STORY: Kung Fu school in Belgium stages lion dance shows to celebrate Spring Festival
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 7, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:18
LOCATION: Brussels
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of dancers from La Mante Belge performing lion dances at restaurants
2. SOUNDBTIE 1 (English): CEDRIC THOUMSIN, President of the La Mante Belge
3. various of training sessions of dancers
4. SOUNDBTIE 2 (English): CEDRIC THOUMSIN, President of the La Mante Belge
5. SOUNDBTIE 3 (English): CEDRIC THOUMSIN, President of the La Mante Belge

STORYLINE:

As the Chinese Lunar New Year is around the corner, enchanting lion dance shows are staged in many Chinese restaurants in Belgium.

The performers come from La Mante Belge, a martial arts school that was founded locally in 1988. 

SOUNDBTIE 1 (English): CEDRIC THOUMSIN, President of the La Mante Belge
"We are a Kung Fu school founded in 1988, and we also practice the lion and dragon dance during the Chinese New Year. Every student that you have seen today is also practicing the traditional Wushu. As you see, every movement is based on the Kung Fu position or Kung Fu transition of movement, group of movements. So that makes the lion alive."

It's the busiest time of the year for the lion dance performers. 

SOUNDBTIE 2 (English): CEDRIC THOUMSIN, President of the La Mante Belge
"During the Chinese New Year, our teams go to the restaurants, the Chinese restaurants here in Belgium to make the lion dance. So we have a lot of contacts. A lot of restaurants are calling to ask if they can have the lion dance in their restaurant. So we are now working on putting every restaurant in a tour because we have 6, 7 or 8 teams through Belgium. And we have to make the round. And also we have been asked in Brussels, in Ghent, in Luxembourg. We are asked a lot of times."

Students of the school have traveled to China many times, greatly impressed by the profoundness of Chinese culture.

SOUNDBTIE 3 (English): CEDRIC THOUMSIN, President of the La Mante Belge
"Also, students of our academy went to China to learn from Chinese masters the lion dance, and that's why we are growing and developing our lion dance skills. We have been in China many times. We have made a lot of destinations in China. So it makes also contacts, human contacts because I will also resume through four words, important words. It's culture, respect, unity and tradition."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Brussels.
(XHTV)