Over a dozen people held up a red and golden dragon last Sunday at the Asian Alaskan Cultural Center in Spenard, weaving around a large room as they chased a lead dancer carrying a pearl.
They were practicing the dragon dance, a traditional Chinese art form, ahead of the Alaska Chinese Association’s upcoming annual Lunar New Year Celebration, which doubles as the nonprofit’s 50th anniversary.
Board member Jerry Kung is coordinating the dance this year. He said it’s much harder than it looks, and that each person plays an important role.
“We put the strongest young man up front for the head of the dragon, because that is pulling the rest of the dragon segments,” Kung said. “We put the fastest person in the back, because the tail is always chasing after the dragon.”…