Roaring to life: Members of the newly formed SMK Perempuan Pudu female lion dance club posing for a picture. — LEONG WAI YEE/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Pushed to the back of performances because her movements “weren’t strong enough”, Form Four student Joevenne Loo Yi Thong never expected to be at the front of a history-making moment – the launch of Pudu Girls School’s first all-female lion dance troupe.
The initiative, marked by the handover of two lion heads from the Malaysia Luen Seng Physical Culture Association yesterday, is the school’s first attempt at forming a fully female team in a traditionally male-dominated art.
“For females, we’re often seen as weak because of our body size or muscle mass.
“But having this troupe shows that even without any men, we are still capable of doing what we can,” said Joevenne when met at SMK (P) Pudu here yesterday.
The troupe hopes their formation will demonstrate that technique, rhythm and stamina determine a performer’s ability instead of brute strength.
Another team member, Tiang Zi Fun, said joining the troupe is her way of pushing past her own boundaries.
“I’m quite shy but I wanted to challenge myself,” she said.
Both girls admitted that they have yet to tell their parents they signed up for lion dance, though they expect support.
“My family was excited when I joined the drum team. I’ll tell them about lion dance once I’m home,” Joevenne added.
The girls’ interest in the troupe is also driven by a desire to preserve cultural heritage.
Joevenne, who plays the liuqin in the school orchestra, said she has a passion for multiple art forms.
“I love Chinese drums and lion dance, but I’m also fascinated by Malay gamelan and Indian instruments like the dhol.
“I enjoy performing, so the audience can see the greatness of these cultures. Maybe it will ignite something in others too,” she said.
The Pudu Girls orchestra, which includes traditional Chinese classical instruments, has also helped nurture friendships that spill over into the new troupe.
Joevenne and Zi Fun, who have been friends since Form One, practise together in orchestra – Joevenne on the liuqin and Zi Fun on the taigu drum – and now hope to grow the lion dance team together.
“Currently, we don’t have a fixed number of members but we hope more will join us.
“This is really fun and I want to encourage others to try it too,” Joevenne said.
Coach Mars Tan, 32, who will train the students, said the troupe needs at least seven members to begin structured training.
“I hope to get more students involved. Ideally, the girls can enter a competition within a year,” he said.
Association president Datuk Andrew Tan said the contribution of two lion heads is meant to support the school’s efforts to diversify its co-curricular activities.
“We want to help them grow and keep the art alive,” he said.
Despite being in the early stages, the girls said they are excited to begin training and hope to one day perform not only for the school, but at public events as well.
“This is just the beginning. We want to show that girls can roar too,” Joevenne said.
