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Line dancers put their best foot forward for competition hoedown
By Xu Wenwen |
December 5, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
GROUND clear; check. Mini skirt and boots on; check. Large sound system plugged in; check. Then it's time to turn on the music and demonstrate your dance steps under the dim glow of streetlights.
This is a common sight in China's towns and cities: between 7 to 9pm, groups of women, mostly middle-aged, gather in a public area - often a square - and in sync gyrate their hips and swing their arms to the strong beat of the music.
The repetitive beat is what distinguishes the music, which can be everything from Chinese songs to English and Indian tracks.
It's favored by the dancers, keen amateurs, as it's easy to follow and participants obviously enjoy it very much.
This phenomenon, known as square dancing, is a form of line dancing.
Defying stereotypes
Line dancing came to prominence in the 1970s in the United States. While associated with country and Western music, line dances accompany many popular music styles, including pop, swing, rock and roll, disco, Latin and jazz.
Whatever the type of music, dancers stand in a line and perform a choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps.
Last month, the national competition, the Youjia Cup Line Dance Challenge took place in Hangzhou, with more than 40 teams from 17 cities competing.
The event was sponsored by the State General Administration of Sports, the Chinese Gymnastic Team and the National Line Dance Promotion Center of China.
Defying stereotypes, the dancers are not all ladies of a certain age. Instead, competitors range from kids in kindergarten to senior citizens, both male and female.
As it's a competition, participants are turned out in glamorous attire. Many of the women wear backless Latin dance dresses, while men are mostly in suits, complete with bow-tie.
But the moves remain straightforward, as that's the rule. Complicated routines involving somersaults or lifting another dancer over your shoulder are not allowed.
Every team must perform two songs: one required routine and one devised by the team. For the required routine, dancers can choose one song from a songbook (featuring 50,000 songs) provided by World Country Dance Federation. The steps are fixed, though dancers can change hand movements and the dance formation.
For the second dance, the music and moves are chosen and choreographed by the dancers.
"The competition rules are in accordance with international ones," says Tang Jinshan, the secretary-general of National Line Dance Promotion Center of China, and one of the judges.
Tang says organizers are keen for the domestic square dance to receive recognition. "We want to make the square dance an official competition event," he says.
The national government is also currently training coaches in different cities to put amateurs through their moves.
The National Line Dance Promotion Center of China has held three national line dance competitions and is working to standardize events.
China has a long tradition of people gathering for exercise and recreation activities. This can be seen around the country, where people meet in parks and
other places to practice martial arts, tai chi and yangko dance.
Line dance was officially introduced in China in 2008 and quickly became a popular exercise activity and hobby.What Do They Say
Shanghai Daily met a team of Hangzhou dancers who took second prize for the senior age group at the Youjia Cup Line Dance Challenge and heard what attracts them to line and square dancing. These ladies started square dancing last year.
? Kong Aifeng, 59.
"I've loved dancing since I was young. One evening last year, I took a stereo to a city square and danced, just to see if people would come and join me. And they did. While I'm coach, I never charge, as I feel honored that at my age I can still influence others. I'm learning choreography at the same time and have seen a great improvement in my abilities."
? Shao Weiping, 58
"As I grew older, I've felt that I ought to dress in more conservative clothes and seldom wore makeup. So I never expected, at my age, to get a chance to perform on stage! Square dancing has helped me regain my youth and energy."
? Liu Zhaoxiu, 59
"I am a housewife with endless housework, and in the past often felt isolated from society. But since I've started square dancing, I've met new friends and I can forget my age, troubles and ailments. Now my happiest time of day is in the evening, as that's when I can dance."
? Zhang Meidi, 60
"I had never danced before, but when I passed by a square and saw people dancing, I wanted to join in. Initially, it was for the exercise, but gradually I came to love dancing so much because it not only improves my health but is fun too and give me lots of good memories."
