At first, Coco took up lion dancing solely for the sake of looking stylish. However, she soon realized that achieving that level of style and grace was no easy feat. The training regimen was physically demanding, requiring long hours of grueling practice and challenging her limited athletic abilities. Given her petite stature and lack of strength, Coco found herself struggling with even the most basic kung fu movements, having to put in far more effort than her peers.
Despite these early setbacks, Coco persisted in her lion dancing pursuits for over a decade. What drove her to keep going in the face of such difficulty?
Coco explains that it was the tight knit community she discovered within the lion dance troupe. When she first joined, she was welcomed into a close-knit group of “brothers and sisters” who supported and motivated one another. Whether someone picked up the skills quickly or required years of dedicated practice, the team’s focus remained on collective improvement and caring for one another.
This positive, collaborative atmosphere allowed Coco to grow alongside her teammates, fueling her determination to keep pushing forward. Even when progress felt painfully slow, the encouragement and camaraderie of the group gave her the strength to persevere. After 16 years of unwavering commitment, Coco’s hard work paid off as she earned a spot in the prestigious Kwok Kung Fu Golden Dragon Lion Dance Troupe.
The Lion Dance is a part of me
Lion dancing has been a constant in Coco’s life, accompanying her from her school days through university and into her professional career. She would practice once a week, sometimes even several times, rain or shine. “If you asked me to describe what the lion dance means to me, I honestly couldn’t put it into words,” she shared. “It’s become such an integral part of who I am and my everyday life.”
Coco likened the lion dance troupe to a form of therapy. “Even if I’m feeling under the weather, like with a fever, doing a lion dance practice session makes me sweat it out, and afterward I feel so much better.” While some may find their hobby classes burdensome, for Coco, no matter how grueling, she derives immense enjoyment and a sense of healing from the lion dance.
When one word stand dragon and lion spirit
When asked about the “lion spirit” as Coco sees it, she distilled it into a word: “perseverance.” She explained, “Our long-term practice takes place in all sorts of makeshift venues – parking lots, rooftops, underpasses. Even now, we only get about three and a half hours a week in this hall to practice. But lion dancing requires huge amounts of space, and we sweat it out no matter the weather. This is a sport that demands unwavering endurance.”
Coco hopes to see the development of lion dancing in Hong Kong further supported, with more dedicated practice facilities and funding for athletes. She also wishes to see a greater diversity of competition opportunities, as well as the chance to invite lion dancers from around the world to come and exchange experiences, allowing this niche sport to grow and thrive.
Driving Support for the Lion Dance Girls
The “Kwok’s Girls” page shines a spotlight on the daily training of the female members of the Kwok’s Kung Fu Golden Dragon Lion Dance Troupe. Coco is a key contributor responsible for managing this platform.
Since the creation of “Kwok’s Girls”, the hard work and efforts of these lion dance girls have gained significantly more exposure. They’ve become sought-after interview subjects for many media outlets, serving as inspiring role models for young girls.
Has this increased attention been a source of pressure or motivation for the team?
Coco sees it as more of a motivating force. “Our main goal with the page is to share our journey and all the hard work we’ve put in. Now, people can see the fruits of our labor, whether watching our live performances or videos on YouTube. Previously, not many outsiders knew about the process behind it all. I actually prefer for people to witness our journey, as I feel the process is the most interesting and valuable part.”