On a weekday night, beneath the gritty underbelly of a bypass in the Tai Kok Tsui area of Kowloon, Hong Kong, two lions – one dressed in green and the other in purple – hop up and down on a metal platform, their bright manes swaying with each movement.
Inside these vibrant costumes are four young women, a rarity in the city’s lion dance scene, who have dedicated more than half their lives to mastering this traditional art form.
They are the Kwok’s Girls, female members of the Kwok’s Kung Fu and Dragon Lion Dance Team, which was founded in 1969. Between the working hours of their day jobs, they practise at least once a week.
They have gained a notable online presence in recent years. One of their videos gained 2 million views on their Instagram page, which has more than 30,000 followers.
Their videos have shone a spotlight on the blood, sweat and tears that go into the practice of this distinctive and difficult art form. In one clip, one of the girls lifts another above her head and does three spins, while another shows two coordinated performers leaping from one tall pole to another.
“When I successfully challenge myself with movements we weren’t able to do before, there is a great sense of accomplishment,” Lam Hoi-hei, 25, said.
“What I love most is competing together, from when we were small to now. We have been doing this for over 10 years, and I hope it will continue until we are old.”
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Lion dance performances have been an indispensable feature of traditional celebrations in Hong Kong such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and during the Lunar New Year holiday, as well as celebratory occasions such as opening ceremonies and weddings.
It is a custom going back more than 1,000 years, traditionally performed to bring good luck for the coming lunar year and to scare away evil spirits.
In the past, women were not allowed to become lion dancers. The lion and dragon costumes were consecrated, and females were seen as “unclean” in certain Chinese religions and forbidden to touch holy items.
Things have since changed, with such outdated beliefs no longer applying to most modern ceremonies. More lion dance troupes are accepting female students.
But women in lion dance still have to overcome certain gender differences and are often pitted against physically more powerful male dancers in competitions.
“The differences between us and male dancers are physical strength, as this sport is quite demanding, requiring courage and height,” Lai Yun-ting, 28, said.
She said the advantages of female performers over male ones were that they were lighter and nimbler, and often paid more attention to detail.
Li Tsz-yan, 25, said that rather than focusing on victory in any one competition as a goal, they aimed to qualify for various competitions, including those overseas, such as the one held in the Genting Highlands in Malaysia.
“We will probably lose to male dancers, but we look so cool, and often receive more applause than them,” she said. “The moment we show up on stage, it feels like we’ve already won.”
Having such confidence was what pushed the girls to persevere despite challenging routines and frequent injuries.
“I never think I’m not capable of doing certain moves, I simply have not learned them. And I will simply keep practising,” Li said.
“Our coach often instils in us the belief that we’re able to do it,” Lai chimed in. “It’s just a matter of time, and whether you work hard or not. We keep this faith in our minds.”
Yeung Nga-man, 23, said lion dance had honed their willpower, enabling them to cope better with adversities in life.
“What I am doing in lion dance is already so difficult and I’ve managed to persist for so long. It makes other problems seem so trivial,” she said.
“The confidence comes from here, especially when people tell me it’s impressive that I’m the one controlling the lion’s head.”
Andy Kwok Man-lung, the head coach and team leader of Kwok’s Kung Fu and Dragon Lion Dance Team, said he treated all his students equally, regardless of their sex.
“For example, it is quite dangerous to perform on poles, which requires skill and psychological strength. You have to reach a certain level before you can learn it,” he said.
“If you reach that level, I will not stop you [from progressing] because you are a girl.”
He said having more women join the lion dance scene could further promote and elevate the standards of the art form.
“I hope that they will be able to achieve what male dancers have achieved. If a girl is able to complete a certain move … not only will other girls be encouraged to improve themselves, but it can also motivate other boys to do the same.”
The Kwok’s Girls said they hoped their dedication would not only keep the art form alive, but also serve as an inspiration for other young women.
“It shows that women can also do this. Before getting to know my fellow members, I didn’t think I was capable enough. But seeing what they can do made me realise that I can do the same,” Lai said.
“I hope that when we have children, we can also introduce them to lion dance.”
