Bunjil Place was lit up on Saturday night as crowds gathered for the Year of the Horse celebration featuring dragon and lion dances alongside live music.
Hung Hing Lion Dance Association delivered two high-energy performances on the night of Saturday 21 February, opening with a green dragon dance before returning later in the evening with a red-and-white lion high-pole routine and roaming interactions through the crowd.
Nearly 400 people attended the night.
Performer Matt Nguyen said both shows drew strong turnout, with families lining up for photos and children eager to touch the dragon and lion.
“Anytime you looked at the crowd, it was super busy,” he said.
“There were heaps of families and lots of young kids wanting to touch the dragon and the lions, and parents wanting to get involved, taking photos.
“It was very exciting because it was very busy. And there were lots of loud cheers for us.
“You could see that there was lots of anticipation for us from the crowd.”
The performance marked the group’s first appearance at Bunjil Place, a special moment for the team, which has been based in the City of Casey for the last four years.
Matt, who has been training with the association for about 10 years, said performers practise three times a week. He said lion dancing is both physically demanding and mentally challenging.
“It’s very athletic and tiring, but you also learn skills like communication and teamwork,” he said.
The association is volunteer-run, with members taking time off work during the Lunar New Year period to perform across Melbourne, clocking more than 100 shows in just two weeks.
Matt said interest in lion dancing has grown significantly, with the group now training about 30 children alongside adult performers.
“When we first started, the team was only adults, and it was very uncommon in the industry to see kids,” he said.
“I feel like the interest in lion dance is really heavy at the moment.”
The night also featured live music from Open Space: Elysian Blues Yeo, adding a soulful soundtrack to the Lunar New Year festivities as audiences relaxed on the plaza between performances.
The event was part of Open Space at Bunjil Place, a program showcasing local performers and creatives through free outdoor music and cultural experiences.
The next offering will be on the night of Saturday 28 February (6pm to 9pm), where the Open Space series continues with a free, high-energy night of synth-pop and electronic sounds as Australian ‘80s music legends Pseudo Echo headline the Bunjil Plaza, supported by electro-pop artist Lupa J and the Alkira Synth Collective.
To check the program, visit: bunjilplace.com.au/news/open-space-at-bunjil-place
