E-magazine: Martial arts girls attached to the art of lion and dragon dance

Tran Thao Vy (born 2004, in Quy Nhon ward) is one of the faces who have been associated with Ky Hoan Club for a long time. Having been involved with lion dance since she was 15 years old, Vy started to get acquainted with lion dance by practicing drums and cymbals, then was encouraged by her older brothers and sisters to try her hand at lion dance and lion dance.

According to Vy, lion dance not only requires physical strength and endurance but also requires charisma to convey liveliness to the audience. Thanks to 5-6 years of practicing traditional martial arts, she quickly adapted, from basic movements to difficult acts such as tree climbing, table dancing, then progressing to more skillful techniques with Mai Hoa Thung.

“Every time I stand under the lion head, it is a challenge for me. I feel very proud to learn martial arts while dancing with the lion. I just hope that this playground will become bigger and bigger so that more young people can join hands to preserve and spread the art of lion dancing,” Vy shared.

If Vy has a strong and tough appearance, Vo Thi Nhu Quynh (born 2007, in Quy Nhon Dong ward) exudes innocence. As a child, Quynh often danced lion dances with her friends in the neighborhood every Mid-Autumn Festival. Growing up, that joy became the motivation for her to join the Ky Hoan Club.

For more than a year, Quynh has undergone many rigorous exercises, from physical training, posture, getting used to the heavy lion head to practicing every small detail such as winking, bowing or shaking the lion head.

Nhu Quynh (left) and Vy (right) practice with the male athletes ahead.

“The small movements look simple, but to do them naturally and with soul, it took me more than a year to master. Every time I stand under the lion head, I feel like I am fully immersed in every drum beat and every step of the lion. I try to perform well so that the audience can feel the joy that the Club puts into this art form,” Quynh expressed.

Sharing the same passion, Dang My Duyen (born 2007, in Quy Nhon Nam ward) is the next face of the club. Having joined the club for nearly 2 years, Duyen has been playing the drums and patiently practicing each basic lion dance move.

Dang My Duyen (middle) with her brothers and sisters in the club.

“I am practicing the lion head swing and the audience greeting. Every day I try my best to be in the main lineup soon. For me, each practice session is not only about learning new moves but also about getting closer to my dream of performing with my seniors,” Duyen said.

According to Mr. Ho Lam Thuan - Deputy Head of Ky Hoan Club, continuing the tradition of previous generations, the Club not only focuses on recruiting male members but also cares about developing female athletes. With the pride of being daughters of the martial arts land, the girls always show determination and perseverance to conquer difficult techniques, on par with men in the lion dance.

He added: “The presence of female athletes brings new colors and excitement to the audience. Currently, they can take on all positions, from drum team, lion dance, dragon dance to difficult performances such as "cao khong pick loc" - lion climbing tree. In particular, the female members also practice the Mai hoa thung performance - a challenge that requires rhythmic coordination and high technique - to be ready for the upcoming performance.”