Did you know Lunar New Year is just three weeks away? (I can practically hear my coworkers shout, “We know! We can’t think of anything else!”) The biggest festival of the year is so close, I can already hear the drumbeats of the lion dance!

Speaking of which, let’s dive into two must-see performances during our iconic Lunar New Year celebration: the Lion Dance (“Wu-Shi”舞獅) and Dragon Dance (“Wu-Loong” 舞龍). Both are traditional performances that bring good luck, prosperity, and ward off evil spirits. And yes, they always make me feel like an excited 8-year-old! You can always catch me at the side of the stage, cheering for the dancers and waving my arms like a little kid.)

But wait, are lion and dragon dances different? Yes! Let’s break it down:

The Lion Dance

The lion dance is performed by two people—one controlling the 30-40 lb. lion head (with its blinking eyes and movable mouth), and the other as the rear (and controlling the tail and bending down for the duration of the performance). Lions mimic curiosity, ferocity, and joy, all to the beat of lively drums, cymbals, and gongs. A favorite moment is the “cai qing” (採青), or “plucking the greens,” where the lion “eats” a head of lettuce, symbolizing prosperity. Pro tip: Watch the drummer—they control the pace of the whole performance with different sound cues! The lion follows their beats for cues to speed up, slow down, or finish.

The Dragon Dance

The dragon dance, on the other hand, requires a whole team! The dragon costume is over 30 feet long, with each performer holding a part on poles. Together, they move in sync, making the dragon ripple and soar through the air. The dragon’s head often chases a pearl, symbolizing the pursuit of wisdom. At Lan Su, our Dragon Dance lights up the night during Lantern Viewing Evenings.

How to tell them apart?

Easy! If there are only two dancers (four legs), it’s a lion. If you can see the dancers’ faces, that’s a dragon!

Now that you’re a lion and dragon dance expert, mark your calendar! We kick off Lunar New Year with lion dances on the first day on Wednesday Jan. 29 at 10 AM and 3 PM, with more performances every weekend in the afternoon. For the magical Dragon Dance, join us for Dragon + Lantern Viewing Evenings! Special shoutout to the amazing performers from Portland Lee’s Association Dragon and Lion Dance Team and the International Lion Dance Team—they do incredible work keeping these traditions alive!

Let’s welcome the Year of the Snake the most authentic way—at Lan Su! See you there!