CLEVELAND—Mark Lee Pringle is ringing in the new year on a good beat.

“You know, hopefully good energy for [20]22,” Pringle said. 

He’s the Si-Fu, also known as the head instructor, at Coiling Dragon Chinese Kung Fu school. He led a lion dance to kick off a Lunar New Year celebration at Emperor’s Palace restaurant.

While he got dressed for the performance, Pringle said, “The lion dance is the chase away of bad energy.”

Pringle said the traditional dance mimics a lion’s movements and is performed to bring good luck. He added that it’s an expression that allows him to connect with his roots.

“My family is a part Chinese. No one else in my family has done this, but I thought when I got to be about 18 years old, I started discovering my cultures,” Pringle said. “So, I started studying about it, and joined a couple kung fu schools, and went from Akron to Chicago to New York City, back and forth, and learned how to do all these great things for the culture.

Pringle’s love for his culture was clear when he got completely dressed and proudly wore the head of the colorful, lion-shaped costume.

“When we put it together, it looks like an old vaudeville horse. We have top[s] and bottoms so they match in color and everything," Pringle said.

With the sound of a drum, the choreography began.

Pringle often interacted with the audience throughout the dance by tossing out symbols of happiness, like fortune cookies and oranges.

“Happy Year of the Tiger,” Pringle said to the audience.

After taking a bow, he explained what a rush the performance gave him.

“Just like any kind of sports activity or exercise, it’s like exhilarating,” Pringle said.

If you’re interested in learning more about the traditional dances that Pringle performs, visit their website.