noun
dragon dance
A traditional performance where a long dragon costume is manipulated by multiple dancers. Strongly associated with the Nagasaki Kunchi festival, but may appear in other regional festivals.
長崎くんちでは、龍踊りが有名です。
The dragon dance is famous at the Nagasaki Kunchi festival.
龍踊りの迫力に観客は圧倒された。
The audience was overwhelmed by the power of the dragon dance.
Lion dance, another traditional performance often seen at festivals. While 龍踊り features a long dragon manipulated by multiple people, 獅子舞 typically involves one or two performers inside a lion costume.
Compound of 龍 (dragon) or 蛇 (snake) and 踊り (dance). The reading じゃ is an older Sino-Japanese reading for 蛇/龍, preserved in this festival term. The dance itself is believed to have been introduced from China.