we now have video clips of the 1998 world champion lion dance team (Kun Seng Keng Lion & Dragon Dance Assoc.) performing their winning dance at the competition in our web site:

www.liondancer.com

the coach of this team, master H.P. Siow will be teaching at the lion dance conference march 20/21 and march 27/28 in san francisco. We now have around 200 lion dancers coming and there is still room if you wish to attend. check out our web site for details.

david - chinese performing arts foundation

Hi, I was wondering... For all thoes people who sent money to order the competition video from Mr. George Chan, did you recieve them yet?? Did you have to get them Transfered or converted?? How is the quality?

Thanks

Jason.

>Hi, I was wondering... For all thoes people who sent money
>to order the competition video from Mr. George Chan,
>did you recieve them yet?? Did you have to get them Transfered or
>converted?? How is the quality?

Hi Jason

Are you talking about the 1998 competition? It's on 3 VCDs and I've been watching a little at a time on my computer. Looks about right on a computer screen when viewed at a small size, but appears pixillated (as expected) at a bigger size. Sound quality and production quality are very good. Trying to look into transferring to VHS tapes.

Corey

Hi Corey,

I just got this account. Is this competion video still available? Also, how long and how much is it?

Regards,

Buck

Jason,

I got them and they look very good from my PC. The VCD is really convience and it will work on all DVD, VCD, LD, the Karoeky machine that play LD, and any one who have a CD place on their PC can play it too. Your PC should have ActiveMovie Control in the multimedia. Go to that program and open it then go search in your CD drive and open Mpegav under all Files of types and it should show you the file Music01 click it to open then play. Next sit back and enjoy..... well you could pick up a few more lesson if you could catch their actions.... hehehe good lucks....

They are real good.

I have watch it 8-9times since I got it last week.

Thuan

Folks,

Please try not to copy them, but buy from the manufactor to support the future of Lion Dance world. $35 if a reasonable price for the VCD since it is packed with 3 hours long. The thing is you have to order from David Lei

isdavid@slip.net

of the Chinese Performing Arts Foundation. The price might go up. $35 for the VCD is a good deal since it is on special offers sponsored by the San Francisco Liondancer conference in March 20/21 & 27/28.

I bought a set of VCDs and the quality is very good. I only wish they just showed lion dance, instead of interviews and introduction of the teams.

John Wai
www.floridakungfu.com

How big/small is the movie size on the PC? If you play it in a dvd on the tv is it full screen size?

The VCDs are available from Mr. David Lei of the Chinese Performing Artists Foundation. It's a 3 disc set very reasonably priced at $35 to cover the costs of bringing them over. I've been watching them on my Mac. Mr. Lei will probably get this message/inquiry since he subscribes and contributes to this list. I haven't watched it all yet, it's plenty long enough!

Good luck!

Corey

Sure, it will play full screen size on your tv.

Viet Thuan

It is full size both on the computer or tv.

i am currently sold out of the vdc, but master siow is arriving this thursday evening to teach at the lion dance conference in san francisco. I have asked him to bring more, but he has not replied. if he brings more, then i will announce on this site.

the set of 3 discs (approx 3 hours) is $35 which includes shipping (in the u.s. only) make check out to chinese performing arts foundation and mail to:

attn: david
888 brannan st #275
san francisco, ca. 94103

david lei

master siow just confirmed that he will bring more vcd's of the 1998 world championship lion dance competition in malaysia. should be available to send out next week. if you wish to see preview, check out our conference web site: www.liondancer.com and look in the video gallery.

the quality of the clip on our site is not so good due to limitations on the internet. also the screen size is small on our site also due to internet limitations. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL VDC'S ARE GOOD QUALITY AND FULL SIZE.

if you have interest, make check out to chinese performing arts foundation and mail to:

attn: david
888 brannan st #275
san francisco, ca. 94103

david lei

How much are the vcd's again?

I would also like to know how much the vcd's are, and if i could order them online?

They are $35 and you can order them from Mr. David Lei: isdavid@slip.net. This Includes shipping and handling in the US only.

Due to the interested and buying public is very small and narrow for lion dance products. so far only have 17 sets and sold all of them. Hopefully master siow will bring some with him to the conference. You may contact him and reserve your package early.

