Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, and Drumming Performance in Richmond for Canada Day

Chau Luen Athletics brought the energy to Richmond, BC with a spirited lion dance, dragon dance, and kung fu performances for the 9th annual Canada Day Drumming event.

As our normal performance space in Downtown Vancouver was being used for the FIFA World Cup, we showcased our lion dancing talent at Lansdowne Centre in Richmond, BC instead, delighting a massive crowd of spectators.

Not only did we bring 11 lions, but we also brought a full-sized dragon, a strong lineup of kung fu demonstrations, and 2 drums to really bring on the noise.

It’s always a privilege to share our traditional Chinese arts with new audiences, and we can’t wait to be back again next year.

A lion dancing frenzy featuring 11 lions from the Chau Luen Athletic Club

There were over 30 lions in attendance at the opening ceremony, and our team brought 11 of them. In them, we had a mix of seasoned veterans, newer performers from our affiliate Templeton lion dance team, and some of the most promising rising stars from our kids kung fu and lion dance program.

It was a crowded stage, and included some of our friends from the Hoy Ping Athletic Club and Vancity Lion Dance. Even though many different styles of lion dance were represented, it was fully in the spirit of Canada Day Drumming as everyone was dancing as one.

Dragon dancers and drumming

Because of the space that Lansdowne has to offer, we were able to field a full dragon dance team. This included some members of Hoy Ping Kung Fu, as well as Sifu Felix Tom’s club. This combined team gave a vibrant performance for everyone in the community, ending with a maple leaf pose to celebrate 159 years of Canada.

The main attraction of the day was the Canada Day drumming exhibition, where we joined thousands of other drummers from across the country in a simultaneous six-minute drumming session.

We brought 2 traditional Chinese drums to the party. The first of which was manned by Jonathan, one of the most senior drummers in the club with years of experience. The other was played by Dalton, who has been refining his skills under Jonathan and other seasoned drummers.

Both drummers gave it their all, playing traditional lion dance beats that had been passed down for nearly 200 years, adding an air of authenticity to the performance.

Kung fu performances from our rising stars

After our lions and dragons mingled with all of the others and the maniacal drumming had come to an end, we were given a chance to show off some of our traditional Choy Lee Fut skills in front of the wider Richmond community.

First, some of the top talent from our kids kung fu class took centre stage and demonstrated Siu Sap Zi (小十字拳). Alpha, Beta, and Dalton showed off their skills and dedication as some of their peers from the class watched intently. We’re confident that they will get the chance to demonstrate their kung fu ability in the future.

Next up, Ellen and Quinn, both of whom were Can-Am medallists at the Richmond Olympic Oval just a few minutes away, demonstrated Siu Mui Fa (小梅花拳), a form that many others in our club are learning. It was an inspirational performance and similarly with our kids class, many members of the adult class mentioned that they would be excited to demonstrate the form in front of the community in the future.

Last up were Carissa and Kaitlyn, who jointly demonstrated Double Daggers (雙插仔). Both had plenty of experience with the form, with Carissa having performed at multiple banquets and Kaitlyn taking home a gold medal at the Can-Am tournament for it.

We love performing in Richmond and are excited for wherever we go next

We love performing at community events, no matter where in Greater Vancouver they are held. Even though it was disappointing that we weren’t able to perform in Downtown Vancouver for Canada Day like we usually do, it was refreshing to see all of the smiling faces in Richmond this time around.

No matter where we perform next year for Canada Day, we know it will be exciting and fun for everyone. And of course, we have an up-and-coming group of new performers that will be excited to show off their skills very soon.