How these children are embracing a 140-year-old dancing tradition in Darwin

Lion dancing has become a popular past time for young children in Darwin as well as helped migrants feel more at home, say experts.

From L to R: Amelia, Eric and Lily are among the many young children who have taken up lion dancing in Darwin.

Key Points

• Chris, a recent migrant from Guangdong province, China, says she finds unexpected cultural connections in Darwin.
• Although from diverse cultural backgrounds, children like Lily, Eric, and Amelia, are united in their shared passion for lion dance.
• Lion and dragon dancing trace back 140 years to the establishment of a Chinese temple in Darwin.

Chris, originally from Guangdong Province, China, moved to Darwin a year ago to pursue a degree in IT.

Seeing familiar cultural elements such as lion dances made her feel a sense of belonging, she said.

The lions bore a striking resemblance to those in her home town of Guangdong, both being Southern Lions, she said.

During recent Lunar New Year celebrations in Darwin, one lion dance troupe stood out due to the young ages of its participants.

While not of Chinese heritage herself, Lily, eight, is a member of the Chung Wah Society Troupe.

"I have been doing Chinese lion dance for one year now. And this is my second performance. It's a great art. I like entertaining people and always having fun," Lily told SBS Chinese.

Chinese lion dancing reminds migrants of their homeland, says expert. Source: Moment RF / Nora Carol Photography/Getty Images

Lily's mother, Andrea, said that learning lion dancing was entirely Lily's choice and that her daughter had also gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture through the past time.

"It's all linked back to lion dance. But she embraces all of it, (like) the Moon Festival, she (also) does Chinese studies," Andrea said.

Lion dancing is an integral part of Chinese culture. Source: Moment RF / Traceydee Photography/Getty Images

Lily's passion for lion dancing extends beyond the training ground and stage. It has become a part of her life, according to her mother.

“(She practises) nearly every day. And she makes her own cardboard lions. We go to Spotlight and get all the craft supplies and (she) paints them," Andrea said.

"She's been saving up all her pocket money to buy a real lion (dance outfit). She just loves it. I feel like we're going to be part of this for a while."

Lily with the lion head she made herself. Credit: Supplied

Lion dancing finds young following

In Darwin, many children share Lily's enthusiasm for lion dancing, including Eric and Amelia, who do have Chinese heritage.

"I'm Eric and I'm eight. (I like lion dancing) because you could learn and share with everyone, and everyone will give you good luck," Eric said.

"My name is Amelia, and I am six years old. I've been learning lion dance for two years. I do training every Saturday," Amelia said.

Amelia (L) and Eric (R) have been lion dancing for a couple of years. Credit: Supplied

According to Emily, the coordinator of the Chung Wah Society's Junior Lion Dance Troupe, the age range of team members spans from almost four to 10.

"I think the most important thing is to try and keep the young generation interested so that, obviously, in years to come, we've got a bigger, (older) team," Emily said.

Members of the Chung Wah Society's Junior Lion Dance Troupe with their coordinator Emily (R). Credit: Supplied

Emily noted that traditionally, girls and women were not permitted to perform lion dances, yet she expressed her delight at witnessing an increasing number of girls taking part in the tradition.

“Mainly it's a lot of the boys that do all the stunts and the jumping (but) the girls are getting a lot more involved, which is great because in previous years, traditionally females weren't allowed to," she said.

The Chung Wah Society's Junior Lion Dance Troupe in action. Credit: SBS

With 30 children enrolled, the junior lion dance team was currently at full capacity, with many children eager to join, Emily said.

How lion dance bridges cultures

While for Lily, lion dancing is just a simple performance filled with joy, for many new migrants like Chris, such activities make them feel at home in a foreign land.

The majority of early Chinese immigrants to Australia originated from Guangdong Province, where lion dance performances are very common.

Monash University linguistics researcher, Dr Marc Xu, said surveys of Chinese people living in Western countries reported that lion dancing reminded them of their homeland.

Dr Marc Xu, a linguist from Monash University. Credit: Supplied

Xu said he believed this sense of belonging was closely tied to the cultural symbol of the lion itself.

It's not just a lion dancing performance, it's a cultural symbol, a tradition, a cultural ritual.

Dr Marc Xu

“Of course, some scholars challenge whether lion dancing is a totem or if there are deeper meanings behind it. But some suggest that it's a symbol of Chinese culture, and this symbolism is very powerful, something worth passing down from generation to generation,” Xu said.

Darwin's lion dance legacy: 140 years of tradition

The tradition of lion dancing is nothing new to Darwinians, where it has an almost 140-year history.

According to Roland Chin, the president of the Chung Wah Society Northern Territory (NT), the tradition of lion and dragon dancing began to take root in the local community after Darwin established a Chinese temple in 1887.

“In the NT, (once) we had the Chinese temple, which was built in 1887, we always had a lion dance street possession since then," Chin said.

"My grandfather was also part of Chung Wah as a secretary and was born here in (the NT in) Catherine, so in 1901, he would have been a young man seeing and witnessing the lion dancing in Darwin."

Roland Chin, the president of the Chung Wah Society Northern Territory (NT). Credit: SBS

The first group of Chinese comprising 186 men arrived in Darwin by boat in 1874. According to Neville Jones, family historian and director of the Darwin Chinese Museum, the local Chinese community grew from them.

"They were indentured labourers, and they were brought out here by the South Australian government to work in the gold mines and on public works in the town that we call Darwin today, but back then, it was called Palmerston. And that was the start of the Chinese settlement in Darwin," Jones said.

Neville Jones, family historian and director of the Darwin Chinese Museum

"(The Chinese community) is growing bigger, but it's also becoming more mixed because Chinese are marrying non-Chinese, so their families are growing like that," Jones said.

"And it's not that people hold intact the (entire) Chinese culture, but elements of the Chinese culture. People strive to hang on to that and keep it going."