Colourful Lion Dance to Celebrate Chinese New Year in Queenstown for First Time

To celebrate the spirit of the 2016 Lunar New Year, Aotea Gifts and Real Journeys will fly an acclaimed Lion Dance team south to perform four spectacular lion dances in Earnslaw Park on Tuesday 9th February (at 10.15am, 11.15am, 1.15pm and 2.15pm). Each performance is half an hour long.

Festive, colourful and loud, the lion dance symbolises celebration, new beginnings and is believed to bring good luck and prosperity. Lunar New Year is one of the largest and most important festivals in Asian culture. It typically runs for 15 days, concluding on a full moon. Family and friends gather to eat, drink and engage in traditional activities.

“We wanted to do something that would show our Chinese visitors how much we value their custom and embrace their culture. But also we wanted to do something our locals would enjoy for free too. This seemed like a great cultural and colourful contribution to Queenstown’s waterfront,” says Richard Lauder, Real Journeys Chief Executive.

“This is the ‘Year of the Monkey’, which is predicted to be lively, prosperous and progressive. It’s a good time to be creative and take risks. As a multi-cultural hub of travellers, adventurers, expats and locals, Queenstown seems a very fitting place to celebrate. So join us in the festivities, dress up and have a chance to win prizes on the day,” says Richard Hanson, Aotea Gifts Director.

The “E-PACS Dragon and Lion Dance” team is a professional Chinese traditional dance troupe based in Auckland. The team was established in 2001 and trains weekly with a mission to promote Chinese culture throughout New Zealand. Five musicians and four lion dancers make up the troupe that will travel to Queenstown.

ENDS

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