You can learn to Dragon Dance!
The Dragon Dance is exciting and memorable. This is one of China’s rarest cultural arts. Performing a Dragon Dance takes many people. At Eastern Ways, our smallest dragon is 55 feet long and takes 9 performers to dance.
See our Dragon Dance Performances page!
Running the Dragon
Traditional dragon dances were performed very slowly, with performers simply walking holding the dragon poles. Modern freestyle dragon dancing is athletic and energetic, requiring skill and endurance to perform properly.
The freestyle dragon dance is full of tricks and special routines, with performers jumping over the dragon, weaving under the dragon and bringing it to life. The modern dragon is run, not walked.
- Oakland Raiders Halftime Show: The dragon runs, keeping a wave-like motion between the performers
- All performers have to be in sync and have good awareness to make the dragon move properly. Tai SImo Molina, Chief Instructor, shows how
- The dragon also requires strength and stamina for its challenging routines
Dragon Dancers are usually Lion Dancers, because the two arts are seen together so often. When not, Dragon Dancers still have to posses great stamina and strength to keep the dragon moving and execute the difficult routines. At Eastern Ways, our Dragon Dance Team practices Kung Fu to keep strong and build stamina.
Want to learn Dragon Dancing? Get started with a free trial lesson!