Lion Dancing / Lion Head

[ldclf]

Hey,

I recently signed up, and searching for answers.

I'm a Chinese Lion Dancer, I don't know if you guys are familiar, but it's a traditional art that has been around for years. The typical lion head is made out of bamboo, once the frame is done, it is papered.

I'm looking for a supplier, preferably in the USA for easy shipment, etc, that sells bamboo slats/strips similar to those in the pictures. They're probably similar to those that kites are made out of, it be best if each strip was 60 inches long.

http://images.tg757.multiply.com/image/18/photos/13/500x500/1/Lion%20Bare%2000.jpg?et=F%2BbsQAsjFww8VuLNh0QNuQ&nmid=23487524
Empty frame without paper

3 finished heads in action
http://images.tg757.multiply.com/image/6/photos/40/500x500/58/TG757CPYRGTS2008%20%2868%29.jpg?et=K68zL9hGeDYM1nhmu%2CPDGw&nmid=93725984

http://images.tg757.multiply.com/image/11/photos/40/500x500/10/TG757CPYRGTS2008%20%2810%29.jpg?et=hoZLg6h7dzB%2B6Uz3Cy4vJw&nmid=93725984

http://images.tg757.multiply.com/image/7/photos/40/500x500/38/TG757CPYRGTS2008%20%2839%29.jpg?et=CacMgphS4jZGQ5X9Rwz9zw&nmid=93725984

Basically I'm looking for the right bamboo strips as described earlier, can anyone guide me in the right direction?

Thanks,

ldclf

[greg kono]

cool project, the construction looks very similar to the dragonhead on a chinese centipede kite. I think they use Moso bamboo for those.

Frank's Cane and Rush Supply sells 4' long bamboo strips in various sizes:
http://www.franksupply.com/bamboo_products.htm#bamboobark

or maybe try finding bamboo window shades.
good luck, and please post photos of your construction process.

[ldclf]

I was told from experienced makers "home made makers" tried the bamboo shade, and the bamboo wasn't suitable, perhaps a cheap shade?

I'll check out Frank's, thank you.

Any more suppliers? Where do most of you guys get your bamboo strips for kite making?

Btw, speaking of dragons... Their is also Dragon Dancing..

http://www.geocities.com/kkctansg/dragon_dance/head/1.0.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/kkctansg/dragon_dance/head/1.1.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/371381854_51babfa436.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2515016778_ed79c4b23d.jpg?v=0

[CaroleMeckes]

Hello ldclf and Greg,
I don't think there are many people here in the USA that make bamboo strips.

Personally, I'd like to try my hands at doing some...

I've got plenty of material to work with and I have some tools that should work - I just need some time to play with it and experiment....

I would guess that the strips of green bamboo are more pliable than the strips of the drier bamboo.

ldclf - have you actually made any of these masks and worked with using the bamboo strips?

Carole

[ldclf]

Thanks for the reply,

Today, heads are commonly made out of rattan, due to competition; lighter heads, although bamboo is still the stronger, and traditional material.

I've tried to make a head out of reed(is there a difference between reed and rattan?), it works, but nothing beats traditional, IMO.

Competition head

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNEbOujp9d8

[ldclf]

I forgot to add that, the strips seem to be dry strips. I spoke to some makers, and the strips are bent over heat if needed.

[greg kono]

Here are a couple more bamboo strip suppliers, however both only have shorter lengths.

Bruce Lambert's fighter kites website. His bamboo comes from India.
http://www.fighterkitecentral.com/

Royalwood weaving supplies
http://www.royalwoodltd.com/cat07-10dr.htm

The Drachen Foundation used to carry longer strips, but were getting a lot of damages during shipping and stopped carrying it. They are planning on selling 4' lengths again, but I don't know when they'll be in. They get their bamboo from a couple of kite makers in Japan.
http://www.drachen.org/default.html
The bamboo I got from them in the past were machine milled and not very good for splitting into thinner pieces. Try to find hand split bamboo if you plan on making thinner pieces.

[CaroleMeckes]

Thanks for the reply,

Today, heads are commonly made out of rattan, due to competition; lighter heads, although bamboo is still the stronger, and traditional material.

I've tried to make a head out of reed(is there a difference between reed and rattan?), it works, but nothing beats traditional, IMO.

Competition head

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNEbOujp9d8

That is quite a video of the Lion dancing - are there 2 people inside that lion? - It sure takes a lot of coordination to jump like that....

Here is a link to more info about rattan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattan
Carole