Lunar New Year Store Blessing: Traditional Chinese Lion Dance by Mia (Head) and James (Tail)

Here is Mia in the head of the lion, performing a traditional dance to bless a local Chinese grocery store at the onset of the Lunar New Year. The lion dance follows strict conventions (bows on entering and exiting the store, accepting the offering of the greens, etc.) but within those conventions there is a great deal of improvisation, even as the lion must follow directions throughout that are dictated by the different rhythms of the drum.