Inheritage
The 23-member troupe went through a training programme specially-designed for seniors, including those with mobility challenges, by lion dance masters at a 184-year-old Chinese clan. It made use of traditional props modified for seniors by local industrial designers, such as lion heads with re-wired pulleys and re-positioned grip handles.
The troupe is a pilot programme by the Lien Foundation to experiment with new ways to strengthen the health and well-being of an ageing population using untapped assets from the cultural heritage sector. Mr Lee Poh Wah, CEO, Lien Foundation, said: “Lion dance is synonymous with vitality, community, celebration and life – the very things we don’t associate with seniors. Seeing them perform such a dance thus helps us break down walls. The lion can be a trojan horse to fight ageism.”
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Credits: The Straits Times.
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