Most of you may already know what lion dancing is. But for those of you who don't know, Southern lion dancing has always been closely associated with martial arts training. Strong stances, powerful arms, endurance, and basic martial arts movements are needed in order for the dancers to effectively give the lion "life". Lion dancers and martial art performances of today are often combined because the demonstration of martial arts brings out the full flavor of lion dancing. Other than lion dancers, the group also consists of instrument players such as the drummer, gong and cymbal players. From hearing the rhythm of the instruments, the lion dancers understand when he or she will execute the next movement. And in a way, the drumming seems to be like the "heartbeat" of the lion. The AYSC Lion Dance Team was established more than ten years ago. Every week, Sifu Lee volunteers his time to the group, teaching them lion dancing and Wu Shu martial arts. We appreciate the time he puts in for the group and for being confident and encouraging to the members. With the bond that Sifu Lee and his students have developed over time, they practice good sportsmanship and teamwork. Because our lion dance group is a non-profit organization, all donations received from our performances are put into the AYSC general fund which helps support our scholarships, dances, retreats, new lion dance equipment, and more.