“Dong dong dong clang! Dong dong dong clang!” Such deafening sounds from gongs and drums are common not only during Chinese New Year celebrations, but also in lion dances performed in other festivals throughout the year. While many traditional Chinese customs have lost their appeal in today’s modernized society, lion dancing remains a favorite art form in China, especially on auspicious occasions.
　　This popularity stems from the exciting movements and sophisticated techniques of the performers. Their acrobatic feats never fail to draw crowds of curious onlookers and knowledgeable admirers. Young performers need about two years of training to learn the ins and outs of lion dancing before they are ready to display their talents for an audience. A lion dancer must coordinate/synchronize his movements with those of his partners. Inside the gorgeous, brightly-colored costumes, one person manipulates the lion’s head while another controls the tail. Such teamwork requires tacit coordination among the partners (calls for an almost intuitive sense of what one’s partner will do next).