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Continuing a tradition: St. Louis-area lion dance troupes ring in the Lunar New Year

Four people perform lion dancing with a fifth person in the background.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Members of Washington University Lion Dance perform during a technical rehearsal on Thursday night at Mallinckrodt Center at Washington University. Lunar New Year will be celebrated on Saturday.

Booming drums fill Washington University’s Wrighton Hall as students practice their routine to ring in the Lunar New Year.

Matthew Du, 20 of Minneapolis, co-choreographer of WashU Lion Dance team, stops the rhythmic clamor and holds his hands above his head, mimicking holding up a lion head. With drumsticks in hand, he instructs two teams of lion dancers on the style of movement for the choreography and drums: rigid and intentional — the heartbeat of the lion dance.

The lion dance has long been part of Chinese culture, dating to the Qin and Han dynasties. Once a religious ceremony, it has transformed into a pivotal tradition of Asian celebrations, such as Lunar New Year, which will be largely celebrated on Saturday.

Marking the start of spring, Lunar New Year is a time of fresh starts and new beginnings. Just as lion dance was to drive away mythical creatures during the Qing Dynasty, it’s used today to ward off ill-intentioned spirits. The tradition is woven throughout St. Louis for generations, despite the relocation of Asian residents in the city.

St. Louis once had a thriving Chinese neighborhood in Downtown nicknamed, “Hop Alley.” But in 1966, it was demolished in order to build Busch Memorial Stadium, displacing residents throughout the city, many of whom settled near Olive Boulevard near Washington University. Today, the school’s AAPI student population is about 14%.

“We perform at many different events hosted by various Asian student organizations and aim to add certain traditional aspects,” Du said. “Most students have not seen [a] lion dance before. Many call them dragons, so having many opportunities to perform allows us to spread awareness.”

Sheridan “Birdie” Lee, 20, waits to start a routine during a Washington University Lion Dance practice on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in St. Louis. Lion dance is a tradition often seen during the Lunar New Year and other celebrations.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Sheridan “Birdie” Lee, 20, waits to start a routine during a Washington University Lion Dance practice on Jan. 30 at Washington University.

Lion dance is often mistaken for Chinese dragon dance, which usually requires several performers depending on its length. The belief with that dance is that the longer the dragon, the more wealth of luck will be brought to the community.

Forming in the early 2010s, the WashU Lion Dance troupe relies largely on passing down routines from student choreographers who take the helm of the group. In addition, the choreography isn’t standardized by any one school of thought but more by what the team is capable of and inspired by what it sees from other groups.

“Learning and practicing lion dance not only means cultivating my own appreciation for the history and significance of lion dance, but also spreading the tradition so that it can continue long into the future,” said Wenting Yu, the 20-year-old WashU Lion Dance co-choreographer from New Rochelle, New York. “I like to think that I’m connected to all the other lion dancers of the world, past, present, and future, all linked by the thread of knowledge that forms the basis of the dance, yet each forming our own unique version.”

The opportunity to introduce St. Louis’ community to Asian culture is one of the reasons that Paul Lee, 53, founded the International Shaolin Wushu Center in St. Ann.

Born in Vietnam, Lee grew up watching lion dance troupes perform in the streets during Tết Nguyên Đánết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. From its conception, he wanted to include lion dance into his school, even if it was just for fun. But soon community businesses, like Lu Lu Seafood & Dim Sum, started requesting performances during Lunar New year celebrations.

A child covers their ears during a performance by the International Shaolin Wushu Center during the One U City World Tour on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, at Brittany Woods Middle School in University City. Lion dance pivotal tradition often performed during Lunar New Year celebrations.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
A child covers their ears during a performance by the International Shaolin Wushu Center during the One U City World Tour on Sunday at Brittany Woods Middle School in University City.

Lee was reluctant at first because of a limited roster, but he knew how important lion dance was to the tradition.

“People in the community want something to do to represent the new year,” he said.

The martial arts-based group is more traditional in its methods, largely performing at businesses to bless them for the new year, search for and “eat” 莴苣 (lettuce) — a Chinese word that phonetically sounds similar to wealth.

Lee’s group is one of the few wushu, or Chinese martial arts, teams in the St. Louis area, as well as one of the longest serving. He offers free lion dance classes every Sunday with the hope of finding new talent to join the team.

While lion dance can be demanding and requires a strong physical foundation, Lee hopes it passes on a quickly growing population’s vital cultural tradition. Amanda Ha, a 15-year-old performer from Overland, remembers seeing one of Lee’s early performances at Lu Lu Seafood & Dim Sum — she was hooked.

“I wanted to do something that was rooted to my people and make not only my family proud, but also to represent Chinese culture.”

See photos below from St. Louis Public Radio photojournalist Eric Lee.

