More Malay Singaporeans pick up Chinese lion dance in boost for inclusivity: ‘part of a family’
- Local troupes say it is ‘natural’ for members of different races to work together, bound by their passion for the performance art
Singaporean Bobby Jamsairi has been fascinated with Chinese lion dance since he was just seven, and his passion has even led him to set up his dance troupe more than a decade later.
But unlike most lion dance troupes in the multicultural city state, his 50-strong group, Kuo Chuan Arts Cultural, comprises mostly Malays and is the first of its kind in the Chinese-dominated performance art.
“We have a passion for the sport, so we don’t think about anything else like race,” said Jamsairi, a Malay Singaporean.
While his dance troupe faced a rocky start in its early days, with many potential clients shunning the idea of a predominantly Malay lion dance troupe, Jamsairi said the idea of minority races joining such dance groups was no longer a novelty.
“For many of my boys, lion dance is like a gym session for us and many join us to be a part of a family,” he said.
With a long tradition dating back to imperial China, lion and dragon dances are believed to be able to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. Performances by lion dance troupes typically happen during festivals such as Lunar New Year or the openings of new businesses.