Hear Us Roar: At Keystone, the “lions” revive tradition with a modern beat

Walking the Lion’s Steps

It was just another lunchtime in May, until two small lions burst into the Keystone Secondary School cafete- ria. One was yellow, the other red. Covered in long fur with round blinking eyes, they pranced to the rhythm of the global hit song, “Gangnam Style”. Instead of the traditional beat of gongs and drums, the playful remix set the room alight. Students and teachers put down their chopsticks, and even the kitchen staff paused to watch.

Suddenly, both lions planted their tails into a deep horse stance and lifted their heads high. The cafeteria erupted in applause.

This flash mob was the work of five students from the Keystone Lion Dance KAP, performing during Arts Week 2025.

Lion dance at Keystone began in 2019 when then Chinese Civilization and History teacher Li La first organized a student team. The “secret troupe” became a crowd favorite, opening cultural festivals, temple fairs, and year-end celebrations with their spirited per- formances.

As one of China’s earliest national intangible cul- tural heritages, lion dance weaves together martial arts, dance, embroidery, painting, and music. The feline the dance represents has long symbolized

strength, courage, and vitality. Each lion dance per- formance is steeped in tradition while demanding ath- letic discipline.

At Keystone, no matter the occasion, a lion dance consistently earns a collective “wow”.

By 2022, martial arts teacher Niu Ben had joined as a technical coach. Though practices were rare, mostly squeezed in before festivals or holidays, the troupe’s dazzling shows never failed to impress. Yet, with students’ schedules packed, the team’s lineup kept changing, making it difficult to sustain momentum.

“Why not form a dedicated KAP?” Mr. Niu thought, because that way, membership could stabilize, and students would have the chance to learn the art sys- tematically. When he shared the idea, ninth-grader Milanda Zheng’s eyes lit up.

The Art of Coordination

Milanda first joined Ms. Li’s lion dance group in Grade 8. Now, she grows with the team and has become one of its driving forces. She performed with the troupe in the “Gangnam” lion dance flash mob, an idea that sprang from her proposal to integrate mod- ern music with traditional dance.

That choice was no accident; she once saw a video where children ignored a traditional lion dance—until the soundtrack switched to the massive K-pop track. Suddenly, the crowd lit up. It made her wonder: how could they help more young people appreciate this her- itage? Her answer was to blend modern rhythms with classical movements, making the tradition accessible without losing its roots.

Partnering with lion guide Milanda and Amy Hong applied for and established Keystone’s first official Lion Dance KAP.

The group now trains weekly under Mr. Niu’s guid- ance. The first lion has Milanda playing the head role and Daniel Yang covering the tail. Meanwhile, sixth grader Malika Kambarova and seventh grader Tina Zhu partner in the second lion as its head and tail respec- tively. Amy, wielding a hydrangea, leads the lions with agility and martial flair. Their training as former members of the Keystone Wushu during their Primary School years proved handy as the dancers quickly grasped the demanding athletic moves taught by Mr. Niu.

Malika, who joined Keystone in preschool, had once stunned the community when she mimicked lion move- ments as a fourth grader at a temple fair. “She used to learn from videos on her own,” Mr. Niu said of the Kazakh student. “Her movements were surprisingly good, but she lacked the fundamentals. I invited her to join, and she happily signed up.”

For Malika, lion dancing is incredibly cool: “Its rich historical heritage captivated and made me want to be part of it. I love every aspect of lion dancing, especially the teamwork and trust it requires with a partner.”

The team performs the Southern style of lion dance, known for its delicate, expressive movements. In KAP sessions, students begin with history and cultural con-

text before drilling into martial arts–based stances— horse, Qilin, low, middle, and high—each requiring discipline and precision.

“When students master the structure and practice the details,” Mr. Niu said, “the lion’s spirit truly comes alive.”

Milanda recalled long hours of honing their lifting technique: “At first, I could only stay balanced for a second before falling. By the fourth class, I could hold for several seconds—and even spin while standing on the tail lion’s hips.”