Paul Lee, 56, shows Amanda Ha, 15, choreography during practice on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, at the International Shaolin Wushu Center in St. Ann. Lion dance is a pivotal part of the Lunar New Year, which will be celebrated on February 10.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Paul Lee, 56, shows Amanda Ha, 15, choreography during practice on Jan. 28 at the International Shaolin Wushu Center in St. Ann. Lion dance is a pivotal part of the Lunar New Year celebration.
Justin Lan, 19, lays on the floor during a Washington University Lion Dance practice on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in St. Louis. Lion dance is a tradition often seen during the Lunar New Year and other celebrations.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Justin Lan, 19, lies on the floor during a Washington University Lion Dance practice on Jan. 30 at Washington University.
Lettuce, a symbol of wealth during the Lunar New Year, is laid on a plastic tarp during “Thursday Nights at the Museum: Celebrate Vietnamese New Year!” on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 10.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Lettuce, a symbol of wealth during the Lunar New Year, is laid on a plastic tarp during “Thursday Nights at the Museum: Celebrate Vietnamese New Year!” on Thursday at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.
Johnny Thai, 17, holding up a Chinese lion head, practices a routine on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, at the International Shaolin Wushu Center in St. Ann. Lion dance is a pivotal part of the Lunar New Year, which will be celebrated on February 10.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Johnny Thai, 17, holds up a Chinese lion head while practicing his routine on Jan. 28 at the International Shaolin Wushu Center in St. Ann.
Members of the International Shaolin Wushu Center stretch before a rehearsal on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, at their studio in St. Ann. Lion dance pivotal tradition often performed during Lunar New Year celebrations.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Members of the International Shaolin Wushu Center stretch before a rehearsal on Sunday at their studio in St. Ann.
Sheridan “Birdie” Lee, 20, performing as “Dijon” the Chinese lion, approaches Wenting Yu, 20, as Washington University Lion Dance practices approaching audience members during a rehearsal on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, on campus in Wydown Skinker. Lion dance is a long celebrated tradition often seen during the Lunar New Year.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Sheridan “Birdie” Lee, 20, performing as “Dijon” the Chinese lion, approaches Wenting Yu, 20, as Washington University Lion Dance practices approaching audience members during a rehearsal Feb. 1 on campus.
Washing University Lion Dance’s “Dijon” and “Sriracha” perform during a practice on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, on campus in Wydown Skinker. Lion dance is a long celebrated tradition often seen during the Lunar New Year.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Washington University Lion Dance’s “Dijon” and “Sriracha” perform during a practice Feb. 1 on campus.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
LEFT: A calendar is marked for Feb. 10, Lunar New Year, during a rehearsal on Sunday at the International Shaolin Wushu Center in St. Ann. RIGHT: Paul Lee, the 56-year-old master at International Shaolin Wushu Center, shows his last name, “Lee,” written in a Chinese character on the back of a lion’s head on Jan. 28 in St. Ann.
Richard Yang 19, and Justin Lan, 19, carry lion heads onto a golf cart as Matthew Du, 20, right, carries a drum back to their rehearsal space after practice Lion dance is a long celebrated tradition often seen during the Lunar New Year.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Richard Yang, 19, and Justin Lan, 19, carry lion heads onto a golf cart as Matthew Du, 20, right, carries a drum back to their rehearsal space after practice on Feb. 1 at Washington University.
“Sriracha” lays on top of luggage in a storage closet in Richard Yang’s, 19, dorm after a Washington University Lion Dance practice on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in St. Louis. Lion dance is a tradition often seen during the Lunar New Year and other celebrations.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
“Sriracha” lies on top of luggage in a storage closet in the dorm room of Richard Yang, 19, on Jan. 30 after a Washington University Lion Dance practice.
`Richard Yang, 19, a member of Washington University Lion Dance, wearing shorts, pulls down his uniform pants to cool during practice on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, on campus in Wydown Skinker. Lion dance is a long celebrated tradition often seen during the Lunar New Year.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
`Richard Yang, 19, a member of Washington University Lion Dance, wearing shorts, pulls down his uniform pants to cool during practice on Feb. 1 at Washington University.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
LEFT: Wenting Yu, 20, applies eyeliner to her co-choreographer, Matthew Du, 20, during a tech rehearsal for Washington University Lion Dance on Thursday at Washington University. RIGHT: A Buddha mask lies on a pillar during “Thursday Nights at the Museum: Celebrate Vietnamese New Year!” on Thursday at the Missouri History Museum.
Wenting Yu, 20, laughs as Matthew Du, 20, attempts to climb a pole on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at Mallinckrodt Center in St. Louis. Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 10.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Wenting Yu, 20, laughs as Matthew Du, 20, attempts to climb a pole on Thursday at the Mallinckrodt Center on Washington University's campus.
Audience members watch a performance by the International Shaolin Wushu Center during “Thursday Nights at the Museum: Celebrate Vietnamese New Year!” on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 10.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Audience members watch a performance by the International Shaolin Wushu Center during “Thursday Nights at the Museum: Celebrate Vietnamese New Year!” on Thursday at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Lunar New Year will be largely be celebrated on Feb. 10.
Kristina Le, president of St. Louis Vietnamese Community, fans Erick Lynn, 34, after a performance by the International Shaolin Wushu Center during “Thursday Nights at the Museum: Celebrate Vietnamese New Year!” on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 10.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Kristina Le, president of St. Louis Vietnamese Community, fans Erick Lynn, 34, after a performance by the International Shaolin Wushu Center during “Thursday Nights at the Museum: Celebrate Vietnamese New Year!” on Thursday at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.
Cymbals lay amongst confetti after a performance by the International Shaolin Wushu Center during “Thursday Nights at the Museum: Celebrate Vietnamese New Year!” on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 10.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Cymbals sit among confetti after a performance by the International Shaolin Wushu Center during “Thursday Nights at the Museum: Celebrate Vietnamese New Year!” on Thursday night at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.
Wenting Yu, 20, and Matthew Du, 20, both co-choreographers of Washington University Lion Dance, pose for a portrait on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, at Mallinckrodt Center in St. Louis. Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 10.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Wenting Yu, 20, and Matthew Du, 20, both co-choreographers of Washington University Lion Dance, pose for a portrait on Thursday at Mallinckrodt Center in St. Louis.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Upper left clockwise: Washington University Lion Dance members Stephane Cui, 20, Sheridan “Birdie” Lee, 20, Justin Lan, 20, William Yin, 20, Cindy Li, 22, Richard Yang, 19, and Amanda Taylor, 21, at Washington University.

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Eric Lee was a photojournalist at St. Louis Public Radio.