My love for lion dance began when I was a little kid growing up in Saigon, Vietnam. Back then, we didn’t have much — just days spent playing in the streets, chasing marbles, and making our own fun. But whenever we heard the sound of lion dance drums echoing through the neighborhood, everything stopped. That rhythm meant excitement. It meant magic. My friends and I would chase after the lion dance troupe, following them through every alleyway all the way until nightfall, staying until the team packed up and went home. Those moments stayed with me — even though I didn’t know it yet, that was where my passion began.

Years later, when I started college in Los Angeles, I finally stepped into lion dance myself. I joined a local team in 2012, not fully understanding how deep and serious the art truly was. At first, I thought simply being around lion dance was enough — that loving it was all it took.

But as the team grew, so did my responsibilities. Within three years, I became a coach, guiding the team — and myself — through competitions both nationally and internationally. That period taught me discipline, leadership, and the true weight of tradition.

In 2016, my journey changed forever. I was introduced to Lau Yiu Lam Sifu, who owned the Lau Yiu Kee lion head making business. When I visited him for the first time, he shared his story with me and then taught me two simple movements to take home and practice.

The following year, I returned to seek more of his teachings. Before anything else, he tested me — asking me to perform those exact two movements he taught me the year before. After seeing my dedication, he began teaching me more… piece by piece, lesson by lesson.

And that is how my journey into the Lo Leung (羅梁) began.

Today, I carry the honor and responsibility of being the first Lo Leung team in the United States, continuing the teachings passed down to me by my sifu. Everything I teach, every student I guide, and every movement we practice is rooted in the lessons he gave me.