UMD Senior Brings Hmong Dragon Folklore to Life

Lor's first dance depicts a dragoness protecting her village. Photo courtesy of Alivia Lor

UMD senior, Alivia Lor, is drawing attention to a performance tradition she created herself: Hmong dragon puppeteering dances rooted in folklore, identity and cultural preservation.

Lor, 21, a Minneapolis–Saint Paul native, developed the dragon dances in 2022 after arriving at UMD. With her mother from Thailand and her father from Laos, Lor grew up connected to her Hmong heritage but recognized that traditional cultural arts are not always widely visible or accessible. Her goal was to create something original that could honor both tradition and invite broader audiences into Hmong storytelling.

“There’s so little cultural arts in the Hmong community as is, and whatever culture there is can be very restricted at times,” Lor said. “I wanted to find something that would fit me and something that I could share with anybody and everybody who wanted to see.”

Her recent performance at the Marshall Performing Arts Center during the Feast of Nations event on Feb. 28 featured two contrasting dragon narratives that showcased the depth and duality of Hmong folklore.

The first dance tells the story of a young dragoness who resides in a river and watches over a nearby village. When a violent storm threatens the community with rising floodwaters, the dragon must decide whether to intervene. Through sweeping, controlled movements of the puppet, Lor portrayed the dragon as a benevolent guardian — a powerful being who protects those who respect her. The piece emphasized themes of responsibility, balance and the relationship between humans and nature.

Lor's second dance represents a young girl's abduction. Photo courtesy of Alivia Lor

The second dance shifted dramatically in tone. Structured in three movements — the Wind and Thunder Dragon, the Flood Dragon and a Mongol-inspired retelling — the performance explored the darker side of dragon mythology. In this version, dragons wield immense magical power that can become destructive. One segment depicted the abduction of a young girl into a river, reflecting cautionary elements common to traditional folklore.

By presenting both protective and malevolent dragons, Lor aimed to reflect the complexity of Hmong stories, which often portray mythical beings as neither wholly good nor evil, but deeply tied to human behavior and respect.

Looking ahead, Lor hopes to continue performing wherever opportunities arise — on campus, throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, and potentially beyond. Her mission remains focused: expanding visibility for Hmong cultural storytelling and ensuring these narratives continue to evolve for new generations.