JUST how lucrative being in a lion dance troupe is can best be summed up by the number of troupes currently found nationwide.
Chong Yen Heng, secretary-general of the Heng Kok Lion Dance troupe and general manager of Dong Hwa Dragon and Lion Manufacturing Sdn Bhd says, “There are some 3,000 lion dance troupes in the country. Let’s say each one were to charge a nominal fee of RM300 per performance based on a minimal schedule of 10 shows a day over a period of 10 days, we are already looking at a market worth RM90mil.