KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Association is organizing an inaugural Sabah Lion Dance League Championship 2014 in March.
This is the first ever lion dance league in Malaysia.
The first round will be held at Tawau Community Hall in collaboration with The Federation of Chinese Association Tawau on March 29.
The winning lion dance troupe will be awarded with a trophy, medals and certificates.
The grand final will be held in Kota Kinabalu on December 7. The champion of the grand final will receive RM5,000 plus trophy, followed by RM3,000 for the first-runner up, RM2,000 for the second-runner up and RM1,000 for the third-runner up.
The league championship is only open to residents in Sabah and Labuan. Participants from other states must have been residing in Sabah for at least six months, as well as to produce their passports, student identification, work pass or Employees Provident Fund (EPF) as proof.
Sabah Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Association president cum event chairman Danny Kok said the aim of the league championship was to elevate the standard of lion dance in Sabah to be on par with West Malaysian counterparts.
Kok said the top four troupes in national lion dance competitions obtained 9.2 points (over 10 points) and above, whilst Sabahan troupes only recorded between 8.0 to 9.0 points.
He revealed that the idea of a lion dance league came from basketball and football leagues, whereby all the players were professionals.
“The reason we are adopting a league format in this lion dance competition is to push participants to train more frequently.
“Once they go through the league championship, we will have a ranking of the lion dance troupes in Sabah as well,” he said in a press conference here yesterday.
As a start, The Sabah Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Association is holding two leagues this year, namely the first round in Tawau and the grand final in Kota Kinabalu. The association plans to increase the number of leagues in different locations in 2015.
He said the association aspired to elevate lion dance troupes in Sabah to semi-professional level rather than merely being a past time.
“We hope Sabah will win the World Lion Dance Championship in the future.”
By registering with a league, it will also prevent lion dance troupe members from jumping ships during competitions.
“If they (lion dance troupe members) switch teams, action will be taken against them unless both teams have an agreement. That is our future aim,” he added.
Participants are required to register before March 1. Registration fee is RM200 (non-refundable) plus another RM500 as deposit.
The organizing committee accepts up to 15 teams to compete in the league.
The ultimate champion of the grand final is determined by the sum of the points obtained in the first round and grand finale.
For more details or to register, visit Lot 4, Ground Floor, Taman Century, Jalan Penampang Lama, 88300, Kota Kinabalu; call 088-720932 or 019-8816889 (Tony Wong), fax to 088-717932, or email to sabahdragonlion@gmail.com. The draw will be held on March 8.
Also present at the press conference were event advisor Professor Dato’ Dr Wilson Yong J.P., organizing chairman Francis Cham, organizing secretary Wong Suk Vui and competition director Lee Chee Fai.