Chinese Lion Dance, Anyone?

nickandjenn33

After seeing so many awesome Chinese lion dance performances this Chinese New Year, FI and I think we want to have a lion dance at our wedding.  It's supposed to bring good luck to the couple.  I think it might make for some pretty awesome pictures too (not to mention has cultural significance for me).  I'm sure my fiance's family has never seen a lion dance, so it will be something new for them, too. 

Anyone else doing this? I'm wondering which companies are the best.  I've already contacted the Chinese Physical Culture Association and the Chinese Lion Dance Association.  The going rate is around $250, although two other associations that were recommended charge $350.  I have questions for each of them (1 lion or two; how long is the performance, is there a travel fee, etc) but I'm at a loss.  Any other questions I should ask to decide who to go with? Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance!

kimmykupcakes

Sounds like a great idea.  Haven't done it or have any info about it though.  Good luck!

Tanq&Tonic

I would also ask how many people travel in the troupe, confirm whether they expect to be fed, etc.  I'd also look up videos of all the troupes on youtube so you get a sense of what to expect - costumes, colors, lion length, etc.

shibbs86

You could ask th ages of the performers if that matters to you... Younger kids mean smaller lions and they might give you a cheaper rate if you allow them to bring their younger students. One lion with experienced, older dancers and one lion of younger students. It's worth asking.

You might also want to check with your venue to make sure they are happy to accomodate the dancers. You could also ask the venue if they've had lion dancers there before and who their staff thinks is the best. You might get some good insights from them too.

jaymers99

We had gee yung do the lion dance for our wedding.  I would definitely check to see how long they will stay and how flexible they are with time.  We were running a little behind schedule and they were threatening to leave because it was the same night as the big chinatown celebration (I don't think they realized this when we booked them).  I felt like they rushed through it...I had a large ballroom with about 250 people, and they didn't make it around the whole room.  I had aunties literally running after the lion to give them lisee.

You can also ask them what their "performance" includes.  Usually it will be dancing in front of the couple and then accepting the couple's offering, giving you a scroll, then going around the room.  I've also seen where they bring their pedestals and do their whole jumping routine (we couldnt' do this because the ballroom ceiling was too low and there just wasn't space for it).

I was also hoping to get a shot of the lions with the couple, but this wasn't communicated ahead of time (my husband was in charge of doing this), and I didn't get my photo op...so I'd definitely recommend putting in any requests ahead of time.

They are usually only there for about half an hour and then leave, so I don't think it's necessary to feed them.

They are pretty common here in Hawaii, so must people knew what to do, but I also included a blurb about the significance in our wedding program.

Oh, and if you have young kids attending, you might want to give their parents a heads-up, as some kids get scared...