Dragon Dance – Meaning, Examples & Performance

Meaning 1：dragon dance (Dragon dance)

Dragon dance 🔊

/ˈdræɡən dæns/

A traditional Chinese performance where a team of people moves a long dragon model in a dance, usually for festivals.

dragon dance 🔊

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/ˈdræɡən dæns/

A traditional Chinese performance where a team of people moves a long dragon model in a dance, usually for festivals.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

'Dragon' from Greek 'drakon' (serpent); 'dance' from Old French 'dancier' (to move rhythmically).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a long, colorful dragon snaking through the streets as dancers lift and twist poles—a festive, flowing spectacle.

📖 Example

During the Spring Festival parade, the dragon dance team moved through the crowded streets with amazing energy and coordination. 🔊 During the Spring Festival parade, the dragon dance team moved through the crowded streets with amazing energy and coordination.

🔗 Collocations

perform a dragon dance – perform a dragon dance

watch the dragon dance – watch the dragon dance

dragon dance festival – dragon dance festival

🔄 Synonyms

lion dance (n.) – Another traditional Chinese performance with a lion costume, also common at festivals.

dragon parade (n.) – A parade featuring a dragon model, often part of the same celebration.

🌱 Derivatives

dragon dancer (n.) – A performer who takes part in a dragon dance.

dragon dancing (n.) – The activity or art of performing the dragon dance.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating in Han Dynasty China, the dragon dance was performed to invoke good fortune and dispel evil. The dragon, a symbol of power and prosperity, is manipulated by a team of dancers holding poles, creating an undulating movement.