I also advised that every lion dance club should own a "Lion Dance Explained" by Dr. HU The cost usually is at $50, but due to the LionDance conference in San Francisco, CA on March 19-28 for a special price $40. This Includes shipping and handling in the US only.

Please send you check or Cashier check to the Chinese Cultural Arts Foundation

Contact David Lei or go the website @ http://www.liondancer.com/

Happy Lion Dancing.

For those who are attending the conference, I will se you there.

Viet Thuan

i do not have facility to take order on line.

send $35 check made out to chinese performing arts foundation

attn: david
888 brannan st #275
san francisco, ca 94103

rgds,

>How much are the vcd's again?

in the united states: $35 per set of 3 discs which includes shipping. make check out to chinese performing arts foundation and mail to:

attn: david
888 brannan st #275
san francisco, ca 94103

David,

I will be in San Francisco Thursday, March 25 to attend the conference. Can you save me one copy and I will personally pay you when I see you Thursday morning.

Thanks,

Ernie Loo

P.S. Do you know if anybody is video taping the conference this weekend? I am willing to pay for copies of the tapes. I will video tape the last weekend when I can attend.

Earnie,

we have two videographer, but the problem is that there will be too many hours of tapes to reproduce. i expect 3 to 4 cameras times 20 hours. Will end up with at least 60 hours of tapes.

david

>we have two videographers, but the problem is that there will
>be too many hours of tapes to reproduce. I expect 3 to 4 cameras
>times 20 hours. Will end up with at least 60 hours of tapes.

You can sell tapes by workshop topic or by conference day. This should make it a little more manageable than trying to sell the whole 60 hours. Of course there might be people (like me!) who would be interested in buying a whole set... Of course finding time to watch 60 hours of tapes after we get it is a different story.

Just my thoughts. Anyone else interested in buying tapes of the conference if they're made available?

Chris

Chris wrote:
> Just my thoughts. Anyone else interested in buying tapes of the
>conference if they're made available?
> Chris

You bet!!!!!Neil

To those people who have the means to get to the Liondance conference, I would highly recommend it. After having attended the first weekend, I can honestly say that there is a great community of people there as well as a wealth of information to absorb. Even if you aren't into picking up info (I don't see how you can't) there are many good people you guys should be meeting! In case you were wondering, this post is totally unsolicited. To anyone else who has attended, I would ask that you guys tell the others how cool this thing is.

Many thanks to David Lei of the Chinese Performing Arts Foundation, Dr. William Hu, and Master Siao and his students as well as that cool translator (Greg? I think that's his name) Oh yeah, Corey & Layton you guys were alright too. Ha ha! Seriously though, everyone there had a lot to contribute and it was definitely worth everyone's effort and time.

Keith Soohoo
Kei Lun Martial Arts

Has anyone heard about this festival in Canada? Check it out.

http://www.liondancefest.com/event99.html

We just finished the first weekend of the conference.

I think I can safely say that it is well worth the price of admission and more. I hope David does decide to sell the tapes unedited by session.

I missed the morning session on Sunday but what I saw was great. Dr. Hu had good history info and the drum session was very interesting with different drumming styles and care about the drum.

Unfortunately, the optional sessions were not taped but they were good too. Great for sharing ideas and meeting people.

Then of course there is Siow Sifu. He first gave a small historical talk. He has a fascinating history as hew really is a pioneer in this style of lion dancing. He went against his Sifu's wishes because he believed this way was better then the old and it's now catching on everywhere.

He ended the day with the explaination of Hock San drumming and the notation he invented. It really did make learning the drumming easier. It has also given me a broader understanding and appreciation of Hock San drumming. At the end he gave an amazing demonstration of his drumming technique that sent the audience wild.

Sunday morning he combined the basics with the drumming but I missed this session. At the end, he showed the different stunts that they do on poles and his students did the tricks so much ease. He gave pointers on how to make it easier and some mantras that contain all the "secrets" to doing good pole work.

If anyone can make the second weekend, I strongly suggest you go. It is a rare opportunity to learn from someone that basically invented the genre. Siow Sifu is a very humble man and truely interested in passing on and promoting his art. His goal is to raise everyone's level of lion dancing.

Hopefully others will give a more detailed review.

Stephen.

