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BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Stepping on the drum and waving the lion's head, Panamanian boy David Mendes and his lion dance teammates sweated like rain, but they were full of energy and enjoyed it.
In November 2021, the Panamanian government announced that it would designate the Chinese New Year as a national celebration. On February 1 this year, Mendes, the main force of lion dance, threw himself into various local Spring Festival celebrations early.
Mendes and the Lion Dance team perform in panama city on February 1, 2022. Courtesy of respondents
From the age of 14, every Spring Festival, Mendes and his partner would wear a lion's head, put on a lion quilt, and take to the streets to perform a well-choreographed lion dance program. Last year's Spring Festival, because of the epidemic, they could only perform by recording videos, so he hoped that this year's lion dance team could show their style and let the jubilant and festive performances sweep away the haze of the epidemic.
First acquaintance with lion dance
Mendes, 27, was born in the town of La Joleira, about 30 kilometers west of the capital Panama City. This is also where his dream of the lion dance began.
Mendes learned to dance since childhood, and at the age of 5 he began to be exposed to local traditional Dance in Panama. He learned to put on a devil mask and dance to the beat of cheerful drums in order to pray for peace and a good harvest. Solid dance skills laid the foundation for Mendes to learn lion dances.
"When I was eight or nine years old, I saw the lion dance for the first time during the Spring Festival, and as soon as I heard the drums and firecrackers, I rushed to see it, and I found that people were dancing and celebrating the New Year." Mendes recalled, "There was another year when I was in a hurry to see the lion dance, and even ran off my shoes, afraid that I would have to wait another year if I didn't see it." ”
Mendes was good at music and dance, and the Lion Dance team needed young people who loved to dance, so he became a lion dancer at the age of 14.
Mendes (left) poses with his teammates in the lion dance on February 1, 2022. Courtesy of respondents
"The lion dance awakens the energy in my body and stimulates my enthusiasm." Having studied lion dances and drumming for more than 13 years, Mendes is still excited when it comes to this traditional Chinese skill.
Maintain positive energy
Mendestein said that when he first practiced, he felt the strength and energy brought to him by the lion dance, and the perseverance of training changed the trajectory of his life.
"When I was a kid, the place where I lived was full of drugs and crime, learning lion dances kept me away from the wrong way, and I spent my free time practicing lion dances and working. To this day, I still insist on learning and improving myself every day. Mendes said.
On January 26, 2022, Mendes (left) and his teammates rehearsed for the Spring Festival Lion Dance. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Mauricio Valenzuela)
The lion dance not only keeps Mendes physically flexible and strong, but also teaches him the spirit of cooperation, respect and overcoming difficulties, cultivates his leadership skills, and fills his life with positive energy.
"At first, the neighbors did not understand, I am not Chinese, why do I have to make such a big effort to learn the lion dance." But I have my own goals, and I hope to exercise myself through lion dances, learn new knowledge, and break through myself. Although it was difficult to persevere, I overcame those difficulties. Mendes said proudly.
Flourish
At present, Mendes leads a 16-member lion dance team, focusing on teaching lion dance skills to more young Panamanians and spreading traditional Chinese culture.
Joel Liao, 23, a student at the Confucius Institute at the University of Panama, began learning lion dances from Mendes a few years ago. He said: "The lion dance has taught me a lot, taught me to become stronger, dare to compete, and learn to cooperate with my peers. ”
They are all new forces in the development of China-Pakistan friendship. In an article published in December 2021, Chinese Ambassador to Panama Wei Qiang pointed out that people-to-people exchanges between the two sides have been continuously strengthened, and more than 5,000 Panamanians have gone to China to study.
On June 18, 2019, Panamanian students attended the unveiling ceremony of a bilingual school. (Photo by Mauricio Valenzuela)
"Lion dance is a rewarding activity and I recommend it for my kids and siblings to learn." Mendes said he was willing to give more people in the block free teachers to live a fun and meaningful life.
In order to truly understand traditional Chinese culture, Mendes came to the Confucius Institute at the University of Panama to study Chinese. He looked forward to passing on the Chinese culture and knowledge he had learned to his apprentices.
"2022 is the Year of the Tiger in China, and I heard that there will be a tiger dance in China, which is very interesting. Maybe we can also try to add elements of tigers to the lion dance. Mendes said expectantly, "I hope that the epidemic will end as soon as possible, let me go to China to see, I want to learn Chinese, I want to understand the story behind the use of different colors in the lion dance, and I am looking forward to going into China's professional lion dance class to learn." ”
After speaking, he and his team polished drumsticks, polished the brass cymbals, fastened their shoelaces, put on the lion dance lion head, and rushed to the next performance. (Reporters: Chen Yao, Xi Yue, Su Jin, Tian Rui, Luis Alberto; Editors: Li Jiaxu; Editors: Wang Shen, Tang Zhiqiang)
Produced by the International Department of Xinhua News Agency
Produced by Xinhua News Agency's International Communication Integration Platform