The dragon dance is the Chinese New Year dance that uses a long serpentine figure held aloft on poles.
A team of performers manipulates a flexible dragon puppet made from connected sections, hoops, fabric, a head, and a tail. Each dancer controls a section with a pole, producing the creature’s characteristic waves, coils, and undulating movements. The lion dance differs because performers work inside a compact lion costume rather than carrying a long segmented body.
The dragon has long been associated with rain, fertility, power, wisdom, and auspiciousness in Chinese culture. Earlier dragon-related performances existed by the Han dynasty, when dragon figures could be used in rituals intended to bring rain. The modern theatrical form developed through regional traditions and later became prominent in New Year celebrations.
Dragon dances are not limited to New Year. They also appear at festivals, temple events, openings, and community celebrations. A dancer carrying a pearl often leads the dragon; this represents the creature pursuing wisdom and helps direct the team’s elaborate patterns.