Chinese, Malay, Indian youths unite as lion dancers

PHOTO ESSAY | Amid pounding drums, a tudung-clad Malay teenager leaps and twists in the air as she performs a lion dance with other youths of various ethnicities.

They are part of the Yong Jun Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe - founded in 2017 by Kobe Chan Yong Zhen as an expression of a muhibah (harmonious) Malaysia.

Today, Khairunnisa Adawiyah Khairil Johari, her sister Khairunnisa Afifah, siblings Adzwin Puteri Faizal and Azrin Syah, as well as Sharvin Rao are the five non-Chinese members of the troupe performing the traditional Chinese dance.

Yong Jun Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe members suit up before a performance.

Adawiyah, who plays the drums, joined the group to learn more about the art form, which is synonymous with the ethnic Chinese community in Malaysia.

“Malays often prefer to learn silat but I wanted to learn something else, so I joined this troupe when I was 10 years old,” she said.

Troupe founder and trainer Kobe Chan Yong Zhen (right) spends time with his troupe members’ parents.

According to Chan, who is also their trainer, the youths’ parents were instrumental in ensuring the multicultural ethos of the troupe.

“I am thankful to the parents of our Indian and Malay members who accepted and supported their children’s decision to join us,” he said.

The troupe trains in Bukit Beruntung, Selangor.

The troupe’s trophy collection.

Further, he said the lion dance does not include any religious elements and can be performed by anyone interested.

This includes the purification ceremony, which is just a part of the dance and is cultural without any element of worship, he added.

Troupe members practising to perform for Chinese New Year.

Troupe members Yap Zi Qin (left) and Adzwin Puteri Faizal during a lion dance practice.

Riding a lorry to get to the performance venue.

Putting on costumes before the lion dance.

Troupe members carrying equipment to the performance venue.

The acrobatic lion dance symbolises good luck and blessings for the Chinese community.

The crowd cheers on the Yong Jun Dragon and Lion Dance troupe as they perform.

Khairunnisa Adawiyah Khairil Johari (centre) during the performance.

Fireworks during the performance.

The troupe packing up and loading equipment back onto the lorry after the performance.