Young people in China participate in square dancing Photo: SCMP
Young people in China are fascinated by square dancing, or guang chang wu in Chinese. The sport has long been popular among middle-aged and retired people as a fun exercise that benefits their health as well as their social circle. To add to the fun, young Chinese people sometimes dress up in costumes from the Chinese “legendary” film, Journey to the West.
A 22-year-old man nicknamed Xiaobai, from Changchun, Jilin Province, northeast China, loves square dancing so much that he has set up a social media account with videos of him on the dance floor. The account has attracted more than 20,000 followers, with some fans driving more than an hour just to dance with Xiaobai.
Xiaobai first became interested in the dance through the Chinese song Little Apple by Phoenix Legend and Chopstick Brothers, which is often used as a dance routine. He was then drawn to the scene of middle-aged people dancing at the local Spring Festival Gala in 2015. He was shy and hesitant when he first joined a square dance team, but after two months, when he had mastered the techniques, he was excited and confident. Xiaobai said that the older people in his class loved him and gave him drinks to keep him energized. “They treated me like their own son. Every time I stepped into that familiar square, I felt like I was coming home,” he said.
According to Xu Wensheng, founder of the National Media Sociology Professional Committee, this is a phenomenon of “integration with the elderly” and it reflects the young people’s yearning for the lifestyle of the elderly and their desire for a better quality of life. “After retirement, the elderly can enjoy free access to major parks and free public transportation. Their pension income is stable and they have flexible time. These factors make the elderly seem to be “winners in life” in the eyes of young people. In this context, square dancing has become a way for them to relax,” Xu Wensheng said.
The idea of young people taking part in a pastime traditionally associated with older generations has resonated on social media in China. Some believe it is a “way to express themselves”. “They are practicing for retirement. But honestly, square dancing is really fun. It also promotes good sleep and makes the whole body feel relaxed,” said one online observer.
Last year, a dance trend to thank frontline workers in China was also popular. Videos from across China showed people dancing in front of frontline workers as the country battled a devastating outbreak. The dancers were often women and children, and sometimes men. They brought speakers to play music or sang along to workers in full protective gear. They said they wanted to entertain frontline workers and use their dance as a way to thank them for their hard work.
Thai An
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