Lions and dragons and drums in Surabaya

After a four-year pause, the sound of drums and cymbals was once again heard as performers competed in the 3rd Dragon and Lion Dance World Championship, held at Kenjeran Park in Surabaya.

Surabayans were entertained from Friday to Sunday by 23 teams from 12 nations, including China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States, Belgium, France, Korea, and Indonesia. All were vying to perform the best version of the dance, which originated in China.

The first competition was held in China in 2000 and the second in Malaysia in 2002. The event was suspended in 2004 due to the bird flu scare.

The teams of costumed dancers imitate the animals' movements in time to the music, and also perform acrobatics.

Chinese Vice Minister of Sports Zhang Fa Qiang, who also chairs the International Dragon and Lion Dance Federation, was in the audience.

"The Chinese government is proud that the biennial event could be organized again," said Zhang.

China, said Zhang, fully supported staging the event in Indonesia, since dances were no longer the sole property of China but were popular worldwide.

"We hope the lion and dragon performances will be included in the next Olympics," said Zhang.

The dances were banned under the rule of former president Soeharto. They began to make a comeback seven years ago in various events involving Chinese-Indonesians.

The Chinese, Malaysian and Indonesian teams were favored to win in the tournament.

In the final rounds on Dec. 10, the three teams put on their best performances. The Chinese team, which had showed its mastery on the first day, unexpectedly dropped out of the competition in the final.

The Malaysian and Indonesian teams performed remarkably. Seven judges provided the same points to both countries, while China placed second.

"The judges were at one point confused on how to decide the winner," the organizing chairman of the event, Soetiadji, told The Jakarta Post. They eventually gave the Indonesian and Malaysian teams a runoff.

That was when the Indonesian team gave its best performance and was named the winner. "May Indonesia defend its title in the 4th Dragon and Lion Dance World Championship which will be held in Australia," said Soetiadji.