.hung tao choy mei
Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute is a Jow Ga kung fu school located at 14th and U St NW. The DC community pillar offers free programs to children aged 6-18, fostering leadership, confidence, and physical fitness through city-funded initiatives. Founded in 1995, this organization also teaches Dragon Dancing, Lion Dancing, and African drumming. The programs at Hung Tao Choy Mei are designed to offer DC youth a safe place to engage with a community of their peers and elders. Through this programming, students develop physical, mental, and moral tools to navigate life's complexities with integrity and excellence.
In these photos and brief clips, HTCMLI’s adult members perform traditional Jow Ga forms at various festivals throughout the city, dance as Chinese lions, honor late members of the school, and wake new dragons through dance and ceremony. Community is built through shared culture, mentorship, and empowerment. Preserving and passing down traditions—whether through martial arts, lion dance, or drumming—creates a sense of belonging and continuity.