Two Vietnamese troupes joined the 9th International Lion Dance Competition which is part of Lunar New Year celebration in Chinatown, Singapore from January 23-24.

Tinh Anh Duong troup from Ho Chi Minh City were among about a dozen other lion dance teams vying for grand prize at the competition.

Tinh Anh Duong and Phuoc Duyen Duong troupes from Ho Chi Minh City were among about a dozen other lion dance teams from Asia vying for the grand prize at the competition.

It was the second year Phuoc Duyen Duong troupe attended the contest, Luong Duy Phu, a member of the troupe, said, adding that the troupe hoped to learn about skills and expertise from its peers in the region to prepare for the upcoming contests.

A team from China won Grand Prize, while Taiwan came second, followed by Singapore. Vietnam’s Tinh Anh Duong ranked fifth at this year’s competition.

Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Asia in which performers mimic a lion’s movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is usually performed during the Lunar New Year and Asian cultural, religious festivals.

It is now an internationally recognised sport.

VNA