RHODE ISLAND KUNG FU & LION DANCE CLUB

The RI Kung Fu & Lion Dance Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to sharing and preserving traditional Chinese lion dance, which is a cultural art form symbolizing good luck. It blends drumming and martial arts-inspired movement, creating a festive performance representing positive energy. 

Our group is the only year-round, non-profit lion dance group in RI. We're unique- the only group in our state’s history formed solely to perform with a specific focus on cross-cultural education and connection. In the past, RI’ers (primarily the local Chinese community) seeking this traditional art  were forced to look to areas with larger Chinese populations (Boston/NYC Chinatowns). Since 2007, our group has been able to fill what once was a cultural void. 

Our members come together to train and perform; they learn how to be in the lion “costume”, play the accompanying music, and execute culturally specific elements. By being practitioners, they become also cultural heritage educators by sharing and preserving our chosen art. 

We draw members from the greater-PVD area and nearby southeastern Massachusetts. In addition to English, the RIKFLDC has four Chinese dialects represented. Within the group, there is a range in age, cultural and life experiences, but a common trait that links all members is a dedication to sharing our lion dance in a positive manner.

The communities we serve span a wide geographic area. We perform all over RI, from the northern town of Woonsocket to the southern tip of Westerly and all points in between. Thousands of non-Asian/Chinese Rhode Islanders have also been introduced to lion dance by our group. We've also performed many times in MA and CT. 

The audiences for whom we perform are quite diverse. We appear at events of all types and for audiences of all ages/sizes. Venues have included every level of school (preschools to universities), senior centers and businesses from small to large. These shows have been in communities with varying populations in terms of ethnicity and socioeconomic status. We perform year-round, frequently collaborating with multiple RI arts/culture organizations/entities and non-profit orgs. We've also celebrated with other cultures at events such as St. Patrick’s Day parades and Cinco de Mayo parties.

We aspire to promote the positivity and beauty of lion dance with different audiences. This wide cross-section of people speaks to our mission to share this cultural art with our broader community.