Traditional lion dances unite the CID during the Year of the Tiger Celebration
By Grace McGuire, November 19, 2021
Members of Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness guide lions (right) and members of Kung Fu Club Fall City-Issaquah guide a dragon (left) down South King Street as Lunar New Year celebrators look on on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. (Photo by Grace McGuire, Canon 80D)
After two years without a Lunar New Year Celebration, residents of the International District and members of the greater Seattle community have come together to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. The Year of the Tiger landed on February 1st this year, but was postponed due to the rise in the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness, with their leader Master David Leong commenced the performance portion of the event with a traditional Chinese Lion Dance, one of the most important events of the Chinese New Year.
Master David Leong is a descendant of CID (Chinatown/International District) pioneers dating back to the 1930’s. In 1961, his uncle started the first Kung Fu school in the CID. “There is so much history, good, bad, and the ugly, in every community, that should be made aware of to the future generations,” Master Leong said.
The Lunar New Year Celebration has not only served the residents of the CID but also members of the community that visit the CID to connect with its culture. A member of Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness, Tomas Rojo, began his Kung Fu journey in Hidalgo, MX 35 years ago. Rojo now lives in South Park but has found community in Kung Fu and the CID after working alongside Master Leong for the past 23 years.
“I continue to consider myself as who I am, Mexican, but after so many years of practicing Kung Fu, I do feel a close connection to Chinese culture and the community of the CID. I know I am different but they don’t see me as different simply by the fact I am Latino, it is in fact quite the opposite,” Rojo said.
Connie Au-Yeung, a Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) coordinator for the event, said, “The purpose of the events is to be a happy moment and to invigorate and bring the best out of the community.”
The Buddha (Dai Tou Fut) leads lions down South King Street with a fan before their traditional Lion Dance on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. (Photo by Grace McGuire, Canon 80D)
Eight young members of Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness showcase basic training exercises in hand-eye coordination and stance taught in traditional martial arts on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. (Photo by Grace McGuire, Canon 80D)
Master David Leong, leader of Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness, looks on to Hing Hay Park as his students perform martial art techniques for an audience on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. “I remember watching my first lion dance in Chinatown, I was six years old,” Master Leong said. “The lion walked right by me and looked right at me with its fierce eyes. . .I looked up to my father and I said, ‘hey dad, one day when I grow up, I’m going to be a lion dancer.’” (Photo by Grace McGuire, Canon 80D)
Two lions face off during the traditional Lion Dance in Hing Hay Park on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. Their movements follow the sound of the tanggu, a traditional Chinese drum that represents the heartbeat of the lion. (Photo by Valery Martinez, Canon Rebel T7i)
Tomas Rojo performs a martial arts demonstration on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. Rojo has practiced Kung Fu for 35 years. (Photo by Valery Martinez, Canon Rebel T7i)
Young member of Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness holds lion head above them as they participate in a traditional Lion Dance led by older members of their gym on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. (Photo by Valery Martinez, Canon Rebel T7i)
Child looks on as a blue dragon is guided by members of Kung Fu Club Fall City Issaquah down South King Street towards Hing Hay Park on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. Wearing red for the Lunar New Year if a symbol of luck. (Photo by Grace McGuire, Canon 80D)
Members of Kung Fu Club Fall City-Issaquah hold a blue dragon after performing a Dragon Dance as they watch martial art performances by Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. (Photo by Grace McGuire, Canon 80D)
Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness and Kung Fu Club Fall City-Issaquah members pose for a group picture concluding their Kung Fu demonstrations and Lion Dance performance on Saturday, April 30 in Seattle, Wash. (Photo by Valery Martinez, Canon Rebel T7i)