How to hire a lion dance troupe in Singapore

This Chinese New Year, do something special besides chucking two oranges and an ang pao at someone. In order to bless your house with good luck, get a full lion dance troupe to perform.

Let’s all do our part to bring in good fortune, okay?

How to hire a lion dance troupe

A simple Google search will call up a long list of options. Ghee Hong Lion and Tian Eng Dance Centre is a popular choice, especially used by many business owners. If you are a member of a country club or clan association however, do check with them; they may have a troupe that will perform at special rates for you.

However, there are just a couple of things to take note of.

First, you have to decide if you want a traditional lion dance troupe, or one with a more contemporary style. With traditional lion dances, you get something out a social studies textbook – historically accurate cymbal clashing and dance moves. With contemporary, you get some unusual twists; like electric blue lions with LED lights, or hip-hop moves.

Second, you need to pick between northern and southern Chinese styles. This matters if you’re really into lion dances and Chinese culture, or if the audience will be.

Northern style lion dances are more acrobatic, and related to martial arts. The lion has an orange and yellow coat, and it chases a martial artist around.

Northern lions do a lot of jumping. This also transforms every part of your ceiling / door frame into a lethal weapon, that can seriously concuss a clumsy dancer. For dance troupes that are exceptional purists (the sort that take part in competitions), they will do the trick where the lion balances on a see-saw.

Southern style lion dances are more common in Singapore, and originate in Guangdong. The lion is white and yellow, or brown and black. Somebody wears a giant head, and the lion chases him around; it kind of looks like a YouTube prank video shot in a questionable zoo.

By tradition, caiqing – the important moment when the lion rears up and “eats” the lettuce that you hang on the door frame – is a Southern style move. However, many lion dance troupes in Singapore will do it regardless of whether it’s a Northern or Southern style dance.

The third thing you need to do is book the time slot. Lion dance troupes are in huge demand over the Lunar New Year, so don’t be surprised if you’re forced into an odd timing. Always plan for the troupe to be 15 to 20 minutes at least; delays do happen.

How much do you pay for a lion dance?

For 15 to 20 minutes, most troupes charge around $208. This is typically a one lion dance. For two lions, also for 15 to 20 minutes, the going rate is about $388. Note that for most smaller properties, one lion will suffice.

For a full 30 minute performance with everything, including two lions and a dragon, the rate generally reaches a maximum of $888. This is about on par with your medical bill, when your pissed off neighbour comes at you with a broom after 30 solid minutes of cymbals and yelling.

(Seriously, do be considerate and ask the neighbours first.)

In addition, do prepare an ang pao packet as a tip. It’s up to you how much to put in there, but make it end with the number eight. No one will call you cheap if you put just eight dollars in there, but that’s being really cheap. There’s like, five or six people in the troupe at least. Come on.

How to prepare for the lion dance

Ideally, hang the lettuce for the lion no lower than two metres, and no higher than 3.5 metres. This is a cultural dance, not parkour. Suspend this from the top of your door frame with either cellophane or a string (if you’re not skilled at knots it will fall though).

Prepare two oranges for the lion (they will peeled to form the Chinese characters for good fortune), along with the ang pao.

It’s also customary, but not necessary, to prepare some drinks for the troupe.

With regard to your house, clear the area for the lion dance. Move the furniture out of the area, along with any power cords, paintings, floor lamps, or glass tables. Just for convenience, place a small stepladder nearby, in case you skipped the first paragraph and hanged the lettuce too high.

It’s polite to invite the neighbours and have some food out afterward.