The traditional lion dance performance will typically make its presence felt during Chinese New Year celebrations.

During this festive period, shops and businesses will hire a lion dance troupe to perform at their premises to bring them good luck for the year ahead.

Multi-cultural

But here in Singapore, lion dance troupes have been diversifying the talent pool.

The Teng Yang lion dance troupe, for example, includes at least two Indian members. They play instruments and perform alongside their Chinese partners.

On Feb. 20, a pair of Indian performers were spotted at Paragon shopping mall in Orchard Road, going from shop to shop to perform in return for hong baos.

Kelvin Ng, a Teng Yang representative, said:

"Lion dance doesn't mean that only Chinese can do it. Anyone can do it."

He confirmed that the Indian performers have been part of the team for five years.

They didn't have any prior experience before signing up, but trained together with their fellow lion dancers.

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The lion dance troupes we're used to seeing in Singapore are known as the Chinese Southern Lion dance, which originates from Guangdong.

You can watch a video of their performance below, but be warned, it's as loud as the best lion dances can be.

[video width="848" height="480" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2018/02/video-1519112377.mp4"][/video]

Starting young

In February 2016, it was reported that multi-racial lion dance troupes are starting out young.

One multi-racial volunteer lion dance troupe with 13- and 14-year-olds even took part in Chinese New Year celebrations in Bukit Merah.

The volunteer lion dance troupe is largely made up of non-Chinese teenagers from the People's Association Teens Network Club @ Bukit Merah.

Top image by Sulaiman Daud