Malaysia - AS FAR as lion dance troupes go, the 78-year-old Luen Seng Chinese Physical Culture Associations‘s is probably one of the most prominent troupes in the country‘s history. Besides being one of the first physical culture associations teaching martial arts and lion dancing to be formed here, Luen Seng was also the first to be officially recognised and registered as a legitimate society in Malaya in 1954.
The association‘s lion dance troupes paraded in front of Queen Elizabeth II during her visits to pre-independence Malaya in 1953; they even have the distinction of having a drum with the association‘s name on it on permanent display in Museum Negara.
However, one of the proudest milestones in the history of the association was being involved in the first-ever Merdeka Day parade on Aug 31, 1957, along with several lion dance troupes from other associations.
According to the association‘s long-time member and martial arts instructor Yip Fook Choy, that National Day parade was the first time many lion dance troupes in the country performed together.
“We only found out one week before the 31st that we would be in the parade, but since we had been training regularly, we didn‘t need to do any special rehearsals,” recalled Yip.
Even though most of the troupe members were barely in their teens back then, Yip remembers the elation they felt when they learnt about the nation‘s independence.
“We were about 13 or 14 years old, but we knew that the independence of our country was a very big thing,” said Yip, who was only 15 at the time.
With all the three major Malaysian races participating in the parade together, it was an occasion to remember indeed. However, while the parade itself was well organised, the area where they gathered had a chaotic but merry mass of people. “Everyone there was excited and very spirited – we were all happy to be part of the parade.”
Luen Seng‘s troupe was led by the lion dancers, with the rest following behind waving flags. “We had a si fu (master) in charge of each lion, and a number of students under each si fu. It was up to the masters to arrange who would do what, and what we would be holding. When we got there, the organisers told us where to stand and we waited our turn,” recalled Yip.
“I was part of the lion dancers as well, taking turns to be in the lion suit. Back then I was only qualified to be the tail of the lion. It was not easy, and quite tiring – after two minutes we would have to change dancers,” he said, adding that the lion dance costumes were a lot heavier and more elaborate back then, while the tails were longer too.
The troupe members began their march in front of the old railway station, and then proceeded up to the Sultan Abdul Samad building where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman were witnessing the parade on a stage. They ended the march at Tasik Perdana.
According to Yip, the parade involved a lot more waiting than actual actions. “We started waiting at 6am, and the parade only started at 9.30am. As we passed the stage we waved, took a bow, and then went on our way. The parade was over very quickly, but the waiting was very long!”
The parade was not the only event that Luen Seng had a part in that day. According to the association record, one of Luen Seng‘s si fu (masters) had the honour of climbing up the flagpole and replacing the British flag with the Malayan one during the handing-over ceremony.
Despite its illustrious history, it is a shame that Luen Seng‘s membership had dwindled in recent years.
“We used to have around 100 people in our classes in the old days. Today, we have only about 50 people learning lion dance (training for competitions and performances), and martial arts here,” said Yip, who teaches the Wing Chun martial arts on Tuesdays and Fridays at the association‘s headquarters in Jalan Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur.
For now, members would be happy if they got the chance to relive the festivities and multi-cultural atmosphere they enjoyed back on the very first day of the nation‘s independence.
“Although we have not participated in the parades for some time now, we hope that one day we will be able to join the Merdeka Day parade again. Given the chance, we will be very happy to participate,” said Yip.
Source: www.thestar.com.my (29 Agustus 2007)
