Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance (PMLD) at this year’s Multicultural Festival. David Wong founded PMLD in 2007. Photo: Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance (PMLD), Facebook.
When David Wong moved to Canberra in his 20s, it didn’t take long for the homesickness to set in. And that’s not homesickness for his birth country of Malaysia. But Perth, where he’d lived since he was six.
Back in 2006, Perth was well ahead of us when it came to traditional Chinese lion dance. The drums, the costumes, and the culture – it was all missing here.
So Wong decided to do something about it.
In 2007, he founded Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance (PMLD). And almost 20 years on, the club is no longer a novelty. It’s an expected part of the Lunar New Year in Canberra, and it also appears at weddings, corporate events, community parades, and major festivals across the city.
A lion dance as part of the National Multicultural Festival earlier this month. Photo: Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance (PMLD), Facebook.
And then there’s the big one.
The Dickson Lunar New Year Festival – widely seen as the pinnacle of local celebrations – returns on Saturday, 21 February, supported by the ACT Government’s City Renewal Authority. This year, it welcomes the Year of the Fire Horse.
Audiences are promised multiple performances throughout the day, “showcasing traditional lion dances alongside the much-loved Horse mascot and God of Fortune, as well as lion cubs — PMLD’s most junior performers” (the club’s youngest member is just three years old).
And once again, PMLD is the headline act.
A club born from homesickness
Wong says the lion dance was a big part of his upbringing in Southeast Asia. And even when his family migrated to Australia, he still saw it in Perth – largely due to proximity.
But Canberra was a different story.
“I got homesick very quickly, especially in the first Lunar New Year period, and so I decided to start one up.”
What began as a small group has grown into a 40-to-50-strong, all-ages team, ranging from preschoolers to performers in their mid-50s.
“I wanted to be a community-based team, with volunteers who want to be there and want to share the culture and the passion, and not for monetary reasons,” Wong says.
The lion costumes are inspired by an ancient Chinese tale. Photo: Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance (PMLD), Facebook.
What you’re actually watching
Lion dance isn’t just colourful noise and movement. Wong says it’s built on a centuries-old story.
The tradition traces back to a legend of a village terrorised by a destructive beast, saved when a powerful lion-like creature from the mountains chased it away.
“Villagers would wear a two-person costume, and bang pots and pans, to scare away the evil beast, making lots of noise so it knows it’s not welcome. And the significance of lion dance was born,” Wong ways.
“That’s why it’s used during New Year’s, grand openings, weddings – to scare off any evil spirits or negative energy, and to bring good luck, prosperity, and good health.”
A full performance brings together a percussion team – drums, cymbals and gongs – and two dancers inside each lion costume, animating the eyes, mouth and body to make it feel alive.
Drums and cymbals make up a large part of the performances. Photo: Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance (PMLD), Facebook.
The Year of the Fire Horse
In another tradition, each Lunar New Year centres on one of the 12 zodiac animals. This year, it’s the horse, paired with the fire element.
“The horse has characteristics as you would expect. It’s bold, it’s courageous, it’s fast-moving,” Wong says.
Those traits shape PMLD’s feature routine this year, with a custom-made horse mascot joining the lions on stage. The fire element adds another layer, cycling alongside earth, air and water in another annual zodiac pattern.
“People who are into feng shui and superstitions will almost plan their year according to the zodiac, to ensure they get the most out of the year – you know, investments, career change, moving furniture around, lucky numbers, lucky colours to wear in certain months. You can really go down a rabbit hole.”
Lion dance now ‘almost expected’
The Dickson festival follows a packed run of Lunar New Year appearances for the group, including performances at the National Multicultural Festival, shopping centres, restaurants and private events across Canberra.
“We’ve been a headlining act at Dickson since the second year of the festival,” Wong says. “We’re terribly privileged and honoured.”
After nearly two decades, he says the biggest change is expectation.
“Everybody almost expects lion dance now,” he says. “People are now expecting to see it in Canberra, which I’m very happy about.”
For those keen to learn more, PMLD plans an open day in mid-March, with performers available to chat before and after the shows.
Canberra Lunar New Year 2026 will be held at Dickson Shops, Woolley Street, Dickson, from 10 am to 10 pm, Saturday, 21 February.
