every club can make some li - see . Well , take care ernie , and thank you again for the information of the chinese new year festivities . Although , I'm temporarily not with gee yung my good friend goes training , that's how I keep up with what's going on with the club.

Laine

Albert,

How you doing ? I'm still surviving ? Anyway , I'm the year of the horse january 27 , 1966 . Did you know that some of the popular kung fu practitioners are rat people . I know a lot of people who are rats and are martial artist especialy kung fu practitioners , my mom is a rat too . Thank you for the information concerning the day that really is chinese new year . I appreciate it . By the way the San Francisco chinese new year parade is good too . lots of people . Here in hawaii we have a event called night in chinatown which has a parade , with lions and dragons . anyway albert thanks again for the information on chinese new year . Take care , and keep in touch .

Laine

PK: Believe it or not, those heads were actually made by Master Siou. Sorry I wasn't able to answer your message sooner, I was on vacation and I just got back from Florida today. Currently, we have about 6 heads that were built by him, 3 being actively used. I will use that same gold one in the upcoming weddings I will be performing at. The colors of the lions are: Red, Gold, Silver, Red&Black, Blue, and Purple. They're extremely balanced, light and easy to control/manipulate.

I like them so much, I refuse to dance with anything else. Tell you guys what, when my digital camera comes in, I'll take pictures of them and post em up for you all to see. Hmm, I think while I'm at it, I might as well take pics of the rest of our heads...

Laine: I am the only one in the group who likes to dance Hok San style, everyone else being traditional. Our troupe leader has a routine also but his style is still based on the traditional Fat San style. One day, I would like to do a full pole routine, but for now I will work with what I can.

Hello All the Lion Dancers:

I am just wondering if anyone has any knowledge of Sifu Lim Meng Kok from KL, Malaysia. Also, the comparison of Sifu Siow's vs. Sifu Lim's lion heads and dancing philosophy and style would be much appreciated.

James

Hi James,

You can contact Lawrence Ng, the coach from the Meng Kok group, at lrence@tm.net.my Their website is up at http://www.oocities.org/lionmk99/

Anyone know an email address or updated website for Master Siow?

Chris

Hi James,

The front portion of Sifu Lim's heads looks similar to that of Sifu Siow's heads. However, the rear portion of Sifu Lim's heads is a bit more angled. Sifu Lim's heads also have more elaborate paintwork, but are more expensive. I believe Sifu Lim emphasizes quality over quantity.

In regards to style, Sifu Lim seems to be very knowledgeable about both traditional lion dancing and "modern" lion dancing.

Greg

Hello James,

Sifu Siow and Sifu Lim used to work together, Siow built the heads and Lim did the paintwork. In fact they both came from the same teacher. Although they parted ways, they are still on good terms with each other. Like Greg said, Lim's Fut-San style head is almost the same looking as Siow's untill you see the back of Lim's head, wich is slanted. I have yet to see Sifu Lim 's Hok-San style Lion head. In tournaments, he mostly produces the Fat-San style.

I've seen the hokshan ones. they look wierd. i like sifu siow's hok shan heads beter.

albert le

Hi All,

Master Lim's Fat Shan heads are actually quite different to Master Siows. The most distinct feature of master Lim's lion head is a more protruded bulge on the upper back of the head. I have also seen Master Lim's Hok Shan heads and they look a bit more compact and nicely done. The tail was made up of a thick cloth with patterns made up of gold thread, which I have never seen in Master SIow's lion before. Master Lim is a follower of the Fat Shan style dancers and that's why all his teams are doing the Fat Shan style.

George

Hi guys,

Does anyone know what Master Siow's dragons look like? Any pictures? My troupe really wants a dragon for new year's and we just want to make sure his dragons look alright. Thanks.

Willy

Willy,

Gee Yung Physical Cultural Association in Honolulu got a dragon from Master Siow a couple of months ago. It is painted florescent orange. Ask Shane Maihui or Harlan Lee or Liane for pictures. They are on this lion dance list.

Aloha,

Ernie