Experience the Unique Charm of the Lion Dance / 體驗弄獅文化的獨特魅力 高雄戲獅甲藝術節
Experience the Unique Charm of the Lion Dance
Kaohsiung's Lion Dance Festival
◎Text by Yi-Chun Lin
◎Photos by Chung-Hui Pao
Shihjia Village is well known for its superb lion dances and is actually nicknamed "Hsi Shihjia" (lion dance village) as is said to be the place the dance originated. Since then the lion dance has become a dateless and colorful part of its local culture.
The villages local religious center, Guangji Temple, also plays a very important role in the lion dance culture. The temple is more than 250-year old and is deemed have had the first lion dances performed in its courtyard. Guangji Temple has been the religious center for the local residents since it was built and the early days, the lion dance was performed its square as a form of entertainment. Therefore, whenever a festive event took place, the locals would gather to do the lion dance and parade the streets in a celebratory fashion.
In order for people to gain a deeper appreciation for the lion dance, it has been passed down from generation to generation. This year the lion dance will be taken to other cities as to participate in important cultural exchanges. Kaohsiung City Government's Bureau of Cultural Affairs also hosts an annual "Lion Dance Festival". It has been running for three year and so far it has been a very successful event. During the Mayor's speech at the "High Stake Lion King Championship", Mayor Chu Chen voiced her praise and admiration for the lion dance competitors. She went on to iterate the importance of holding such traditional arts festival in Kaohsiung. This festival and the lion dance are deeply symbolic and cherished by the local people.
This year, the Bureau of Cultural Affairs invited lion dance groups from all over Taiwan to come and participate in two special lion dance competitions. These competitions included "The Lion King Championship" and "The Creative Lion Dance". The lion dance is an intricate dance with performers leaping off tall pillars, performing breathe-taking moves and skillfully projecting the lion's various emotions. Emotions include anger, joy, calmness, startled and in credulousness. All the participants performed well in hopes of winning the championship. This year, "The Lion Dance Festival" and the "High Stake Lion King Championship", were held at Shihjia Junior High School on October 19th, 2008. Luan-Guang and Lion Dance War Drum Corps were the winners of this year's "The Lion Dance Festival".
The Bureau of Cultural Affairs invited eight of the best lion dance troupes, from all over the country, to participate in the festival and the two competitions. The "Creative Lion Dance" was judged on the troupes innovative additions and skillful creativity that was added to the lion dance routine. The entries were not limited to only dragon and lion dancers, and from this competition a new style known as the flat ground lion dance emerged.
One particularly special addition to this years "Lion Dance Festival" (with the support of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs) were workshops to teach the lion dance to other communities and schools in the area. Professional lion dance teachers and costume artists came from all over Taiwan to teach the routines and costume-making. Residents from the Mingyi and Vienna DC communities participated in the workshops. Ages ranged from 7 to 80 and all participants received a greater insight into this traditional culture. Workshops included sewing the lion's head onto the body, learning moves and expressions and finally performing the dance in its entirety, in the costume they had helped to construct. Some of the participants even sighed up for the "Creative Lion Dance" competition and won over the audience and judges with their outstanding performances.
This festival was not only appreciated by the residents of Kaohsiung, tourists from all over the country came to witness this special cultural event. Proof that Kaohsiung has also evolved from an industrial city to a beautiful city of culture and tourism.
體驗弄獅文化的獨特魅力
高雄戲獅甲藝術節
◎文／王雅湘
◎攝影／鮑忠暉
過去，獅甲部落舞獅因為舞藝高超 ，成為寶貴的地方文化資產，因此，獅甲地區又被稱為「戲獅甲」，而弄獅文化的獨特魅力，也讓獅甲地區的傳統藝術氣息歷久不衰。
而與戲獅甲相當有淵源的就屬當地宗教信仰重鎮廣濟宮，已有250多年的歷史，可說廣濟宮是戲獅甲文化的發源地 ，廣濟宮從建廟後一直是當地居民的信仰中心，早期居民常以在廣濟宮廣場舞弄戲獅以作為閒暇娛樂，因此，往後每到有特定節慶時，當地居民就會集結舞獅並沿路遶境表示慶祝。
為了讓更多人欣賞「獅甲藝術」，藉由推廣和傳承弄獅文化與更多的城市進行交流，高雄市政府文化局主辦一年一度的「獅甲藝術節」也越辦越成功，成為深具地方代表性的藝術節慶。市長陳菊出席高椿獅王爭霸賽決賽致詞時，推崇舞獅競賽與戲獅甲的活動已成為高雄重要的傳統藝術慶典，不僅深受市民的喜愛，更受到觀光客的青睞，證明高雄已由重工業城市，蛻變成一個文化與觀光的美麗城市。今年戲獅甲藝術節最受矚目的高椿獅王爭霸賽於10月19日在獅甲國中精采登場，由兩廣龍獅戰鼓團奪下獅王寶座，第三屆高雄獅甲藝術節在觀眾如雷的掌聲中，劃下完美的句點。
今年，主辦單位文化局向各縣市菁英團隊廣發英雄帖，比賽項目分為獅王爭霸賽與創意舞獅賽，獅王爭霸賽延續傳統採高樁，觀看專業的舞師團體在梅花樁上飛來躍去，展現令人屏息的步法與技巧，表現醒獅的喜、怒、哀、樂、動 、靜、驚、疑等各種表情，參賽團隊使出渾身解數，一拼高下，可說是相當有看頭。
高樁獅王爭霸賽是文化局自全國各縣市擇優邀請八強參賽，除了高樁獅王爭霸賽，創意舞獅的比賽更是今年戲獅甲藝術節中，另一令人注目的焦點。創意舞獅講究舞獅整體表現及創意展現，參賽資格不侷限龍獅社團，因此，呈現出與傳統地上獅不同的風格。
今年的戲獅甲藝術節，特別值得一提的是文化局在活動期間規劃，走進社區與校園進行獅藝薪傳教學活動，邀請專業獅團教練教授舞獅步伐、身段及道具製作。參與這項獅藝薪傳教學活動的明義社區與三民區河堤公園旁的維也納DC設區的社區居民，年齡從近80歲的爺爺奶奶們到７、８歲的小朋友們接觸這項民俗藝術，覺得舞獅文化的精采有趣，同時每位學員都很享受每個學習的過程，從親手縫製獅頭到獅背，再用親手完成的台灣獅學習舞獅步伐、身段及喜、怒、撒嬌等表情。最棒的部份是，參加對這項獅藝薪傳的學員們，還報名參加了「創意舞獅」，其出色的表現也贏得現場觀賽民眾和評審委員們一致的讚嘆。