Meet the young women leaping to prominence in Hong Kong’s lion dance scene

On a weekday night, beneath the gritty underbelly of a bypass in Hong Kong’s Tai Kok Tsui area in Kowloon, two lions – one clad in green and the other in purple – hop up and down a metal platform, their bright manes swaying with each movement.

Manoeuvring under these vibrant costumes are four young women – a rarity in the city’s lion dance scene – who have dedicated over half their lives to this traditional art form.

They are the Kwok’s Girls, female members of the Kwok’s Kung Fu and Dragon Lion Dance Team, which was founded in 1969. Between the working hours of their day jobs, they practice at least once a week.

The girls have gained a notable online presence in recent years. One of their videos gained two million views on their Instagram page, which has more than 30,000 followers.

Their videos have shone a spotlight on the blood, sweat and tears that go into the practice of this distinctive and difficult art form. In one clip, one of the girls lifted another above her head and did three spins, while another showed two coordinated performers leaping from one tall pole to another.