? Yang Weifang, 43
"I am a nurse and have a lot of pressure at work. Through dancing, I can find release from this. If I'm feeling down, dancing transforms me into a happy person."
This is a common sight in China's towns and cities: between 7 to 9pm, groups of women, mostly middle-aged, gather in a public area - often a square - and in sync gyrate their hips and swing their arms to the strong beat of the music.
The repetitive beat is what distinguishes the music, which can be everything from Chinese songs to English and Indian tracks.
It's favored by the dancers, keen amateurs, as it's easy to follow and participants obviously enjoy it very much.
This phenomenon, known as square dancing, is a form of line dancing.
Defying stereotypes
Line dancing came to prominence in the 1970s in the United States. While associated with country and Western music, line dances accompany many popular music styles, including pop, swing, rock and roll, disco, Latin and jazz.
Whatever the type of music, dancers stand in a line and perform a choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps.
Last month, the national competition, the Youjia Cup Line Dance Challenge took place in Hangzhou, with more than 40 teams from 17 cities competing.
The event was sponsored by the State General Administration of Sports, the Chinese Gymnastic Team and the National Line Dance Promotion Center of China.
Defying stereotypes, the dancers are not all ladies of a certain age. Instead, competitors range from kids in kindergarten to senior citizens, both male and female.
As it's a competition, participants are turned out in glamorous attire. Many of the women wear backless Latin dance dresses, while men are mostly in suits, complete with bow-tie.
But the moves remain straightforward, as that's the rule. Complicated routines involving somersaults or lifting another dancer over your shoulder are not allowed.
Every team must perform two songs: one required routine and one devised by the team. For the required routine, dancers can choose one song from a songbook (featuring 50,000 songs) provided by World Country Dance Federation. The steps are fixed, though dancers can change hand movements and the dance formation.
For the second dance, the music and moves are chosen and choreographed by the dancers.
"The competition rules are in accordance with international ones," says Tang Jinshan, the secretary-general of National Line Dance Promotion Center of China, and one of the judges.
Tang says organizers are keen for the domestic square dance to receive recognition. "We want to make the square dance an official competition event," he says.
The national government is also currently training coaches in different cities to put amateurs through their moves.
The National Line Dance Promotion Center of China has held three national line dance competitions and is working to standardize events.
China has a long tradition of people gathering for exercise and recreation activities. This can be seen around the country, where people meet in parks and
other places to practice martial arts, tai chi and yangko dance.
Line dance was officially introduced in China in 2008 and quickly became a popular exercise activity and hobby.What Do They Say
Shanghai Daily met a team of Hangzhou dancers who took second prize for the senior age group at the Youjia Cup Line Dance Challenge and heard what attracts them to line and square dancing. These ladies started square dancing last year.
? Kong Aifeng, 59.
"I've loved dancing since I was young. One evening last year, I took a stereo to a city square and danced, just to see if people would come and join me. And they did. While I'm coach, I never charge, as I feel honored that at my age I can still influence others. I'm learning choreography at the same time and have seen a great improvement in my abilities."
? Shao Weiping, 58
"As I grew older, I've felt that I ought to dress in more conservative clothes and seldom wore makeup. So I never expected, at my age, to get a chance to perform on stage! Square dancing has helped me regain my youth and energy."
? Liu Zhaoxiu, 59
"I am a housewife with endless housework, and in the past often felt isolated from society. But since I've started square dancing, I've met new friends and I can forget my age, troubles and ailments. Now my happiest time of day is in the evening, as that's when I can dance."
? Zhang Meidi, 60
"I had never danced before, but when I passed by a square and saw people dancing, I wanted to join in. Initially, it was for the exercise, but gradually I came to love dancing so much because it not only improves my health but is fun too and give me lots of good memories."
? Yang Weifang, 43
"I am a nurse and have a lot of pressure at work. Through dancing, I can find release from this. If I'm feeling down, dancing transforms me into a happy person."
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