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Chloe Ho, 21, was born in Derry Londonderry to a Chinese father and a Northern Irish mother, Chloe’s identity was influenced by both cultures. At the age of 10, Chloe took up the traditional Chinese lion dance, the most iconic expression of Chinese culture and a representation of good luck and fortune. Traditionally a male preserve, the lion dance for Chloe was a way to express her culture, overcome shyness and gave her that sense of belonging she missed as she ‘came of age’.

Against the background of a ‘green’ and ‘orange’ political landscape in NI where minority voices were often unheard, lion dancing gave Chloe a sense of purpose and helped her grow in confidence as she tackled life’s challenges as an ethnic minority teenager, figuring out her place in Northern Irish society. She has dedicated 10 years of her life to the lion. Chloe, now President of the Queen’s University Success Lion Dance Troupe, wants to inspire other young people like her to keep the lion dancing tradition alive in Northern Ireland. She worries that the demise in interest will continue and the tradition will eventually disappear. She has worked tirelessly to promote her culture and knows that other sacrifices in life will threaten her commitment to a tradition that was once her lifeline. She is young but has the responsibility of a community as she decides her way forward. Will she give up her lion?