OCA Dragon Dance Team and Fitness Classes

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OCA Cleveland Dragon Dance Team at the 7th Annual Cleveland Asian Festival. Photo by Ed Wong

 

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OCA Dragon Dance Team at the 7th Annual Cleveland Asian Festival. Photo by Ed Wong

 

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OCA Greater Cleveland Dragon Dance Team performance at the Lunar New Year Celebration at Quicken Loans Arena for the Cavaliers vs. the Kings game on February 8, 2016. Photo by Ed Wong

 

2015 OCA Cleveland Dragon Dance Team at Confucius Institute Lunar New Year Celebration at C.leveland State University

2016 OCA Cleveland Dragon Dance Team at Confucius Institute Lunar New Year Celebration at Cleveland State University

 

2015 OCA Cleveland Dragon Dance Team at the Cleveland Asian Festival (Photo by Ed Wong)

2015 OCA Cleveland Dragon Dance Team at the Cleveland Asian Festival (Photo by Ed Wong)

 

Dragon Dance at Cleve Asian Festival (photo: Ed Wong)

2014 Dragon Dance at Cleveland Asian Festival (photo: Ed Wong)

Dragons are of course legendary animals, but they are important to Chinese people who think of dragons as helpful, friendly creatures. They are linked to good luck, long life and wisdom. They are nothing like the fierce, fire-breathing Western dragons that carry off princesses and eat people. Chinese Dragons are associated with storm clouds and life-giving rain. They have special powers so they can fly in the air, swim in the sea and walk on land. The Dragon has features of other animals such as the horns of a stag, the scales of a fish and the foot pads of a tiger.

 

OCA Cleveland Dragon Team (in partnership with Confucius Institute at CSU) Performs at NEON Gala 2014 to VIP guests including Mayor Frank Jackson

OCA Cleveland Dragon Team Performs at NEON Gala 2014 to VIP guests including Mayor Frank Jackson

 

OCA Greater Cleveland Dragon Dance team for the 2017 Chinese New Year event at Quicken Loans Arena.

 

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Learn how to do the Chinese Dragon Dance, the Dragon Flag, the Dragon Drums, & The Dragon Wisdom Pearl techniques plus basic martial arts warm-ups! Advanced students will also learn acrobatic exercises.  Senior members will be part of the Performance team that is invited to perform throughout NE Ohio.  Performances include the Cleveland Asian Festival, OCA Moon Festival, Lunar New Year Celebrations and many others.  Open to everyone (Children or Adult) that can run and able to carry the Dragon.  The OCA Cleveland Dragon Dance Team is part of OCA’s cultural outreach activity and Project RAISE to encourage physical activity in the Asian community.  

Location: Asian Town Center, 2nd floor. 3820 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103    FEE: $40 for each Quarter of classes for Adult and $20 for Children. Uniform (pants/shirt) $30 each.  Classes are FREE to members of OCA Cleveland, (cheaper to become a member), join now!

Click here to sign up! Dragon Dance Classes are once-a-week on Weekends, with seasonal schedule updates, and each class is a two-hour session.  To graduate and be eligible for performance, a participant must attend at least 6 sessions.  Performance priority will be for those with highest “Seniority” per Martial Arts system.

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Dragon Dance Team performed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural HIstory

ClevelandPeople.com did a nice coverage during our performance at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History,  click here to read more.

In 2014, the OCA Cleveland Dragon Dance Team performed at eight venues.  Here are some videos from performances as well as practice.

 


OCA Dragon featuring Yume Daiko on drums at 2014 Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival – Came-7500 with gh4 12-35mm lens from Johnny Wu on Vimeo.

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Sponsored by OCA Greater Cleveland, with support from Asian Town Center, and Tshaka Brown Shaolin Kungfu School.