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Shaking it up with salsa and samurai swordplay
By Xu Wenwen |
December 3, 2009, Thursday
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YOUNG people in Hangzhou are turning to salsa to keep fit and make friends, and 1,000 dancers have joined a club. Others turn to martial arts, and Japanese kendo is hot. Xu Wenwen reports.
There are lots of ways to keep fit and warm this winter in Hangzhou. There's Latin dance and serious martial arts, such as kendo.
Kevin's Salsa Club
They're shaking it every Tuesday evening in Barossa Bar on Hubin Road and every Saturday in the Hillstreet Bar in the Hangzhou Tower.
Salsa Latin dance mixes African and European elements.
Kevin's Salsa Club, the only one in Hangzhou, was founded in 2004 and now has around 1,000 members, mostly people under 30, including expats.
Xie Minmin is a salsa beginner. She took a one-year comprehensive dance class but wanted more.
"I can dance basic cha cha, jazz and belly dance, but I can't advance because teachers always have to help the beginners," she says. "That's why I decided to exclusively study one kind of dance, salsa."
"Salsa is easy to learn, and the market has great potential," says Xiang Zi, the marketing manager of the club.
"Young people are fond of salsa not only for its entertainment and fitness benefits, but also its sociability and helping congenial people get to know each other."
Kendo Association
While some women like dancing to lose weight and keep fit, many men enjoy taekwando, Chinese kung fu, judo and kendo.
The Hangzhou Kendo Association teaches all of it.
Kendo means "way of the sword" and is a modern Japanese martial art of sword fighting based on traditional swordsmanship.
The association founded last month has 30 members, all young people.
Kendo is physically and mentally challenging and as students advance they wear protective padding. They also wear Japanese clothing and use shinai, Japanese bamboo swords that reflect their inner core, the spirit of bushido - the samurai code of honor, bravery, self-discipline and simple living.
"Most kendo lovers are interested in ancient Japanese and Chinese culture as Japanese culture was spread from China," says Sun Jiandong, director of the club.
"Many young people learn kendo as a way of releasing life and work stress by engaging in combat.
Kevin's Salsa Club
Address: Rm 802, Zhonghe Building, 159 Qingchun Rd,
Tel: (0571) 8791-1450
Hangzhou Kendo Association
Address: 4/F, Jianxin Stadium inside Jianxin Primary School, 19 Guhe Lane
Tel: 135-8842-3900 (Mr Sun)
There are lots of ways to keep fit and warm this winter in Hangzhou. There's Latin dance and serious martial arts, such as kendo.
Kevin's Salsa Club
They're shaking it every Tuesday evening in Barossa Bar on Hubin Road and every Saturday in the Hillstreet Bar in the Hangzhou Tower.
Salsa Latin dance mixes African and European elements.
Kevin's Salsa Club, the only one in Hangzhou, was founded in 2004 and now has around 1,000 members, mostly people under 30, including expats.
Xie Minmin is a salsa beginner. She took a one-year comprehensive dance class but wanted more.
"I can dance basic cha cha, jazz and belly dance, but I can't advance because teachers always have to help the beginners," she says. "That's why I decided to exclusively study one kind of dance, salsa."
"Salsa is easy to learn, and the market has great potential," says Xiang Zi, the marketing manager of the club.
"Young people are fond of salsa not only for its entertainment and fitness benefits, but also its sociability and helping congenial people get to know each other."
Kendo Association
While some women like dancing to lose weight and keep fit, many men enjoy taekwando, Chinese kung fu, judo and kendo.
The Hangzhou Kendo Association teaches all of it.
Kendo means "way of the sword" and is a modern Japanese martial art of sword fighting based on traditional swordsmanship.
The association founded last month has 30 members, all young people.
Kendo is physically and mentally challenging and as students advance they wear protective padding. They also wear Japanese clothing and use shinai, Japanese bamboo swords that reflect their inner core, the spirit of bushido - the samurai code of honor, bravery, self-discipline and simple living.
"Most kendo lovers are interested in ancient Japanese and Chinese culture as Japanese culture was spread from China," says Sun Jiandong, director of the club.
"Many young people learn kendo as a way of releasing life and work stress by engaging in combat.
Kevin's Salsa Club
Address: Rm 802, Zhonghe Building, 159 Qingchun Rd,
Tel: (0571) 8791-1450
Hangzhou Kendo Association
Address: 4/F, Jianxin Stadium inside Jianxin Primary School, 19 Guhe Lane
Tel: 135-8842-3900 (Mr Sun)
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