Corporate events
Lion Dance for Corporate Events in the Washington, D.C. Area
A traditional lion dance is a memorable centerpiece for an office Lunar New Year celebration, a client reception, a product launch or an employee appreciation event. We have performed for companies, associations, embassies and government offices across the Washington area for decades.
What does a corporate lion dance look like?
A corporate performance follows the same tradition as any other: the drum begins, the lions enter, greet the hosts and the audience, perform, and complete the choy cheng blessing for the company’s prosperity. What changes is the setting and the audience. We perform in lobbies, atriums, conference rooms, cafeterias, hotel ballrooms and on outdoor plazas, for audiences of a dozen to several thousand. For many employees it is their first lion dance, so we are glad to include a short spoken introduction to the lion, the instruments and the meaning of the blessing, and to stay afterward for photographs with the team.
Which corporate occasions suit a lion dance?
- Lunar New Year celebrations for employees and their families, the most common corporate booking.
- Office openings, relocations and ribbon cuttings, blessed the same way a storefront would be.
- Client receptions, galas and conferences, where the lion opens the evening or a keynote.
- Employee resource group and diversity events, often paired with a cultural talk.
- Embassy, association and government events, including national-day receptions and cultural programs. The team has performed for dignitaries and celebrities, most recently for the Vice President of the United States at her personal residence.
How long is a corporate performance?
A standard set runs about 15 to 20 minutes, which fits a lunchtime celebration or the opening of a reception. For a longer program we add a second lion, a laughing Buddha, or a Hung Fut kung fu demonstration with hand forms and traditional weapons, which extends the performance to 30 to 45 minutes. We can also perform two shorter sets for events with staggered attendance.
Logistics for event planners and office managers
- Space. A clear area of roughly 15 by 15 feet plus a path for the lions to enter and greet the audience. Ceilings of about ten feet are ideal.
- Sound. The percussion is acoustic and loud; no amplification is needed. Tell us about noise policies and neighboring tenants.
- Access. We arrive early with the lions, the drum and cases. A loading dock, freight elevator or nearby parking makes setup quick; building security often needs performer names in advance.
- Paperwork. We can provide an invoice and any vendor forms your company requires.
- Pricing. Corporate performances are quoted individually based on date, location, program length and number of lions. Contact us for a quote.
Where we perform corporate events
We perform for companies in Arlington, including Rosslyn, Ballston and National Landing, in Bethesda and the I-270 corridor through Rockville, in Tysons and Reston in Fairfax County, and throughout downtown Washington, D.C.
Four lions at a school demonstration 
Traditional weapons at a school demonstration 
Instructors beneath the school's four lion heads
Can a lion dance be performed indoors?
Yes. Most of our performances are indoors, in restaurants, hotel ballrooms, offices, museums, schools and private homes. The drum, gong and cymbals are loud by design, so we adjust volume and placement to the room and coordinate with the venue.
For an indoor event, let us know about stairs, elevators, loading access and any noise policy. Outdoor performances need a level, dry surface; in extreme heat or rain we may shorten the routine or move under cover for the performers' safety.
How many performers come to a lion dance?
Each lion is danced by two performers, one at the head and one at the tail, and is accompanied by a percussion team on drum, gong and cymbals. A single-lion performance therefore involves roughly five to six people; a two-lion performance adds two more dancers.
Larger events can add more lions, a Buddha character who leads and teases the lions, or a kung fu demonstration from our school. Tell us the scale of your event and we will recommend the right team.
Can you add a kung fu demonstration to the lion dance?
Yes. We can pair the lion dance with a traditional Hung Fut kung fu demonstration, including hand forms and weapons, for festivals, school assemblies, corporate events and celebrations that want a longer program.
Mention it when you request a quote and tell us how long a program you would like. Demonstrations are performed by instructors and senior students of the school.
How much does a lion dance performance cost?
Pricing depends on the date, location, number of lions and length of the program, so we quote each event individually. Contact us with your date, venue and the occasion and we will send a quote, usually the same or next business day.
Lunar New Year dates, events far from Kensington, multi-lion programs and combined lion dance and kung fu demonstrations are priced differently from a standard single-lion blessing. Tell us everything you have in mind and we will recommend the option that fits your event and budget.
Service area
Where we perform corporate event lion dances
We travel throughout the D.C. metro area from our school in Kensington, Maryland. These are some of the places we perform most often for this kind of event.
Book the team
Ready to book a lion dance?
Tell us your date, venue and occasion and we will reply with availability and a quote.