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HOUSTON, Texas — In 1974, Allen Lee made a decision that would shape the future of cultural preservation in the Greater Houston area by forming his own lion dance group. At that time, no formal team dedicated to this tradition existed in the region.
“I’ve always been fascinated by lion dancing. When I studied on the West Coast, I had the opportunity to join a lion dance group and learn the art,” Lee said. “It’s very important to me to keep our Asian culture alive and pass it on to future generations.”
Historically, lion dancing was believed to ward off evil spirits. Today, it symbolizes good luck, prosperity, and wealth.
Lee’s team, Lee’s Golden Dragon, combines live cultural music, choreographed dancing, acrobatics, firecrackers, crowd interactions, and daring stunts on high poles. Their members have trained with masters from around the world.
Most lion dancers perform into their 30s, then often transition to instructional and mentoring roles.
“There’s a lot of agility, coordination, and strong muscle ability involved in performing tricks and stunts,” Lee explained. “But all it really takes is devotion, discipline, and a willingness to learn.”
A native Houstonian, Lee said recruitment has always been the biggest challenge for his troupe. Lion dancing is time-consuming and physically taxing due to the extensive training and practice required, as explained by the group’s director, LK Nguyen.
“Lion dancing requires 10 hours of training for 10 minutes of performing. The true art lies in the grind and work put in before displaying it to the audience. The youth learn motor skills, musicality, and body awareness,” said Nguyen.
Lee knows the sport’s commitment well. He works as a dentist by day but spends his evenings and weekends overseeing Lee’s Golden Dragon.
“I’ve sacrificed many vacations and leisure time to devote myself to running this group. If I had to do it all over again, I would. One woman joked that I’m a dentist with a lion dancing hobby. I told her, ‘No, ma’am. I’m a lion dancer with a dentistry hobby.'”
Over the past 50 years, Lee’s Golden Dragon has grown to about 30 to 40 members. They perform throughout Houston during Lunar New Year and at weddings, festivals, and events year-round.
“The reception of lion dancing here has grown tremendously. It’s very rewarding. The demand has increased so much that we have to turn some clients away because we’re fully booked,” Lee said.
Among Lee’s favorite memories are escorting Yao Ming onto the basketball court when he joined the Houston Rockets and meeting Presidents like Jimmy Carter at a Habitat for Humanity event.
However, his most cherished experiences are the joyful reactions from their audiences. After 50 years, Lee plans to continue as long as he can before passing the torch to people like Nguyen.
Their 50th anniversary banquet will be held on Saturday, July 6th at 6 p.m. at Lam Bo Ballroom.