Easter Tournament Cultural Concert - 22nd April, 2011, Dunedin Town Hall
- OSCA Lion Dance Team 2011
- Rugby World Cup 2011
- Lion Dance Workshop 2009
- Lion Dance 2008
OSCA Lion Dance Team 2011
By Lisa Ung
The Otago Southland Chinese Association (OSCA) Lion dance team is made up of a group of bright young entertainers who have incorporated their love for Asian culture and dance. Based on martial arts and Kung Fu, Lion Dancing is traditionally performed at every big Chinese event – especially Chinese New Year. We are made up of dancers, musicians, and anybody interested in entertaining an audience.
As a symbol of prosperity and protection from evil spirits, we bring good luck and fortune to any big event. This year, 2011, we have had the privilege to take part in welcoming the Argentine and English Rugby Teams to Rugby World Cup, 2011. We also take part in Asia Awareness week and helped celebrate in Lawrence, Central Otago’s famous Chinese Heritage.
Our inspiration stems from past Lion Dancers and great tutors like George and Evan Chan. This year the team has worked hard on inventing new styles of choreography, allowing them to show off their artistic talents, while maintaining traditional elements of Lion Dancing. Being an OSCA Lion Dance team member allows you to be part of a young, motivated cultural group. Incorporating fitness, strength, creativity, and musical skills - keeping our Asian heritage alive in modern western society has never been more exciting.
Regular practices are held once a week – Thursday. We invite anybody interested in being part of this awesome group to contact us via email or by calling Regan or Lisa – No experience required. Great skills such as leadership, coordination and rhythm are taught and explored – and great friendships are made.
Come and check out what we do at our practices!
If you would like the Lion Dance Team to perform at an event or function, or you would like us to perform for prosperity and good luck at new business or company opening then feel free to contact us. Bookings are available - but we need to know in advance.
Rugby World Cup - Welcoming Ceremony - For Argentina and England
By Lisa Ung
This has been the biggest and most star-striking event of the year for our OSCA Lion dancing team. Dunedin being the host city for Argentina and England for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, we were asked to perform for the two teams at the Dunedin town hall. Welcoming them through the entrance were the Kapa Haka groups from Kings and Queens high school, followed by a mihi whakatau – a formal Maori greeting. After official greetings and speeches, the OSCA Lion Dance team performed a following a bright performance by the Dunedin Scottish Dancers.
With a slimmed down slippery stage, the Lion dance crew were able to pull off a slick upbeat 5 minute performance for the two large teams. The crowd supporters and Rugby teams were truly impressed. When the capping ceremony was completed, some of the team members were able to grab autographs and photos with the famous rugby world cup superstars. These included players like Jonny Wilkinson :D Surely a memorable performance for some!!
Sat 22nd & Sunday 23rd August 2009
By Karena Sew Hoy
After months of planning, this keenly anticipated workshop was attended by our OSCA lion dance team and 6 members of the Invercargill Sub Branch lion dance team. Over the weekend we had two jam-packed days of tuition provided by tutors George and Evan Chan from the Christchurch Qiao Yi Lion Dance Team. We studied Hok Shan lion dance music and learnt how to read lion dance music symbols for drums, cymbals and gong. We were also taught the fundamentals of Hok Shan lion dancing and the preparation and development of a complete routine. This culminated in a ceremony for the Official Blessing of all five of our new lions at the Dunedin Chinese Garden. We then performed a longer routine from 5 vantage points within the gardens while the musicians played on the zig zag bridge. It was a truly incredible experience to perform with George and Evan and the public who were visiting the Gardens at the time were treated to a really spectacular sight!
Thank you to OSCA for funding this workshop!
Some of the feedback from the workshop participants:
I really enjoyed the workshop and learnt a lot of new things and how to do cool stuff properly. Thank you very much OSCA.
Coordinating music with the performance was extremely helpful. Even though the music symbols were confusing at first it did make learning it faster.
We were taught everything that we expected to be taught …….and much, much more. It was so inspiring to watch you both demonstrating your skills to us. You both are awesome.
After attending the Lion Dance workshop I was able to better understand the basic beat of the instruments, combined with basic steps under the lion to make a more professional, rhythmic, lively and in sync basic performance. I feel that from here our crew are able to build upon what we learnt to create more traditional and outstanding performances in the future.
Absolutely wonderful workshop. Thank you George and Evan – you are such passionate, knowledgeable and excellent tutors. Thanks to OSCA for organising this workshop – it’s everything the Sub Branch group wanted to learn and more. Fab weather and great to make new friends and catch up with old ones.
WOW! Having come from knowing nothing absolutely about the world of lion dancing I found the weekend's workshop brilliant. It was great to learn so much and have it made so easy with the great tutors George and Evan, who obviously have a profound knowledge of the art. Thanks again.
An exhilarating and dynamic seminar presented by enthusiastic and expert tutors. Their energy and passion for the Lion Dance was transmitted to all who attended the weekend workshop. Thanks George and Evan for a tremendous learning experience.
