Kampar Wushu Club wins bronze

The lion danced and the team soared. They scaled the heights in a quest to find the Master’s cure. That was the vision behind the spectacle of coherent movements that secured UTAR’s Kampar Wushu Club the bronze medal at the recent 2026 TAR UMT Cup Traditional Southern Lion Dance Invitational Competition.

Their performance presented a rich narrative centred on perseverance, loyalty, and sacrifice, as portrayed by the Lion’s determination to conquer the perilous mountain in search of medicinal herbs to save its Master, who was gravely ill. Through the carefully choreographed sequence of movements, the audience witnessed the team’s skilful navigation as it demonstrated the Lion’s determination to sprint back home upon the successful harvesting of the medicine, ultimately ensuring the Master’s recovery. The captivating storyline was indeed a true reflection of the moral values and storytelling traditions deeply rooted in the Southern Lion Dance.

Coached by Mr Lai Chun Hin, the team’s participation in the competition was guided by a strong commitment to preserve and promote the traditional Southern Lion Dance culture among the younger generations. The members, consisting of students Chan Jing Hern, Ian Lee Kah Jun, Kong Shao Xuan, Lee Jun Hoe, Lee Qian Jo, Lew Tow Feng, Low Jun Xuan, Ng Zheng Xian, and Wan Yoke Wei, were motivated to carry forward this essence of the lion dance art form and to ensure this cultural heritage continues to flourish for generations to come. Beyond the competition, the team also noted this participation as a meaningful platform to gain exposure to high-level performances, develop their specific talents, and benchmark their skills against other elite teams.

Truly, the demonstration of high-level technical proficiency particularly through the execution of a complex “Cai Qing” routine themed Scaling the Peak to Seek Medicine secured their podium finish. The team explained that this routine required precise coordination between the lion head and tail performers, as well as seamless rhythmic synchronization with the percussion team to ensure a cohesive and impactful presentation. In addition to technical execution, the team demonstrated effective resource management by designing and creating their own equipment and performance props, showcasing creativity and craftsmanship. Ultimately, this resulted in the team receiving a team trophy and a bronze medal each.

Team leader and Club Chairperson, Kong, was proud of the team’s achievement and expressed, “The Lion Dance Division has had few opportunities to compete this year, so I am incredibly proud to have led the team to a bronze award. We will keep moving forward to build a stronger and larger team. I would also like to express my gratitude to UTAR for sponsoring our competition registration.”

For Jun Hoe, who performed as the ‘lion head,’ this victory was particularly meaningful. After an injury that sidelined him from competing in 2025 despite months of preparation, he was finally able to participate in this competition and helped the team secure their podium finish in the university category. The ‘lion tail’, performed by Chan was also not without challenges, as he explained, “We had some minor missteps during the routine. When we saw a '7' from one of the judges, the team felt discouraged, assuming the worst. So it was a massive surprise when we were announced the bronze award winner, with the total score of 8.00. We pulled through and all our hard work paid off. Though we had to train daily throughout the trimester, we know that it was all worth it.”

Ian Lee, a Year One member, shared his reflection and growth. “I almost gave up because everything seemed so new, but my seniors were good mentors who patiently guided me and taught me. I also felt belonged and welcomed in this club, like a second home, especially after moving to Kampar alone for my studies. So I’m very grateful to be part of this team and this victory.”

Foundation student Wan Yoke Wei also shared her joy in participating in her first competition. She enthused, “The journey leading to this competition was both challenging and rewarding, and I am thankful for the supportive seniors and encouraging environment at the university. The guidance, training opportunities, and constant motivation I received have honed my skills, and improved my confidence. I am honoured to be standing alongside my team on the national stage and contributing to this achievement. We are all very inspired to continue striving for excellence.”

Organised by the Dragon & Lion Dance Society from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) on 18 January 2026 at the KSL Esplanade Mall, Selangor, the competition gathered some of the most talented lion dance teams across Malaysia. Additionally, it aimed to promote cultural exchange in traditional Southern Lion Dance, foster positive interaction and skill development among teams, and advance the inheritance and development of traditional culture among young people. At its core, the competition served as a platform for teams to showcase their strengths, and learn from one another, enabling the public to also understand, appreciate, and support Southern Lion Dance culture, while enjoying the performances.