Tradition at your fingertips

Learn the basics behind centuries of tradition

The lion dance is a performance that brings good fortune and new beginnings. Colourful and eye-catching, the lion is supported by drums that bring the dance to life. This course will guide you in drumming, covering the blend of musicality, history, and athleticism. Our focus on the practical skills of lion dance drumming will get you hands-on as fast as possible. By the end of the course, you will be able to play an entire lion dance routine and bring your own creative touches to this tradition.

What you'll learn

Through six chapters, you will:

  • Learn the foundational rhythms of lion dance

  • Explore the cultural meaning behind lion dance

  • Come up with your own twists on the rhythms

  • Build your performance skills and learn an entire routine

What We'll Cover

  • 1

    Drumming 101: Getting Set Up

  • 2

    Basic Rhythm #1: Lion Walking

    • Brief Music Theory and Reading Music

    • Lion Walking: Our First Basic Rhythm

    • Chaining Walking Rhythms
  • 3

    Basic Rhythm #2: High Lion

    • High Lion: High Tempo

    • Chaining High Lion
  • 4

    Basic Rhythm #3: Seven Star

    • Seven Star: Highlighting the Action

    • Chaining Seven Star
  • 5

    Learning a Full Lion Dance Routine

    • Intro to Sections: Stages of a Lion Dance

    • Section #1: Waking up

    • Section #2: Exploring and Finding the Lettuce

    • Section #3: Celebrating and Finishing
  • 6

    Playing the Entire Routine

    • Linking the Three Sections

    • Passing the Camera to You: It's Your Turn

Meet your instructor

Watch the first lesson free and

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