CMS Lion Dance Team (Chinese Masonic Society)

About

The Chinese Masonic Society Lion Dance Team is Melbourne's oldest and most historically significant lion dance troupe, tracing its roots to the Gold Rush era of the 1850s when the Chinese Masonic Society was founded to support Chinese immigrants. The lion dance team first performed in 1946 to celebrate the end of WWII, and has been active in Melbourne's Chinatown ever since. Their unique Fut San style, developed from 1982 under Sifu Deng Chi Tang, blends Jow Gar and Hung Kuen kung fu into a distinctive performance tradition. The team participates annually in the Bendigo Easter Fair — the world's largest dragon and lion arts showcase — and is one of the few Melbourne teams able to organise firecracker performances.

Performance Details