Several hundred people filled the atrium of the Aloha Tower Marketplace to watch the ever-popular Chinese lion leap from pole to pole yesterday, spreading good fortune and luck.

The lion dance ringing in the Chinese New Year, celebrated during the first two weeks of February, this year was performed by Jason Guan, who held the paper-mache head, and Ryan Chang, who carried the tail section.

The pair are members of the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association, based in Honolulu. They were joined by other lion dancers who went from business to business at the center spreading good luck yesterday.

"They were excellent," said Sadie Oshiro, a Wahiawa resident. "I grew up with another Chinese club and what they demonstrated today was a new style to Hawai'i."

The pair of dancers worked together jumping from poles that were 5 to 7 feet tall, said Sherman Wong, an instructor with Wah Ngai.

At one point, the pair lost their balance and remounted the poles to do the final leap jump again.

"It's very dangerous and as you can see they do fall," Wong said. "I am always nervous when they do the pole dance. It's only done on special occasions."

Because of the acrobatic nature of the dancing, the tail dancer has to carry the head dancer on his shoulders as the lion stands and dances, Wong said. That means the tail dancer is older and stronger.

In Hawai'i, the Chinese lion dance is part of the cultural landscape. If done correctly, it is believed that it will bring happiness and luck and will scare away evil.

Connecticut resident Frances DiPreta, who is visiting Hawai'i, was in awe. Even the firecracker ending was exciting, although rather loud, she said.

"It was amazing," DiPreta said. "I wondered how they didn't fall from those poles. I've never seen a Chinese lion dance do the dance on those poles. The balance these kids had ... "

The dance association also had youngsters displaying martial arts moves. One, Randon Luke, has been taking lessons at the association for a few years, said his father Greg Luke.

"I want him to learn martial arts," Luke said. "He's part Chinese. He enjoys it."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.