CHINA’S AUNTIES KEEP YOUNG WITH DANCE
Jitterbug dance craze has become a national pastime for older women
IN a sparkling white cap and oversized sunglasses, retiree Zhang Yongli, 55, and dozens of neighbours liven up a Shanghai park by doing the jitterbug, part of a public dance craze that has become the country’s national pastime.
Every day, an estimated more than 100 million people — dubbed “dancing aunties” as they are primarily older women — take over squares and parks to tango, waltz and grind out everything from flamenco to Chinese dance.
Complaints over speakers blaring late at night have ensued, and even brawls pitting aunties against others vying for park turf. But toes are tapping to an everquickening beat as “square dancing” — as it is known in China — booms.
Teams are competing in danceoffs featuring thousands of contestants, while a thriving market of dance-related paraphernalia and mobile apps catch the attention of the business world.
Even the government has jumped on the bandwagon to extol the health benefits.
“Square dancing happens wherever there is a square,” said Wang Guangcheng, a fitness instructor and choreographer, who helps the government devise dance routines and is known as China’s “Square Dance Prince”.
More than 240 million Chinese are 60 or older, a number expected to double by 2050.
Zhang “was sitting at home, doing nothing” after retiring five years ago from her travel agency job, undergoing treatment for diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol.
“Since I started dancing, my (health) indicators are now normal. I no longer need medication,” she said as her neighbourhood dance group’s red skirts twirled in Zhongshan Park here.
“I also look younger,” said Zhang, who has jitterbugged away 11kg of bodyweight.
A 2016 national fitness plan stresses “square dancing” as a team sport to be “vigorously developed”. Last year, it became an official event at China’s National Games, along with old reliables like athletics and swimming.
Taobao and other businesses are expressly targeting the new market to sell clothing, speakers, and gadgets for watching and learning new dances.
Late one recent weekend, hundreds of people filled a tree-lined park here amid a cacophony of musical styles as men and women waltzed or formed conga lines, and children did the cha-cha.
Often, they dance to old Chinese revolutionary standards or other patriotic tunes.
“We are not only delivering a fitness culture, but also the concept of a prosperous country,” said choreographer Wang.
“Many songs we choose express our national characteristics and values.”
But dance enthusiast Zhang prefers the zesty jitterbug.
“It’s quick and rhythmic. I forget all my worries when I dance, sometimes even my age,” she said.