Still, mistakes happen. During a flash mob, Milanda slipped mid-lift. Quick thinking saved the moment: the pair turned the stumble into a playful skit that had the crowd cheering. By lunchtime, they had corrected the technique and nailed the lift to “Gangnam Style” with- out a hitch.

Lion’s Moves

Lion dance is always performed in pairs. The head conveys spirit and expression, blinking and bowing, while the tail anchors balance and power. The two must move as one.

Milanda, as head, explains: “I need to keep the lion’s energy alive through arm positioning, while also controlling its expressions—like making it blink or open its mouth.”

Meanwhile, the tail’s role demands strength and invisibility. Hidden under the fabric, the tail supports the head during acrobatics and lifts. One misstep can topple both dancers.

Power in Every Bend

Together, waist and knee bends embody the Chinese philosophy of balance—flexibility and strength in harmony. The lion is “still fresh, swift as a rabbit”: poised in stillness, explosive in motion.

Waist bends: In lion dance, waist bends aren’t just leaning over. Dancers use the “sinking waist, sitting horse stance” to engage core strength, keeping the back straight like a bow and the center of gravity at the dāntián, or the body’s “energy center” close to the diaphragm. This allows the lion’s head to sway with rhythmic force—soft yet strong—mimicking the animal’s patrol and sniffing movements while building momentum for leaps.

Knee bends: Footwork depends on two bends: the deep “low-stance” squat for stability, and the lighter “walking” bend that bounces to the beat of gongs and drums. Both require feet firmly gripping the ground, projecting either the lion’s alertness or its playful spirit.

Did you know? 

The differences between “Northern” and “Southern” lions » The Northern and Southern lion dances not only differ significantly in footwork and performance but also in appearance. Northern lions are majestic and strapping, while Southern lions are delicate and agile.

More Than Lions

Though student-led, the Lion Dance KAP has thrived thanks to Mr. Niu’s behind-the-scenes guid- ance. “We thought he would just give us a few techni- cal tips,” Milanda admitted. “Instead, he stayed every week, teaching us harder moves, bringing resources, and even promising to learn plum blossom pole skills this summer to pass on to us.”

Mr. Niu added a lion-leader role—uncommon in Southern lion dance—to give students more opportu- nities. With a hydrangea ball and martial arts moves, the leader commands the lions while captivating the audience.

Beyond skills, Mr. Niu reminds students that lion dance carries a deep heritage and etiquette. To dance a lion is not to memorize routines but to embody respect: you cannot grab the lion’s horns as it is disre- spectful to Southern lion culture, and that a lion dance begins and ends with a traditional bow. In essence, everything about lion dance becomes more than just knowledge: it engenders a deep connection between the dancer and the art.“Because I love lion dance, I want to participate,” he says. “Because I participate, I can truly feel its history and traditions. That is how the dance lives on.”

As Milanda enters her senior year at Keystone, she hopes to take the lion dance with her into college. “I want to keep sharing this tradition, help more people experience it, and let the world see how amazing it is.”

This kind of passion spreads. Before moving to Australia, former member Lucy Liu gifted Keystone her beloved pink lion cape. Even abroad, she kept practic- ing and stayed in touch, eager to share updates about lion dance.

Keystone’s cultural atmosphere encourages this kind of connection. From martial arts and visual arts to calligraphy and Chinese music, students immerse themselves in traditions that grow into personal pas- sions. International students also experience Chinese culture through immersive learning. At Keystone, not only Chinese students, but also international students become ambassadors of Chinese culture.

The success of Lion Dance KAP has already inspired a Dragon Dance KAP, launching this school year. Mr. Niu remembers the sight of four dragon teams—two teacher groups, a student team, and an international elementary team—performing together at a temple fair. “It was the largest dragon dance we’ve ever had at Keystone,” he recalled, eyes shining.

During Arts Week, the student troupe even unveiled a luminous dragon. As the lights dimmed in the Per- forming Arts Center, the glowing dragon surged across the stage like lightning, leaving the audience breathless.