Stephen, I have been reading about this seminar. How is the drumming compare with our Hung Gar drumming system. Tell me more about it.

Bye now.

Si-sook
Gobert Yeung

In a message dated 3/23/99 6:32:24 AM, gyeung@ti.com writes:

>I have been reading about this seminar. How is the drumming >compare with our Hung Gar drumming system. Tell me more about it.

can someone ask sifu siow to explain the 'fut sahn' style of drumming too?

dr. doong chang

Hi everyone.

The first weekend of the liondance conference has concluded and I must say that it was a phenomenal success.  Everything went smoothly and I believe that Master Siow has proven to the West exactly why he is the best liondance teacher in the world.

Keith and Stephen have already discussed what happened over the weekend.  Master Siow introduced us to the Hok Shan style of liondancing as well as the 18-style drumming.  Basically, there are 18 patterns, or stanzas, that each have a unique drum pattern as well as a standard set of lion movements.  For example, there is the bow, raising of the lion (chrysanthemum flower), investigative step(s), going up the mountain, crossing the river, going down the mountain, plucking the cheng, final bow, big headed monk pattern, as well as a slew of others (unfortunately, we didn't have time to learn all 18 styles - we learned about 12 of them).  I think the most important part of Master Siow's teachings was his use of a standardized drum score, with its own set of characters that represent different instrument sounds.  William Hu's book gives somewhat of an explanation but his notation is not as intuitive as Master Siow's.  Here is what he presented to us:

- ^ - a triangle represents 'tak', or tapping the sides of the drum

- 0 - this is hitting the middle of the drum without any other instruments playing, called 'tung'

- @ - a filled-in circle (completely black) means the drum hits a note with the cymbals, 'chang'

- Q - a circle half-filled is an exaggerated 'chang' (louder), called 'tung' also

- 9 - a filled-in circle with a tail means a muted drum beat and muted cymbals (closed against the chest); this is called 'chit'

- ' - these marks represent where the gong plays, written above the drum score

I know the computer keys don't exactly represent Siow Sifu's drawings, but I hope you get the idea.  The names for these marks are the sounds that they make.  With these, you can write out all the different drumming patterns out there.  For example:

- ^^^^^ (tak tak-ter-rak-tak-tak) seen in the beginning of raising of the lion

- 0-@ (tung chang) the basic beat of 18-style drumming, like a lion's heartbeat

- 0)0)0)0)0 (chang ch-cherang-chang-chang) also seen in raising of the lion

- 0000009 (cha-a-a-a-a-a-ng chit) the rolling beat for the bow

- ^ 0 9 (tak tung chit) seen in investigative step

I am working on a document for all 18 styles.  I will make it available as soon as possible but hopefully, someone can make a better, more accurate version than mine later on.  Many people were a little overwhelmed by the presentation of all these styles at once, but if you have watched competition videos, you have heard them all before.  Almost every team in competition uses 18-style drumming now.

Outside of the conference itself, I had the privilege of enjoying Master Siow's company as well as the company of his students, including George Chan, who is a regular contributor to this list.  They are wonderful people!  Very funny, especially Master Siow.  I am very impressed with his philosophies and demeanor.  He wants to engage in discussion with everyone in the liondance world in order to advance the art.  He feels that secretive people who don't share and are boastful of their skills do nothing but harm.  One of his conditions for coming to this conference was that he be able to teach as many people as possible.  He doesn't claim to know everything about liondancing - he is only sharing what he has learned.  He also encourages suggestions and corrections all the time.  George told me that in Asia, everyone shares their ideas.  Even at the world championships, teams were actually PRACTICING together.  Some even used each other's props, and even LION HEADS!  How often does that happen in the West?  Some people here don't even tell other teams where they get their equipment.  Everyone in Asia is extremely friendly towards each other because they realize they are all a part of the same community.  Unfortunately, I have not seen this at all in the liondance community of the West (not totally at least), but I hope that we can move past our differences someday.  Just because we are part of different liondance teams does not mean we are competing with each other, nor is there ever a clear 'winner' or 'loser' in these petty conflicts.  The only losers are those who incite hatred and jealousy, the winners are those who share ideas and bolster our art.  Master Siow's only measure of success is that his team perform better each time.  Winning trophies is only secondary to his real goals.

