"The Flying Lions" — Lion Dancers Perform In The Air Using Water Jet Packs
"Got land lions, sea lions, and now sky lions!"
By Wayne Garreth — 26 Jan 2023, 11:03 AM
Traditions are what make different cultures so special.
But as time progresses, people have a way of sprucing up customs we've been practising for centuries.
A recent clip posted to community Facebook page, 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians, has gone viral after a rather unique performance by lion dancers threw some surprises in the air — literally.
In the one-minute video, a group of people can be seen crowding Darling Harbour in Sydney, Australia. After a brief moment, the camera pans to a visual of lion dancers performing their talented skills — in the air, and over the water.
Manoeuvring with grace and ease, the two dancers are donned in lion costumes, one red and one yellow. While the clip mostly shows them moving in freestyle, the two lions converge at certain points to dance in synchronisation.
Swerving and dipping, the dancers were cheered on by the crowd. Each dancer's water jet pack was connected to a jet ski, with riders who accompanied them to ensure their safety.
Here's a snippet of the full performance:
The post has since garnered over 5,000 likes on Facebook and been shared more than 2,000 times
A slew of Facebook users were amazed at the performance, and praised the dancers for doing a magnificent job in the air.
"This lion dance goes to the next level!" wrote one user.
A few others cracked some jokes about the performance and even gave alternatives ideas for the future.
"Land lions, sea lions, and now there are sky lions!" wrote one user. Another person even suggested that the lion dancers try ice skating next.
However, a few people did not jive to the groove of the performance, saying that it did not reflect what a traditional lion dance should be like for Chinese New Year.
"The song doesn't match, so it doesn't feel like Chinese New Year season," penned one individual.
Nevertheless, one comment by an older Facebook user seemed to encompass the entire spirit of the performance.
"Oldies like me still prefer the traditional dance. But this is still alright to attract the younger generation," he wrote.
