Conversation with Kwong Ngai Lion Dance

光藝醒獅體育會是马来西亚非常有名气的醒狮团之一。他们荣获了很多奖杯也参加了很多国际比赛。力气十足的他们到底成功的背后有什么技巧，今天很荣幸邀请到光藝醒獅體育會的团长陈其文师父为我们一一解答。

1. 光艺醒狮体育会是什么情况下创办的？
陈师父：本团没在什么情况下创办。本团在2002年由陈其文师父和廣文昌师父成立至今已有10年之久。

2. 你们的主要推动力是什么？
陈师父：我们主要的推动力是抱着承传文化的使命，提供青少年良好的活动空间，推广狮艺。

3. 是不是一开始就跳梅花庄？
陈师父：是的。

4. 跳梅花庄要考虑什么要素？
陈师父：跳桩主要的要素是《八德》

忠、正、毅、勇、智、诚、和、礼
这个也是我们人生中必修的一个道德课程。
(一)遵師重道、同門相協 (不欺師滅祖、孝忠之悌) 忠
(二)承傳道統、光宗門脈 (不亂本溯源、正揚師譽) 正
(三)勤學苦練、心專無雜 (不中途而廢、毅志練心) 毅
(四)敢承得失、以勇破障 (不畏失败者、勇者無懼) 勇
(五)能容乃大、包涵忍讓 (不自大為是、大智若愚) 智
(六)謙實研學、明心見性 (不貪瞋痴狂、精誠所致) 誠
(七)彼善量宏、圓融相處 (不背後傷人、和皆融恰) 和
(八)培養品修、崇尚八德 (不藐視亂道、禮儀廉恥) 禮

5. 光艺荣获了很多奖杯。有些狮队是有分A队B队。你们是不是同一只队参加比赛的呢？ 跳庄狮头表演者最理想是多少重量？
陈师父：不是。我们会鼓励本团的新队伍参加各项比赛，可让他们吸取更多的比赛经验。全部跳桩的运动员没有说最理想的重量是多少。只要狮头和狮尾者2人配合到就可以跳桩了。首先要学好基本功，我们才会批准2人上桩练习。

6. 你们用多长的时间训练才达到现在的水平呢？
陈师父：运动员们都是每天辛苦的练习，坚强的勇气和毅力，抱着不放弃的精神去练习，才可达到现在的水平。

7. 除了南狮之外，你们也有北狮。现在很多南狮也运用了北狮的舞法。南狮和北狮除了鼓乐和外形，有什么大不同吗？
陈师父：实际上南狮和北狮的不同就应该只有鼓乐和外形吧？？

Kwong Ngai Lion Dance is one of the very famous Lion Dance troupe in Malaysia. They have won many trophies and also took part in many international competitions. What are the skills behind their success? I am very honored to have the team leader of Kwong Ngai Lion Dance Chen Qiwen Sifu with us to share his answer.

1. How was Kwong Ngai founded? Was there any special occasion?
Sifu Chen: There was no special occasion when we founded the troupe. It was founded in 2002 together with Guang Wenchang Sifu. It has been 10 years now.

2. What is the motivation behind all the things you have done?
Sifu Chen: Our main motivation is to continue preserving this culture, allowing the youths an environment for healthy sports, and promoting the art of lion dance.

3. Did your team start straight away with freestyle lion dance?
Sifu Chen: Yes.

4. What are the things to consider for freestyle lion dance?
Sifu Chen: The most important things to consider are the “Eight Morals”

1. Loyalty – Respect the senior, help one another.
2. Righteous – Spread the teaching, bring honour to the clan
3. Persevere – Willing to learn and practice, stay focus
4. Courage – Dare to admit doing, courage overcomes obstacle
5. Wisdom – Accomodate, Endure, Giving
6. Honest – Humble and honest learning
7. Bond – Kindness and big hearted, bond with togetherness
8. Manners – Cultivate the character, advocate the Eight Morals

5. Kwong Ngai has won many trophies. Some troupes have A team and B team, does your troupe bring the same team for competitions? What is the most desirable weight for a lion head performer?
Sifu Chen: No, we encourage our new team members to go for different competitions so that they can have more experience. There are no specific weight for a lion head performer. As long as both the head and tail can coordinate well. In the beginning, they need to learn the fundamentals then will we allow them to go up on the poles.

6. How long does it take to practice to reach the current standard?
Sifu Chen: Our team members practice every day, with courage and perseverance, and a never give up attitude, in order to reach the standard today.

7. Beside Southern lion dance, your troupe also play the Northern lion dance. There are many troupes also incorporate the Northern style into Southern lion dance. Besides the instruments and lion, what are the main difference between Southern lion and Northern lion?
Sifu Chen: As a matter of fact, that’s the main difference between Southern lion and Northern lion.