Saturday, July 14, 2012

Dance and Metal (This week's Photo Hunt themes)


If only I went to heavy metal music concerts... was my thought when I looked at this week's themes for Sandi's and Gattina's Photo Hunts.  But since I don't, I'm going to have to stretch things a bit -- or call it thinking outside the box! ;) --and am offering up images of a festive parade along the streets of Shau Kei Wan that featured such as meters-long "dragons" "dancing" about as they chase after ornamental balls stuck atop metal poles along with "dancing" lions and unicorns.

From such as the story of Saint George and the dragon, I get the feeling that dragons often have negative associations in the West (though, of course, the European blogger behind Dragon Days might disagree!).  Not so the Chinese dragon.  Consequently, its appearance at festivals (including the Tai Hang Fire Dragon festival/parade) tends to be greeted with joy along with excitement.

They may not be unique to Hong Kong like their fiery Tai Hang equivalent but I do like catching sight of the dragons that dance about during to celebrate the Taoist god Tam Kung's Birthday at Shau Kei Wan each year. For one thing, they truly make for a colorful sight. For another, I appreciate the teamwork as physical effort that goes into successfully staging these dragon dances. In addition, I see them as positive signs that cultural traditions -- a distinct cultural identity -- remain very much alive in "Asia's World City"; and that these simultaneously have distinctively local as well as general Chinese elements.

17 comments:

peppylady (Dora) said...

Just reading a few of my blogs. I'm not doing photo hunt this week heading to a family reunion will be back for next week photo hunt. I think dragon are pretty cool. I hope to use a photo from our trip/family reunion for the next photo hunt...coffee is on.

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, a very cool photo collection and fabulous pairing for this week's dual theme. Looks like a fun and very entertaining parade. I love the bright colors and dancers.

Have a great weekend. btw, I have not attended a metal concert either. :)

magiceye said...

Lovely takes!

YTSL said...

Hi peppylady --

Really appreciate your dropping by even though you don't have a Photo Hunt entry yourself for this week. Enjoy your family reunion and hope to see you back to Photo Hunting ways next week. :)

Hi Trekcapri --

I'm glad you like my take on this week's two themes. And thanks for sharing that you too have never been to a metal concert. ;b

Hi magiceye --

Thanks!

Gattina said...

What a nice combination of both themes ! and how colorful !

Lynn said...

This is all too familiar with me as we also have the dragon dance here in the Philippines for the Chinese New Year. Mostly held on malls and in Fil-Chinese communities.

Lynn said...

I think I pasted a wrong link in my previous comment. :D

Here's my entry for this week, Center for Pop Music Shine Concert

Annie said...

It is interesting that the dragon is perceived so differently in East and West. Love your photos of the happy parade.

Hootin Anni said...

excellent portrayal of both themes.

The end of the DANCE

YTSL said...

Hi Gattina --

Am glad you approve of my combined take on both this week's themes. :)

Hi Lynn --

Interesting to hear about dragon dances in the Philippines. There are many ethnic Chinese in my native Malaysia but I saw far more lion than dragon dances there! ;b

Hi Annie --

It is indeed re the dragon. At the same time, the Welsh seem to like dragons... So it seems there's some variation in "the West" as well as between East and West after all. :)

Hi Hootin Anni --

Woah, I just was visiting your blog. Were you making your blog rounds at the same time as me, I wonder?! ;O

Sai Hijara - Ferraris said...

Now...this I love! ;)
I had a Lion dance in the Center last New Year and I always get a dragon dance at home! :)

YTSL said...

Hi Mariposa --

Wow, you get a dragon to dance especially for you? So cool! :)

Janiss - Eagle Rock Scenes said...

I've always wanted to see one of these festivals.

YTSL said...

Hi Janiss --

Is there a (sizable) Chinatown near where you live? If not, maybe you could consider visiting Hong Kong during festival time! :)

Susan Demeter said...

I love dragons! Excellent choice for the themes :)

Carver said...

Great take on the themes. Interesting and good shots as always. I was at the beach for a long weekend so I didn't do the photohunt this week.

YTSL said...

Hi Sue --

A(nother) Westerner who loves rather than hates dragons -- cool! ;b

Hi Carver --

Thanks much for visiting despite not officially Photo Hunting yourself this past weekend. :)