A 'hot' job that earns millions of VND every night during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This year's Mid-Autumn Festival has seen a significant increase in demand compared to previous years. Photo: Thanh Phuc

From mid-July in the lunar calendar, Mr. Ho Quang Chinh (Nguyen Cong Tru Street, Vinh City) has started receiving calls to schedule appointments.Lion dance performances for the Mid-Autumn Festival.Having provided lion and dragon dance services for nearly 20 years, Mr. Chinh said that this year's Mid-Autumn Festival has seen a significant increase in demand compared to previous years. All four of his lion dance troupes are fully booked from the second day of the eighth lunar month until the night of the full moon. On peak days (from the 10th to the 15th of the eighth lunar month), there are as many as 13-15 shows per day.

“We have to turn down some of them because we can't accept everything; we don't have enough strength or time to do all the shows. For groups in the districts, we only accept performances from the 2nd to the 10th of the lunar month, as we can't keep up closer to the date. Two years ago, due to the pandemic, the Mid-Autumn Festival wasn't celebrated. This year, everything has returned to normal, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is being celebrated quite grandly, with almost every group inviting lion dance troupes to entertain the children.”

Mr. Ho Quang Chinh adjusts props for the Mid-Autumn Festival performances. Photo: Thanh Phuc.

These days, the lion dance troupes of Mr. Ho Manh Hung (Truong Thi Ward, Vinh City) are also racing against time to serve agencies and units organizing Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations for children. More than 20 members of the troupe have intensified their training for the past two months, adding new dance routines and more difficult movements to create excitement and uniqueness for the audience; in addition, he has also invested in costumes and props to serve the 2022 Mid-Autumn Festival.

Before each full moon festival, lion and dragon dance troupes practice diligently. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Ho Manh Hung said: “This year, the demand for lion dance performances during the Mid-Autumn Festival has increased 3-4 times compared to previous years. Prices have also fluctuated slightly; accordingly, each lion dance show lasting from 10-20 minutes costs about 3-5 million VND, depending on the customer's requirements.”

For example, a lion dance performance with 2 lions, 2 drums, 1 Ông Địa (Earth God) figure, and 1 cymbal costs between 2 and 4 million VND, while a performance with 3 lions, 2 drums, 1 Ông Địa figure, and 1 cymbal costs 6 million VND...".

Each lion dance show, lasting from 10-20 minutes, costs approximately 3-5 million VND, depending on customer requirements and the difficulty of the movements. (Photo: Thanh Phuc)

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, lion dance troupes become increasingly active. In particular, on the nights of August 14th and 15th (lunar calendar), the troupes' schedules were fully booked, with no more bookings possible. "From National Day to the Mid-Autumn Festival, our performance schedule is packed. Most of our performances are in residential areas and public places. Each night, a troupe earns around 7-10 million VND," added Mr. Ho Quang Chinh.

Currently, in addition to festivals, many events include:Opening of the new school yearOpening ceremonies, groundbreaking ceremonies, building inaugurations, housewarming parties, weddings, birthdays, ancestral worship ceremonies... all require lion dances to create a lively and attractive atmosphere. Therefore, the lion dance profession is increasingly thriving, becoming a livelihood for many people and attracting a large number of young people to participate.

The lion and dragon dance profession is increasingly thriving, becoming a livelihood for many and attracting a large number of young people. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Tran Hung Huy (Cua Nam ward, Vinh city) said: “I’ve been a lion dance troupe for two years now. Initially, I just joined as an assistant, following the troupe because I was passionate about the lively atmosphere. But since the beginning of this year, when I became a main dancer, each time I perform with the troupe for a show, I earn 200,000 VND. In some months, I perform at 20-30 events, earning around 3-4 million VND. This isn’t my main job, but it gives me a fairly high income.”

Due to increasing demand, many professional and amateur lion dance troupes have been established in Vinh City in recent years. They operate independently or through event organizing companies and organizations. As a result, competition among lion dance troupes has become more intense than before.

The development of lion dance performances has also led to a boom in services renting costumes, props, lion and dragon heads, etc. Previously, lion dance troupes had to order lion and dragon heads, masks of the Earth God, shoes, sandals, etc., from Hue or Ho Chi Minh City at exorbitant prices. Now, around Vinh market, there are numerous shops selling and renting lion dance costumes and props.

Rental services for costumes and props used in lion and dragon dances are also thriving. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Tran Thi Phuong Oanh, owner of a lion dance costume rental business in Vinh Market, said: "Investing in full costumes and props for a 5-7 person lion dance troupe costs about 20-25 million VND. For professional troupes, that investment is worthwhile, but for informal troupes that only perform during the Mid-Autumn Festival, renting is always the best option. Since the beginning of August, we've had quite a lot of orders for lion dance costumes and props, especially from communes and districts..."