KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9— Down south in Johor, a group of primary Tamil school students have added a clever twist to the centuries-old lion dance.
The SJKT Pasir Gudang lion dance troupe, consisting of some 25 children, perform the Chinese traditional dance to the beats of both Chinese drums and the Indian urumee.
And, instead of the usual red or yellow lion costume, they don a blue peacock-style lion costume designed by their lion dance instructor Master Tom Chan Tian Hwa.
The peacock-style lion's head is dotted with real peacock feathers while the body is made up of a resplendent illustration of peacock feathers.
“Just like the Chinese revere lions, Indians consider peacocks to be sacred and auspicious. So, I brought them together in the costume,” the 42-year-old told Malay Mail.
Chan, a renowned lion dance instructor with over 20 years of experience, has been training the troupe every Monday afternoon since last August.
Through them, he wants to break stereotypes about the art and wants Malaysians of all stripes to take part in it.
“When the school approached me to train their lion dance troupe last year, some parents were hesitant to send their kids,” Chan recalled.
“Some parents wrongly assumed that lion dance is a religious activity while some questioned the necessity for their children to learn a Chinese traditional dance.
“During a meeting with the parents, I convinced them that lion dance is a cultural activity with no religious aspect to it.
“As we discussed further, I realised the parents were more willing to allow their kids to learn lion dance if we included Indian elements,” he said.
Chan also agreed to lend lion heads, drums, cymbals and gongs to the troupe until the school secured enough funds to purchase the equipment.
His Chen Yifang Dragon and Lion production company produced the peacock-style lion costume, which took two months to be completed.
Interestingly, Chan said the school management and him also sought divine blessings before undertaking the project.
“We visited a few Hindu temples and drew lots to see whether we should design this peacock-styled lion costume or not.
“And, we got a yes at every temple!” Chan said.
Next, Chan plans to incorporate some elements from traditional elephant dances in India into lion dance.
“If possible, I hope to adopt some cultural element from every ethnic group in Malaysia and combine them with lion dance.
“That will make the lion dance a true symbol of Malaysian unity,” he said.
Chan also hopes to recruit preschool students from SJKT Pasir Gudang into his lion dance troupe.
“The younger ones always make the dance merrier,” he said.
