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Dragon Proves To Be A Saturday Morning Show-Stopper

Last Saturday’s Chinese dragon and lion procession in Traralgon once again proved a huge success with early morning shoppers and bystanders stopping to take in the colourful and exciting display.

By news@gippsland - 27th March 2007 - Back to News

Presented by Latrobe City Council, the dragon was part of a spectacular Chinese procession, organised to celebrate the Year of the Pig and the seventh anniversary of the signing of Council’s sister-city agreement with the City of Taizhou, China.

The procession showed a colourful and talented spectacle of performances by a full entourage from Bendigo’s Golden Dragon Museum, including lions, drummers and dancers.

Children and adults were also treated to a variety of Chinese cultural activities including colouring and painting provided by students from Monash University’s International Students’ Association.

According to Latrobe City’s acting manager economic development, Leo Billington, the experience on Saturday morning was thoroughly enjoyed by the crowd which now looks forward to the procession each year.

"Being able to experience some of the fabulous Chinese cultural elements that are so recognisable throughout the world, creates a heightened sense of excitement and expectation," Mr Billington said.

"In particular, the dragon procession proved a real show-stopper as it moved through the morning market in the Kay Street gardens. Weaving and dancing in and out, around stalls - literally enthralling and playing with the crowd, it made its way to the Stockland Traralgon Shopping Centre.

"Prior to moving into the market area, an estimated 2000 people watched its dance and musical routine and these numbers swelled from thereon.

"It was in the enclosed shopping centre that the drumming really heralded the dragon’s arrival. With superb acoustics, and large crowds, the dragon, as it was led by the lions, really showed off. Once on show to a captive audience, it really strutted its stuff," Mr Billington said.

"Combining the activities provided by the international students and a dragon performance proved an ideal combination, especially on a Saturday morning, with ideal weather, an extremely receptive audience, and naturally, a dragon who wanted to show off.

"Sadly, all things must come to an end and the dragon has now returned to its lair for another year; though those travelling to Bendigo over the Easter break can experience dragons as part of Bendigo’s massive Easter Fair celebrations," Mr Billington concluded.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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