Chinatown Community
Young Lions
established in 1973
Celebrating 51 years as the Young Lions
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Celebrating 51 years as the Young Lions 〰️
2025 Lunar New Year dates
Wednesday, Jan 29 10:30am - 3:00pm
in Chinatown, Manhattan
Saturday, February 8 10:30am - 5:00pm
Super Saturday in Chinatown, Manhattan
Dress warm, bring gloves, and we hope to see you there.
We are the Young Lions 青年
We are a lion dance group in Chinatown preserving our Chinese heritage through lion dance with a faster beat that matches our NYC upbringing since 1973.
Non-Profit 501(c)3 Youth & Community Organization
A short history of CCYL through the masterful videography of NY Chapters #105
Our mission is to teach, preserve and share Asian culture and heritage among the youth of the greater Chinatown community area.
To maintain an open door policy to any youth who demonstrates the desire to learn and the will to succeed; to offer a safe harbor for those who have difficulty adjusting to the challenges of growing up as an inner city youth and to celebrate our differences as individuals and marvel in the diversity that is Chinatown.
We provide opportunities for young people to make positive contributions to their community through participation and leadership in public activities, athletic competitions, and cultural events.
Photo of the Young Lions is the cover of the late iconic photojournalist’s book Corky Lee’s Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice. Credit: AsAmNews
“Jan Lee, a Chinatown community leader, opened with what Corky [Lee] saw in the youth group as he told the history of the Chinatown Community Young Lions that formed out of the need for a sense of belonging for a group of multi-ethnic youths made up of Blacks, Puerto Ricans, Jewish, Italians and Chinese learning the traditions of a Chinese folk art in America. ”
— Corky Lee's Asian America celebrated in New York
Latest Updates
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Young Lions at the 2024 US Open
Young Lions performed a traditional lion dance and dragon dance to welcome fans to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and bring good luck to the tournament.
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MTA Lunar New Year celebration at Grand Central
In connection with the MTA, the Young Lions performed in Grand Central Terminal, Grand Central Madison and Grand Central–42nd Street subway station on Sunday to celebrate the Lunar New Year’s Year of the Dragon.
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Year of the Dragon at Brooklyn Children's Museum
The Young Lions returned to Brooklyn Children's Museum for the 5th time with a traditional lion dance to bring good luck in the new year.
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2024 New Yorker of the Week: Alvin Eng
Alvin Eng has taught generations of lion dancers and repaired lion heads for Young Lions. He is also the second member to be featured as New Yorker of the Week, 18 years after founder Valerie Tom was first featured in 2006 by the news channel.
What is Chinese Lion Dancing?
According to Wikipedia, Lion dance (traditional Chinese: 舞獅; simplified Chinese: 舞狮; pinyin: wǔshī) is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume to bring good luck and fortune. The lion dance is usually performed during the Chinese New Year and other Chinese traditional, cultural and religious festivals. It may also be performed at important occasions such as business opening events, special celebrations or wedding ceremonies, or may be used to honour special guests by the Chinese communities.
Get involved
Join us
We offer lion dance programs for kids 7 years and up in a joint collaboration with Hamilton Madison House.
Hire us
We are available for your next important celebration, from grand openings to weddings.
Support us
Your donation helps us support the mission to teach, preserve and share Asian culture and heritage among the youth with our programs.
Featured in
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MTA Celebrates Lunar New Year with Lion Dancers
The Young Lions performed at subway and bus stops in Manhattan’s Chinatown
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A Fashionable Start to the Lunar New Year
The New York Times featured the Young Lions performing at designer Phillip Lim’s intimate dinner at Genesis House
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Year of the Doggo party at Spotify
Lunar New Year party thrown by employee resource groups of Spotify, BuzzFeed, Bank of America
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BuzzFeed News Live on Lunar New Year 2018
Brian and Lauren talk to BuzzFeed News about Chinese Lion Dancing and how the Young Lions got started
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New Yorker of the Week
Interview by NY1 News on Valerie featured as the New Yorker of the Week on the news channel
Follow us on Instagram: @ccyl_ny
