MUHAMAD Eskandar Zolkarnain, 19, from Petaling Jaya, picked up lion dancing when he was 9.
The colourful performance and energy put into the act by lion dancers made him interested to learn the dance.
“After watching a lion dance performance, I was left wanting for more. I told my parents I wanted to join a lion dance troupe. They obliged and my mother asked her friends if there was any lion dance association that I could join.”
Eskander is now a member of the Khuan Loke Dragon and Lion Dance Association.
“What excites me most is that the dance requires us to do acrobatic stunts and stand on poles (jong).
“People are often wowed by the acrobatic manoeuvres of a lion dance performance, which takes about 30 minutes. Lion dance performances can unite Malaysians.”
When met after a stellar performance at Mid Valley Megamall Kuala Lumpur recently, Eskandar — clad in troupe uniform — explains that being a lion dancer has taught him to be more disciplined.
“It taught me the values of being a Malaysian. Despite our different cultural and religious backgrounds, we work as a team, understand and help each other,” he says, adding that his sifu (teacher) even reminds the Muslim dancers to take time off to perform solat during training.
Eskander’s colleague, Mohamad Daniel Haikal Hamzah, 18, sees lion dancing as a sport, which demands agility and strength to perform the routines.
“I am a sporty person. The lion dance is physically taxing, a challenge which suits me. To be able to jump from one jong to another is no easy feat. One has to be physically fit to be able to jump more than three metres high.”
He says teamwork matters too, as he has to support his team members during the performance.
Daniel says training is held three times a week, but when it gets closer to Chinese New Year, it is held on a daily basis.
“I am proud to say that the Khuan Loke Dragon and Lion Dance Association has won six world championships and a few national titles.”
The troupe’s team manager, Eric Fong, says the association has always opened its doors to students, regardless of race and religion, as long as they are passionate and willing to learn.
“Malays and Indians, aged between 19 and 25, make up 30 per cent of the troupe.
“They are good students.
They have been practising hard, especially for tournaments and events.
“In Malaysia, the lion dance is performed for all races, by all races. It reflects ties that binds all Malaysians.”