The chinese new year dragon dance is related to fortune making in china. Dragon is equivalent to its character like great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness. Hence, dragon dance in china holds central part in new year festive season. People pay respect to dragon and called one selves as Descendants of the Dragon, symbol of own ethnic identification. Dragon dance removes evil spirit, misfortune and bring prosperity and harmony in land.
The chinese new year dragon dance history originated in the period of Han dynasty. Han dynasty likes merry making and celebration in form of dance. Hence lion dance and dragon dance was formed. The performance of Dragon dance needs large number of masses.
Its number varies with factors like size, financial power, space. The dance include same musical instrument played in lion dance which are drums, cymbals and a gong. The dance is mimicry of dragon. The steps are synchronized on the beats of drum. The image of dragons is made on poles. The team leader of dance makes his movement according to beat followed by its other member. The team leader lifts or dips the head of dragon. The waving movement of the dance is appreciation to the dragon, which controls natural forces. The dance is also performed during other festival time in china.
The dragon is considered as master of rainfall in china; hence the dragon dance would please dragon king to release rain in the land. The size determines the luck and prosperity of future; therefore Chinese make large size of dragon. According to Last record of to the "Guinness Book of Records", in May 1995, the longest dancing dragon, size 5,550 feet was made up of 610 people.