On May 13th, 2023, the first Haizhu Cup Lion Dance and Dragon Dance Competition for Teenagers was held at the Xiaohaiyan Theater (Little Petrel) of Haizhu District Teenager's Activity Center. Fifteen lion dance teams from various primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and dragon lion schools in Haizhu District participated in the competition. The competition was divided into three groups: high school, elementary school, and kindergarten, with two traditional lion dance categories - solo and group performances. The youngest athlete was only four years old.

During the competition, each participating team performed their own original routines, all of which were vivid and lifelike. The "lions" tumbled, jumped, and scratched their legs, displaying the spirit and charm of contemporary teenagers and the beauty of the lion dance.

This was the first lion dance and dragon dance competition for teenagers organized by the Education Bureau of Haizhu District. In recent years, Haizhu District has made greater efforts to promote lion dance culture in schools. Some primary and secondary schools, as well as kindergartens, have even  stablished their own characteristic lion dance teams, increasing the number of lion dance teams in Haizhu.

According to the relevant person in charge, as a traditional Chinese project, dragon and lion dances are symbols of Chinese spiritual culture and national sentiment. Having a history of more than a thousand years, Guangdong lion dance is one of the first national intangible cultural heritages. It integrates elements such as martial arts, dance, music, reflecting Guangdong traditional folk culture. Based on the intangible cultural heritage of the dragon lion art, telling the story of Haizhu is conducive to consolidating and promoting the positive energy of sports and cultural development.

"Dragonand lion dances are traditional sports projects in China, and they are also very important cultural resources. Dragons represent auspiciousness and joy, and the dynamic and upward attitude towards life. " Pan Xiaoming, Director of the Haizhu District Teenager's Activity Center, expressed her hope that children could become more interested in traditional sports projects, strengthen their physical fitness, and love and inherit excellent traditional Chinese culture.

视频+图集丨“雄狮少年”展英姿，龙腾狮跃耀海珠

5月13日，2023年海珠区首届“海珠杯 雄狮少年”青少年醒狮、舞龙表演赛在海珠区少年宫小海燕剧院拉开帷幕，来自海珠区辖内各中小学校、幼儿园、龙狮馆的15支龙狮代表队伍参赛。比赛设有中学组、小学组、幼儿组3个组别，进行传统单狮、传统群狮两个竞赛项目的角逐。参赛运动员最小年龄仅4岁。

比赛中，各参赛队伍带来了“金桥戏水”“二板桥头过万军”“狮子出洞”“灵狮耀江南”等自编套路的表演，“狮子”无论翻腾跳跃，搔痒擦腿，均栩栩如生，舞动得惟妙惟肖……充分展示当代青少年的精神风采和龙狮运动的精彩魅力。

这是海珠区教育局首次举办青少年醒狮、舞龙比赛。据了解，近年来，海珠区逐步加强醒狮文化在校园的普及推广，部分中小学以及幼儿园都组建了有本学校特色的醒狮队，区醒狮队伍逐渐壮大。

相关负责人表示，龙狮运动作为中华民族传统项目，是中华民族精神文化以及民族情感的象征。广东醒狮已有一千多年的历史，是第一批国家级非物质文化遗产，它融武术、舞蹈、音乐等于一体，是地道的广东传统民俗文化。依托龙狮艺术非物质文化遗产，讲好海珠故事，有利于凝聚推动体育文化发展的正能量。

“舞龙舞狮是我国传统体育项目，也是非常重要的文化资源，龙代表着吉祥、喜庆，龙腾虎跃，积极向上的生活态度。”海珠区少年宫主任潘筱茗表示，她希望孩子们能增加对传统运动项目的兴趣，强身健体的同时更加热爱和传承中华优秀传统文化。

文丨羊城晚报全媒体记者 李春炜
图丨羊城晚报全媒体记者 宋金峪
视频丨羊城晚报全媒体记者 王子桐
视频加工丨黎杰文
翻译丨刘佳慧
责编丨古司祺