MPs Charlene Chen & Valerie Lee surprise residents with lion dance performance

The Lunar New Year celebrations at Tampines East and Pasir Ris each had a surprise guest that brought a roaring good time to the residents.

Members of Parliament (MPs) Charlene Chen and Valerie Lee led the lion dance performances as the lion head, and only revealed themselves at the end, to loud cheers and applause from the audience.

A challenge

The MPs shared about the experience on their respective social media accounts on Feb. 17.

Chen, an MP for Tampines GRC, performed at the Tampines East event to surprise residents and challenge herself.

In the 2025 Lunar New Year celebrations, she dressed up as Da Tou Wa Wa (Big Head Doll), a character that features in the lion dance performance.

Wanting to take on something tougher, Chen decided to do a lion dance routine, and practised with a professional troupe.

"It wasn't easy," she recalled. "The lion head is quite heavy, and the movements require coordination and timing. But I gave it my all, even though there's still lots of room for improvement."

Lee also worked hard at learning from a troupe, starting off "uncoordinated" with her lion tail partner two weeks before the big day.

An MP for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, she danced at an event at Pasir Ris Street 11 with a group of young performers.

Commenters praised both MPs for their efforts, and for spreading joy and energy with their performance.

Preserving traditions

Through the experience, both Chen and Lee shared that they have gained greater appreciation for the art of lion dance.

"I now have mad respect for" lion dance troupes, Lee wrote.

Chen thanked the Chee Leng Tuan Athletics Association for patiently teaching her the routine, and commended the dedication of her 18-year-old lion tail partner.

"This passionate group of young people take pride in their craft," she said. "Seeing young people express themselves through culture and heritage is inspiring. I hope we continue to preserve our traditions and that more youths will carry the legacy forward."

She added that she hoped to speak more about this topic in her role as a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for youth, culture, and sports.

Top images from Charlene Chen and Valerie Lee's Facebook