Chinese New Year: Malays, Indians keen to take part in multi-racial lion dance troupes

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The lion dance is central to Malaysia's Chinese New Year celebration, with troupes performing in schools, shopping malls, and at family "open house" gatherings. All that noise and color appeals to people of all ethnic groups in the multi-racial country. But some non-Chinese in Malaysia are keen to be more than just spectators. Rian Maelzer has the story from Kuala Lumpur.

Siti Saleha is unusual in more ways than one: as a woman who acts as the lion's head. And moreover, as an ethnic Malay.

SITI SALEHA MOHD SALLEH MALAY LION DANCE PERFORMER "I was really interested in lion dance since I was young and always curious what is it all about and then when I learned about lion dance, it has become my passion to know and dance this beautiful art of lion dance."

It's not so uncommon here to see non-Chinese as drummers, but the Muhibah or Goodwill troupe is multi-racial from head to tail. Troupe leader master or Sifu James Attygalle is himself half-Chinese, half-Sinhalese.

SIFU JAMES ATTYGALLE LION DANCE TROUPE LEADER "We kind of have the various groupings, various religious backgrounds, so it's kind of a concoction of everyone that comes together to perform a very beautiful, wonderful, meaningful and a sentimental show for the people."

RIAN MAELZER KUALA LUMPUR "Malaysia's population comprises ethnic Malays, Chinese, Indians, and various indigenous groups and other ethnicities. But racial harmony and interaction isn't as great as it once was."

The Muhibah troupe is helping break down those barriers while upholding high standards, and tradition.

SIFU JAMES ATTYGALLE LION DANCE TROUPE LEADER "Lion dance is one of the place that everybody can mingle together, mix together, understand each other's needs and that's where we strengthen our bonds and to have a harmonious feeling among each other."

MOHAN KUMAR INDIAN LION DANCE PERFORMER "We see their face get thrilled when once we finish the performance and we come out from the lion and then they will say there is a Malay person, there is an Indian guy, and there's a Sikh guy."

And they are in demand beyond Malaysia's borders.

MOHAN KUMAR INDIAN LION DANCE PERFORMER "I call it as a bonus. So we have been to Bahrain, to Sri Lanka and also Maldives."

A Malay lion head, and Indian legs working in unison to perform a Chinese tradition – what better symbol of harmony in multi-racial Malaysia. Rian Maelzer, CGTN, Kuala Lumpur.