Chinese Dragon Dances

What do Chinese dragons symbolise?

• Wisdom, power and firecrackers

• Power, wealth and wisdom

• They're a symbol of China

• Chinese New Year

Why can we see dragon dances in Melbourne?

• Dragons are part of Aboriginal Australian culture

• Chinese people brought the dragon dance tradition to Melbourne when they arrived in the Gold Rush

• There are no dragon dances in Melbourne

When did dragon dances first start in China?

• More than 200 years ago

• In the Han Dynasty, over 2,000 years ago

• About the time of the First Emperor

In the Han Dynasty, over 2,000 years ago, dragon dances were originally used _________ (fill the blank)

• in ceremonies to pray for more food

• to entertain people at birthday parties

• in ceremonies to pray for rain

The word 'auspicious' means

• colourful

• friendly

• good luck

• dragon joints

How is the dragon's body supported to make it dance?

• on long ropes, hanging from poles

• people carry the dragon above them, on poles attached to segments of the dragon's frame

• the dragon costume is worn by people who can dance

• the dragon is attached to strips of cloth and bamboo

how do you say ' red dragon' in Mandarin Chinese?

• lán sè lóng 蓝色龙

• hóng sè lóng 红色龙

• dà lóng 大龙

• wǒ jiào lóng 我叫龙

What happens to metal when it is heated to over 1,000 degrees Celcius (1,000ºC)?

• It explodes, like a Fire Dragon

• It melts, and this is known as 'molten metal'

• it goes extremely hard and cracks

• it turns into a dragon

What is a Fire Dragon?

• A dragon that is lit up inside and glows at night

• A traditional dragon dance, performed at night, where molten metal is thrown in the air to make sparks fly everywhere

• A dragon that breathes fire

• A dragon that's on fire

Dragon dances are usually accompanied by ___________ (fill the gap)

• dumplings and mooncakes

• children holding flowers

• drums and Chinese trumpets

• dancing lions