Lion dance (Guangdong lion dance) was among the first batch of items included in China's national intangible cultural heritage list. In Foshan, lion dance has been passed down for centuries and remains vibrant. The phrase "Awaken the national spirit with lion dance, inspire with the beating drum" is deeply rooted in the hearts of all who cherish the lion dance.

Lara, a native of Armenia, has lived in Foshan for six years. She loves the city and is drawn to Foshan lion dance culture. She decided to become a student of lion dance.

Guan Ziqing and Huang Baoyi, members of the Sanzhou Lion Dance Team in Lunjiao, Shunde, have been practicing lion dance since childhood, with over ten years of experience. In their view, lion dance is not limited by gender. When women perform with the lion head, they can also demonstrate strength and heroic spirit.

With their guidance, Lara started from the basics: lifting the lion head, jumping, and coordinating movements. "The hardest part is lifting up your teammate," Lara said. Although she works out regularly, the move was still difficult, which helped her better understand the effort and persistence behind lion dance.

During training, Lara's Cantonese was not fluent, and the masters spoke limited English. However, this did not become a barrier. Lion dance became their common language. One look or one movement was enough to create understanding. This is the charm of lion dance.

Lara said lion dance is a good way to learn about Foshan culture. In the future, she hopes to introduce lion dance to more friends.