Yi Dao Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe - Entertainer Barnet

Formed in 1997 out of the director's passion for a group that performed top quality lion dancing and conducted themselves in a professional manner. In 1998 the group started formal training for it's first generation of students. The training was done in an intensive manner all year round to keep in shape for performances. The training paid off and the group started to wow the audiences. Their reputation quickly established them as a favourite for event organisers and they took part in many events for corporate clients including Sainsbury‘s, Virgin Atlantic, Motorola, and others.

2000 was a milestone in the troupe's development as an established name within the lion dance fraternity. The director Vincent Hopkins received an invitation from his lion dance master to watch the Genting World lion dance championships. The Genting championships is the top lion dance competition in the world. Teams compete aloft high poles that are up to 2/3 metres off the ground and perform complex jumps over gaps of 5 feet or more. Rather than watch Vincent decided to train a team in less than 6 months with no previous experience of jumping on high poles. It was a tall order but the team gave a commendable performance and received praise from the judges for their performance.

The team went on to compete in China were they won a special merit award for their performance at the Jingmen International lion dance tournament. The team was invited to compete in Hawaii but the championship was cancelled due to the 9/11 disaster. The team then took a break from competition to concentrate on increasing demand for performances at festivals, weddings and corporate functions.

The present day, we have a new generation of students and again they have taken part in the 8th Genting World lion dance championship on short notice. Due to injury a revised team was sent to compete and managed to complete the newly formed X formation that has seen many teams fall. The team hopes to be present at the 2010 Genting Championships and beyond.

Entertainer Barnet London
if you are looking for a lion dance performance in London for a special event, book Yi Dao Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe and experience the 'passion for performance'.