FOR lion dance troupes, the Lunar New Year is the most busy and lucrative time of the year as scores of corporations and individuals will seek this Chinese cultural performance.

However, amid dwindling interest in the art and rising fear of the sometimes dangerous stunts, fewer Chinese youth are interested in taking up lion dancing.

To fill this widening vacuum, children from Sabah’s stateless population are stepping up to meet the demand.

An increasing number of youngsters from this community, some as young as 12, are being trained to climb and leap from high poles or dance across narrow platforms, all the while carrying the dressed in the heavy lion dance costume.

But far from fearing for their safety, most of these youth see performing as their only means to learn a new skill while earning some money to ease the financial burden of their families.

Sainudin Dasli, 12, said it took six months to master the choreography and perform on the high poles.

“It’s almost every night for about four hours straight, I would be told to train and keep my balance on the poles,” he said.

Sainudin’s dance partner, Erwan Nazil, had introduced him to the troupe. The boys are cousins and from the Bajau community.

Erwan started lion dancing when he was 15, after being expelled from school in Menggatal.

He taught much of the lion dancing skills to Sainuddin, who is not allowed to attend school because he is stateless as his parents failed to register his birth.

Erwan said he plans to quit the performances on the high poles in a few years because of the danger of injury.

“I want to take it slow and just perform ground dancing or beat the drums.

“Maybe after this I would probably think of finding a stable job. One which can support me and lessen my parents burden,” he said.

Much like their peninsular counterparts, Sabah’s Chinese, and some sino-Kadazan families, are keen to hire lion dance performances during the 15 days of the Lunar New Year.

The dancers are paid for their performances, but the amount varies according to their roles.

Marli Ziku, 12, said pole performers are paid the most due to the dangerous nature of their role.

For the first day of Chinese New Year today, Marli said he has already made around RM100 for his performance as a lion dancer.

“This is only the first day,” said the first-timer, adding that his fellow dancers have earned up to RM1,000 in past years.

Marli, who is also Bajau, had just entered Form 1 this year but is not keen to continue his studies.

“My father had told me if I’m no longer interested in studying, it is best for me to pick up a trade and work.

“For now, I will do the lion dance,” he said. – February 5, 2019.