Community & Charities
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Jockey Club funds Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, passing on traditional Chinese culture for seventh year in a row
27/09/2016
On 14 September, Tai Hang came alive as the crash of cymbals and bang of drums heralded the sparkling night parade of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, as part of the three-night event.
The Fire Dragon Dance started in 1880. The tradition, which is believed to drive away infectious diseases and bring good fortune, was inscribed on to China’s national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011. The Club has long put a high priority on cultural preservation and heritage, and is delighted to have supported the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance for seven consecutive years.
This spectacular tradition has been supported by the Club’s Charities Trust since 2010 in collaboration with the Tai Hang Residents’ Welfare Association. The funding also supports the running of educational programmes in parallel to provide Hong Kong’s young people with a chance to learn about the history of the Fire Dragon Dance, as part of efforts to maintain and pass on the city’s traditional Chinese culture.
The Trust supports the Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage in organising an Intangible Cultural Heritage Education Programme that promotes public awareness of these traditions through workshops on topics such as the history of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and the making of a fire dragon. This year’s workshops and talks were held in early September.
In addition to the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has since 2012 supported the preservation of other intangible cultural heritage traditions such as the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival and the Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Water Parade.
