Basic Beat

The basic beat is the rhythm pattern that we play most often when we practice Lion Dance.  Sometimes we call it the parade beat because that’s what gets played on the drums when the Lion is prancing through the streets.

Why are we drumming on the floor?  Because the drum is LOUD, we have neighbors and we’re considerate people.  (Never mind the sound of all those barbells dropping on the floor.)

There are (of course) lots of other rhythms that get played during Lion Dance.  This is (as the name implies) the basic one.  Even in the context of this beat, there is plenty of room for creativity and variation – though for simplicity no variations are included in the video.

To view a much less simple lion dance video, go watch this.