Ernie Wan is very excited for the Chinese New Year festival. He is dancing the lion dance for the first time

"A boy feels his passion for lion dancing re-igniting after the death of his father, and so he decides to join the local junior team, where his ex-best friend becomes his new rival"--

The first book from the new Joey Yap Cultural Series Despite its popularity as a form of cultural entertainment and competitive sport, the Lion Dance has a mystical aspect which is often not told and it is only known by the most traditional masters of the art. Now, for the first time, Joey Yap’s The Art of Lion Dance will lift the veil and bring to light the metaphysical elements, rich cultural history and symbolism behind the ancient dance.

Lion dance has been in Singapore since the 1930s and is closely connected with the Chinese clans that organised the first troupes, with some of these clans hailing as far back as the 1800s. Chronicling the history of lion dance, therefore, is akin to chronicling the pioneering years of our nation. However, few books document the history of this art form in Singapore.This book is the first of its kind to introduce the history, culture, sport and performance art that is lion and dragon dance in English. It will cover the types of dances and costumes, symbolisms and values embedded in the lion and dragon dance communities. It will tell the stories of Singaporean lion and dragon dance pioneers which have never before appeared in any English publications. It will also feature interviews with current leaders in the community and share our hopes for the future of the art form in Singapore.

"First published in the United Kingdom in 2015 by Lantana Publishing Ltd."--Copyright page.

Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di are three siblings who love doing things together. Today is extra-special because they are going to see a lion dance. Doong doong chang went the lion dance band. Doong doong chang went the lion dance gong. Doong doong chang! But where is the lion? Is he still at the zoo? Or stuck backstage? When the siblings open the curtain to find the lion, they are surprised to see a lion costume. They decide to put on the costume and start performing for everyone. And no one is more surprised than their parents to see that the lion dancers were none other than Sam, Sebbie, and Di-Di-Di.

Beginning in the late 19th century, Chinese immigrants arrived in New York City with hopes of more opportunity for better lives. Once confined to a few streets in downtown Manhattan, the Chinese people gradually moved throughout the city. Their rich cultural traditions contribute to New York's vibrant multicultural community. New York City's Chinese Community captures the people, culture, history, businesses, events, and neighborhoods that have defined this community from the early days to more recent times. Historic photographs highlight details from the life and experiences of the Chinese population in New York, including their deep-rooted heritage and their new American ways of life.

Set during the Tang Empire, this Chinese historical romance “is politically and culturally rich . . . atypical, sensual and filled with honor and wit” (Publishers Weekly). The thief who stole his heart Sword dancer Li Feng is used to living life on the edge of the law—a woman alone in the dangerous world of the Tang Dynasty has only her whirlwind reflexes to trust. She will discover the truth about her past, even if that means outwitting the most feared thief-catcher of them all. . . . Relentless, handsome and determined, Han sees life—and love—as black and white. Until he finally captures the spirited, courageous Li Feng, who makes him question everything he thought he knew about right and wrong. Soon he’s faced with an impossible choice: betray the elusive sword dancer he is learning to love, or trust his long-disregarded heart and follow her to dangerous, tempting rebellion. . . . “The graceful, almost poetic quality of Lin’s writing perfectly complements the Tang Dynasty setting of her latest expertly crafted historical romance, and the book’s potent combination of compelling characters and exotic historical setting make The Sword Dancer an auto-buy for libraries in search of something different for their romance collections.” —Booklist

From Oklahoma! and West Side Story, to Spring Awakening and Hamilton, dance remains one of the most important and key factors in musical theatre. Through the integration of song and dance in the 'dream ballets' of choreographers like Agnes De Mille; the triple threat performances of Jerome Robbins' dancers; the signature style creation by choreographers like Bob Fosse with dancers like Gwen Verdon; and the contemporary, identity-driven work of choreographers like Camille A. Brown, the history of the body in movement is one that begs study and appreciation. Dance in Musical Theatre offers guidelines in how to read this movement by analyzing it in terms of composition and movement vocabulary whilst simultaneously situating it both historically and critically. This collection provides the tools, terms, history, and movement theory for reading, interpreting, and centralizing a discussion of dance in musical theatre, importantly, with added emphasis on women and artists of color. Bringing together musical theatre and dance scholars, choreographers and practitioners, this edited collection highlights musical theatre case studies that employ dance in a dramaturgically essential manner, tracking the emergence of the dancer as a key figure in the genre, and connecting the contributions to past and present choreographers. This collection foregrounds the work of the ensemble, incorporating firsthand and autoethnographic accounts that intersect with historical and cultural contexts. Through a selection of essays, this volume conceptualizes the function of dance in musical: how it functions diegetically as a part of the story or non-diegetically as an amplification of emotion, as well as how the dancing body works to reveal character psychology by expressing an unspoken aspect of the libretto, embodying emotions or ideas through metaphor or abstraction. Dance in Musical Theatre makes dance language accessible for instructors, students, and musical theatre enthusiasts, providing the tools to critically engage with the work of important choreographers and dancers from the beginning of the 20th century to today.