By Gillian Adkins
The sounds of drumming and a gong echoed through the Social Hall as students packed the tables to watch a Lion Dance as a part of the Lunar New Year Celebration hosted by the Center for Cultural Liberation (CCL).
On Jan. 29, students and faculty took a break from their busy schedules to celebrate the first day of the Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year marks the first day of the new year based on the Lunar Calendar, which is widely celebrated among East and Southeast Asian countries.
At 3:30 p.m., the festivities began as the CCL staff scanned many students’ IDs at the check-in table. They also handed out red envelopes containing new year messages.
Traditionally, red envelopes, which contain money, are handed out during the celebrations to symbolize good luck.
Students then had a choice of picking two snacks from a table with a variety of sweets including Japanese treats: Hi-Chews and Hello Panda Cookies.
For many students though, the highlight of the event was the Lion Dance performed by Hoang Phuc Lion Dance Association (HP Lion Dance).
Sophomore Yoz Calderon was eager to see the dance as he had “never been able to see a Lion Dance perform” until now.
At 3:45 p.m., attendees sat down and turned their attention to the center of the Social Hall. On the floor, tangerines and silver bowls containing pineapple and lettuce were laid out.
“In our performances, we often use metal bowls to hold fruits like pineapples, lettuce, and tangerines,” said David Phan, founder of HP Lion Dance. “These fruits are not only vibrant and eye-catching but also hold deep symbolic meanings in our culture.”
In Mandarin, Pineapple (凤梨) symbolizes wealth and luck because the word sounds like ‘fortune coming.’ Lettuce (生菜) represents prosperity, as it is a homophone for ‘rising fortune.’ Tangerines (桔) signify good luck and wealth because they are associated with gold.”
As the sound of drumming and a gong reverberated in the air, two performers wearing lion costumes, one pink and one green, emerged from opposing sides of the Social Hall. They danced together while the sound of drums beating, and a gong clashing resonated in the background.
The lions concluded the dance by unraveling a scroll that read “Happy New Year” and going around the audience and giving out tangerines. This gesture is representative of the lion passing on blessings of fortune, prosperity, and happiness to the receiver.
The Lion Dance is a traditional Chinese dance that is often performed during Lunar New Year. Its purpose is “to ward off evil spirits and bad luck and bring good luck and prosperity to any individual or group.” This year’s Lunar New Year Celebration was special because HP Lion Dance was able to come to Dominican.
Yessenia Hernandez, assistant director of the CCL, said the CCL wanted to include a live performance in their annual Lunar New Year Celebration for a long time. The point of the event was to share the East and Southeast Asian culture and share community.
The best part? HP Lion Dance is a local group composed of students from the Chicagoland area.
The group was started in 2022 by Phan after he noticed a lack of Lion Dance teams in Chicago after moving from Vietnam. He said that he founded the group to form a space, “where people can learn and find a second family.”
To Phan, the Lion Dance is a reminder of his youth, where he would watch the dance and become overjoyed. He saw the excitement that the drums brought upon the people around him, and he wanted to do the same thing.
In the future, HP Lion Dance hopes to get the chance to compete in competitions nationwide. For more information on HP Lion Dance, please follow them on Instagram (@hpliondanceinchicago) and Facebook at Hoang Phuc Lion Dance Association.
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