YANGON, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The rhythmic pounding of drums echoed through the streets of Chinatown of Yangon, Myanmar, as brightly colored lions leapt high above the crowd, balancing carefully on metal poles.

After a five-year pause, the lion and dragon dance competition has returned, drawing performers and spectators back to the neighborhood in a celebration of tradition, unity and cultural pride.

Organized by the Myanmar Lion and Dragon Dance Federation, the three-day event is being held from Feb. 18 to 20. This year's competition features four new-generation pole lion dance teams, seven professional pole lion dance teams and six dragon dance teams.

"The purpose of the competition is to preserve traditional Chinese lion and dragon dances, promote unity and bring entertainment to the community," said U Kyaw Kyaw, chairman of the federation.

"We believe lion and dragon dances can bring success, development and prosperity," he said.

One of the main highlights is the pole lion dance, in which performers leap across elevated poles several feet above the ground, with the tallest reaching nine feet. The routine demands strength, coordination and intense concentration. A fall could result in serious injury, U Kyaw Kyaw explained.

"The lion dance on the poles is risky, so we prepare and support training for both practice and competition," he said.

Judge U Thant Zin, 39, who oversees the new-generation contest, said teams are evaluated on natural movement, strong performance quality and their ability to captivate the audience. Each team must perform for between 10 and 13 minutes.

A lion dance team consists of two dancers inside the lion costume and about six members of a drum band who provide the powerful rhythm driving the performance. According to the judge, successful performers must be physically strong, disciplined and united, with a strong sense of teamwork.

Because the event was revived after a five-year break since the COVID-19 pandemic, many veteran performers have retired and new faces have stepped forward. U Thant Zin emphasized that young participants must maintain discipline, stay free from narcotics and respect their coaches and judges. He said the competition encourages the younger generation and offers opportunities to gain international experience.

For 16-year-old San Min from the Myanmar Feng Yi dragon and lion dance team, the contest is both exciting and challenging. "It is my first time in a pole lion dance competition," he said.

With only two weeks to prepare, he had limited training time. "The high pole lion dance contest is very new to me. I felt excited when dancing on the poles, but I tried to control my emotions because excitement can cause mistakes."

"When I started the contest, I decided I would complete it," he said. Growing up in Chinatown, he has loved lion dances since childhood and hopes to improve with more training.

As drums thunder and lions soar once more, the competition's return marks more than a spectacle. After five years of pause, lion and dragon dances are breathing life back into Yangon's Chinatown.

The event has drawn large crowds. Daw Yee Swe, 64, attended with her grandchild and said she planned to come all three days. Nearby, children watched wide-eyed as the lions flipped and swung between poles, cheering for their favorite teams.

"I like the lion dances very much. I've been watching them since I was very young. I especially like the flip performances," said Nyan Lin Latt Htoo, 11, sitting among the crowd watching the lions.