I also got a chance to learn basic steps with Master Siow privately.  In fact, I spent 8 hours practicing with him yesterday, and 14.5 hours total!  He is a very patient and practical teacher.  Actually, he is like a silly uncle that we all have at least one of.  Hehe.  I hope he doesn't mind me saying that.  As far as the stepping, he taught us the bow, raising of the head, as well as improv stepping with head movements.  I will try to document these lessons as well.  His students gave us some pointers on jumping and stacking, too. 

As everyone may know, Master Siow manufactures the finest lions in the world, using the most advanced materials and techniques.  The infrastructure of his heads are anchored by an aluminum rim with pvc pipes for the handles of the head.  The heads are coated not with papier mache strictly, but a type of hardened fiber that looks like the material from a medical cast to me.  Maybe George Chan can explain it better, because I really don't know that much about these new materials.  Many manufacturers say that his techniques aren't really advancements but these people are completely wrong, in my opinion.  A solid aluminum rim absorbs stress much better than bamboo and the rest of the frame will hold up longer.  The pvc handles will save your hands a lot of wear.  That fibrous material won't tear like papier mache.  I think another advantage is that he does away with all those excess pom-poms on the top of the head - he only leaves two big ones on the nose.  You can add more yourself but I always thought those pom-poms were unnecessary.  It seems to me that the only people who criticize his heads are only manufacturers and resellers (I experienced this over the weekend).  Liondancers everywhere appreciate his advancements, though.  Also, Master Siow's suggestion for taking care of your heads is simply that - take care of them.  When you're done performing, set them down or put them away properly, don't just dump them in a truck or van.  Treat them like pieces of art, because that's what they are.  The prolong a head's lifetime, don't damage it in the first place.  Shipping overseas is still a major problem, though.  Master Siow and George both recommend going to Malaysia yourself if you want to get some heads.  Make a vacation out of it.  It will be cheaper than shipping in any case. 

Anyway, I only got 15 hours of sleep in 3 days but the conference was simply amazing.  I can't wait to go back next weekend and meet more of you.  See ya.

Willy Le

Hello Everybody!

My name is Tim Hong, I recently passed through the Lion's Den, and saw the emailing list, and thought it would be interesting, so I joined.

Here's a little bit about myself. I'm 17 years old and I'm from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada..(anyone live up here?). I've been lion dancing for about 2 years and still learning new moves as I see them. The group I'm in is called the COCCC(Our Chinese Organization's Name) Lion Dance Team. We were formed awhile back, but the past year, we have been very active, and have upgraded with new members, and equipment. We are a small group with most of the active members less than 17 years of age(we have a lot of growing to do). The older members are parents that have lion danced, and now have gotten their children in lion dancing. The older members sometimes preform for little occasions, but our "youth" group does most performances. We do southern lion dance performances but nothing more(yet). We do basic lion dance but haven't trained for the styles of competition since our members are small or too old. The most difficult stuff I have done is a performance with a basket and a bench, stood on shoulders, and sit on shoulders. I stood/sat on my sifu's shoulders since he is much stronger than our bigger members and can hold me. I act as the co-leader in our group since I am one of the best. Our sifu that taught us lion dance has their own group about 45 minutes drive from Kitchener. We have been out the past two Chinese New Years with them dancing in Chinese shops/restaurants around malls(We don't have many Chinese shops in town). It is very exciting. Our group has around 5 major performances that we do every year, and many little ones in between. This past Chinese New Year(1999) we went around some of the Chinese shops/restaurants in town bringing good luck.

I love lion dancing and it's one of my favourite things to do. I try watching movies to help me learn new moves. Once our younger members grow, our team will improve in style and strength.

This is some information on me and our lion dance group. If you would like more, please do ask. Just wanted to make my presence known,

-Tim Hong

Hey, how come the mailing list has been so quiet lately?? OKay, I'll try to stir things up a little.

How anyone's team ever entered a competition? or has anyone ever gone to go see one?

My team had entered a competition of schools from Ontario and Quebec Canada. We placed 3rd. W've also been invited to The anual Lion dance Festival in Toronto Canada. The Url is www.liondancefest.com It's really interesting, I suggest everyone check it out.

Jason