Online lessons, offline steps
The dance floor of Chinese square dancing fans has just got bigger — so big all outdoors are potential dance venues, as smartphone apps turn middle-aged women and retirees into dancers with a fair chance of hitting the jackpot of instant cyber fame.
Professional online dance courses, opportunities to reach vast audiences through video uploads, and chances to network with fellow dancers — it’s a virtual world trodden, step after step, by real people.
Three women who have learnt some nice moves from the Tangdou Square Dance app, share their stories, encapsulating how new businesses like dance apps of startups are influencing and transforming some lives in China.
Going solo, making friends
Music teacher Wang Li, 36, from Dongying, Shandong province, takes a moment to smooth out her dance costume, adjust her silk-embroidered footwear and silverware, before pulling out a makeup compact to quickly dab her lips with rosy lipstick.
She then dances in front of her smartphone fixed to a selfie stick, the front camera recording her moves, which she then shares with her dancer community on the Tangdou Square Dance app.
This routine has come to mark Wang’s lifestyle ever since her friends introduced her to the app last year.
“I love singing and dancing. Tangdou Square Dance attracts me because it offers professional dance tutorials. Through the platform, I can communicate with teachers and other dancers,” said Wang.
Unlike most of the other app users who enjoy group dances, Wang prefers solos. To date, she has shared more than 190 videos on the app, which cover Chinese folk dance, modern dance and aerobics.
Learning at night, dancing in evening
Tian Xiaoping, 37, a square dance fanatic, was amazed that one of her team’s original dances was viewed more than 226,000 times online within a month. Nearly 2,000 fans liked her video and sent virtual flowers to her online.
Tian, a saleswoman with a construction company in Chongqing, said the online cheers and compliments have made her much more confident than before.
“Every night, I learn new steps on Tangdou Square Dance. Next day, our group works on the moves. Then we go to the park near my home at 7 pm and practise for one-and-a-half hours. How I enjoy this lifestyle!”
Tian started using the app two years ago and learned many dance styles, such as cha-cha, aerobics and Chinese folk dance.
Tangdou Square Dance attracts me because if offers professional dancing tutorials.” Wang Li, 36, a music teacher from Dongying, Shandong province
Receiving votes, winning hearts
Chu Qinqin, 55, loves square dancing. As local civil servant based in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, Chu said her most memorable moment came in late July, when her team’s dance video won more than 7,800 votes online, ranking 59 among 700plus teams nationwide.
“I feel satisfied with the result, and it made me proud when people liked our performance. We’re exposed to more viewers through the online platform.”
In the contest video, Chu led more than 100 dancers-cum-friends in a performance of a Mongolian dance. For the show, they had to borrow the costumes comprising white blouses, red-and-blue skirts and riding boots from a local cultural center.
The square dance contest was conducted by Beijing-based startup Tangdou Square Dance.
“I like posting my video on the app. It’s a way to show the most beautiful dance steps and to share the joy with everyone,” Chu said.