THE EVENING
Full Cultural Programme
Classical Chinese dance, face changing and live musicians across an evening, opened by the lion dance. For galas and corporate banquets.
Full evening · tailored line-up
Chinese New Year entertainment hire
Chinese dance, Sichuan mask changing, lion dance, dragon dance and live music for Chinese New Year: corporate celebrations, galas and banquets, receptions, shopping centres and festivals. We are based in London and perform UK-wide, with international bookings on request.
Most of our lunar new year work comes through event agencies, corporate bookers and venues. Book a single lion for an entrance, a dance for the stage, or a full evening built around the festival.
The new year programme
THE CLASSIC
Lion Dance & Drums
One or two lions with live percussion, eye-dotting ceremony and the lettuce catch for good fortune. The essential new year booking.
10–20 min · from 4 performers
THE SPECTACLE
Dragon & Lion Parade
A full procession — dragon, lions and drummers weaving through your venue or high street. Built for festivals and shopping centres.
20–40 min · 10+ performers
Chinese Drums · Flame Silk Dance · Ribbon Dance · Tambourine Dance · Chinese Folk Dance
Acts for Chinese New Year
Every act in the catalogue is available over the festival. These are the ones we recommend for it; the full list is on Performances.
Chinese Fan Dance
Three fan styles — small folding fan, round fan and long silk fan — paired with traditional or modern music.
Long Sleeve Dance
Flowing water sleeves create dynamic, graceful movements — beauty, fluidity and mystery.
Chinese Umbrella Dance
Oil-paper umbrellas spin like blooming flowers, evoking classical ink-wash paintings.
Mask changing
Sichuan opera face changing, close up. The centrepiece of a new year dinner.
Lion dance
The essential new year booking. One or two lions with live drum, gong and cymbals, the eye-dotting ceremony and the lettuce catch for good fortune. 10–20 minutes.
Chinese musicians
Guzheng, erhu and pipa as solo players for receptions and dinners — the 21-string zither, the two-string fiddle and the four-string lute.
Erhu
The two-string fiddle — the singing voice of Chinese music.
Pipa
The four-string Chinese lute — virtuosic and intimate, with centuries of repertoire.
Dragon dance
Nine to twelve performers carry the dragon through your venue or along a route, with live percussion. Built for processions, festivals and large venues.
Booking for January and February
The season runs from late January to early March, and it is the busiest fortnight of our year. Dates go first-come, first-served: enquire by November for the widest choice. Nearer the time, ask anyway — we will tell you honestly what we can cover.
Tell us the date, venue and audience. We reply within one working day and propose a programme within two. The written quote covers performers, costumes, music and set-up, with no hidden extras. Travel within London is included; outside London, travel and accommodation are quoted separately. A deposit secures the date. Get a quote.
Practical requirements
Space
Lion dance needs around 6m × 6m of clear floor and a clear entrance route. Dragon dance needs around 12m × 8m, or a processional route. Most dance pieces need 5m × 5m to 8m × 8m.
Height
3.5m for lion dance lifts. 4m for dragon dance indoors, and for ribbon and flame silk. Musicians need no particular height.
Sound
Lion dance, dragon dance and drums are live and unamplified. Dance pieces use our backing tracks through the venue's sound system, and we work with in-house AV teams.
Noise
Drums, gong and cymbals are genuinely loud. If the venue has noise limits or neighbouring events, tell us early and we will suggest alternatives.
Changing
Costumes are elaborate and performers change on site. A private room with a mirror is needed — not a corridor or a public toilet.
Set-up and access
We arrive 60 to 90 minutes before. Drums take up to an hour to assemble, so tell us about loading access, lifts and stairs.
Questions
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can. Enquire by November for the widest choice. Standard bookings take four to eight weeks; a new piece or custom costume needs three months or more.
What does the venue need to provide?
Clear floor space, a private changing room with a mirror, and a sound system for any act with recorded music. We check the details against your floor plan before confirming.
Can the acts perform outdoors?
Lion dance, dragon dance and drums work indoors and out; dragon dance is at its best outdoors. Silk and ribbon pieces are indoor acts. Outdoor bookings need a weather plan agreed in advance.
Can you perform outside London?
Yes, UK-wide, and internationally on request. Travel within London is included; outside London, travel and accommodation are quoted separately.
Can we book more than one lion?
Yes. Two or three lions suit larger spaces and outdoor events. Numbers are usually odd, which is considered auspicious.
