Despite Westford Academy’s relatively diverse student body and several cultural clubs like the South Asian Student Association (SASA) and the Asian Culture Club (ACC), it can be hard for second-generation immigrants to find ways to connect with their culture. As the daughter of first-generation immigrants from Vietnam, sophomore Audrey Nguyen felt the same way—until she joined a group of lion dancers called the Lion Star Boys.
The lion dance is a traditional form of dance for many countries in Asia, including Vietnam. Originating in China, it typically involves dancers wearing a lion costume and mimicking the movements of a lion. The lion dance is usually performed during festivals and special occasions, such as Chinese New Year.
Nguyen’s first exposure to lion dancing occurred in September of 2022, when she witnessed the Lion Star Boys perform at her church for the mid-autumn festival.
“The sound of the cymbals before the drums, the music overall, drew me in immediately,” Nguyen said. “And I thought to myself, ‘Wow, that’s something I want to do.’”
Nguyen joined the Lion Star Boys at the beginning of 2023, when she was in eighth grade. At first, the group consisted mainly of high school and college-age boys and men, but it has diversified since. Based at the St. Patrick’s church in Lowell, the Lion Star Boys have members from across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, though most are from nearby towns.
“We don’t [have an instructor], so we kind of do everything on our own,” Nguyen said. “But I would say we’re pretty good at being self-sufficient.”
Provided by Nguyen.
In order to create one lion, each dancer needs a partner of similar size. Although Nguyen joined as a cymbalist, the group did explore her abilities as a dancer. However, her lack of a partner hindered the experience, leading her to remain in her position as a cymbalist. At the group’s performances there is typically one drummer and anywhere from one to four cymbalists.
“If I had a partner, I could potentially start practicing [dancing again], but I honestly like doing cymbals,” Nguyen said. “You can’t have the dance without the music.”
Nguyen’s importance to the group is not overlooked by her fellow performers, including others her age.
“[Nguyen] picks up on rhythms easily and she’s really dedicated to having a great show,” sophomore and fellow lion dancer Ace Nguyen said.
Despite the challenge of getting used to a different position than she expected, Nguyen immediately loved the feeling of performing for a crowd.
“I remember my first performance at UMass Lowell really well. I remember the applause at the end, the adrenaline building up to it, and it was just something I wanted to do all the time. It gave me a lot of self growth […] and put me out of my comfort zone,” Nguyen said.
This specific performance occurred when Nguyen was 13 years old and it was her first time in a college auditorium. According to Nguyen, the experience gave her space to come out of her shell and contributed to who she is today: someone who enjoys performing.
The group’s main performing season is January through February, although they have some performances in the spring and fall. Nguyen believes the practices and performances are not too difficult to balance alongside school and other extracurriculars, allowing her to maintain her rigorous course load with several higher-level classes while continuing to play and perform.
“I love being able to work hard on different projects and having the opportunity to see it all come together and be appreciated by so many people,” Nguyen said.
Still, according to Nguyen, being part of the group has its difficulties. The practices occur later in the evening, sometimes ending as late as 9:30 p.m., which makes it hard to find a ride to and from practice and occasionally limits time for doing homework.
“Even with all the struggles that might come with practicing, it’s honestly really rewarding because I can show other people this part of who I am,” Nguyen said.
Provided by Nguyen.
Her passion for the dance compels Nguyen to continue performing even after she graduates from high school. Nguyen believes that this is something she would like to continue in college, and she would not be the only member of the Lion Star Boys who has done so. Several members of the group are currently in college and still dance or play music at performances.
A large part of the importance the dance form has for Nguyen is the connection to her culture. Since Nguyen’s parents both immigrated from Vietnam to the United States before she was born, Nguyen has never been to Vietnam and cannot speak the language fluently. Nguyen feels as though lion dancing bridges the gap between her culture and her identity.
“I think it opened my eyes to a part of my culture that I didn’t know much about,” Nguyen said.
This year, the Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 29, an important date for lion dancing performances. The Lion Star Boys’ will be celebrating with a performance on Jan. 26 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Pho City in Methuen.
“I’m really excited for this performance because it means the new season is starting up again,” Nguyen said. “I get to wear cultural clothes and celebrate the new year.”
