Chinese Square Dancing’s Darkside
As the quality of life in Mainland China continues to improve, people are showing more interest in physical exercise like Chinese square dancing. It’s common to see groups of mainly middle-aged and elderly people dancing in cities and countryside areas across China.
They dance joyfully to fast-paced music while performing different square dancing moves.
Square dancing has numerous health and social benefits. It promotes physical fitness and helps in making new friends. A study from Frontiers in Psychology has even shown square dancing has improved cognitive function and quality of life in older women with mild cognitive impairment, which, in turn, can lead to improved mental well-being and a positive attitude, which can benefit families and society as a whole.
Additionally, square dancing is suitable for people of all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens, making it a mass exercise that everyone can enjoy.
In reality, square dancing has led to friction and conflict.
A Disrupting Dance
Due to the popularity of square dancing, the music is often played at maximum volume to ensure that all participants can hear it. However, this has resulted in serious disruptions to the lives of nearby residents. In some cases, residents have even resorted to pouring water on the square dancers from the buildings above.
Taking Over Parks
The practice of square dancing has taken over public parks and squares, leaving little to no space for others to engage in recreational activities. The dancers move around in synchronized patterns, creating a spectacle that draws in crowds of onlookers.
However, this has come at a cost. The space that was once available for other activities, such as picnicking, playing sports, or simply enjoying nature, has been occupied by the dancers. To make matters worse, if someone tries to enter the area of the square dancers, they are often met with hostility and asked to leave, causing conflicts to arise.
It’s time to find a balance that allows everyone to enjoy public spaces without infringing on each other’s rights.
Dancing on Planes
You know how some square dancers are just crazy about their dancing and they can’t help but bust a move anywhere they go?
Yup, they’ll dance on planes, on highways, and even on the streets of other countries! Can’t deny that they are passionate!
But, some people think square dancing is rude, which makes them less fond of the square dancing community.
How China Resolves Square Dancing Conflicts
To solve the issues with square dancing, the Chinese authorities have set up specific areas for square dancing that are away from where people live.
Chinese media has helped by telling square dancers to think about others when they’re having fun.
Lastly, people who love music and dancing can also create some cool square dances that everyone will enjoy. This will make square dancing more popular and get more people excited about it instead of dreading it.
Many feel that if square dancing can be effectively managed and regulated, it will become an excellent fitness activity.
If you got a chance, would you go to China and experience the atmosphere of square dancing? Maybe you’d fall in love with square dancing too!
Are you interested in learning more about Chinese culture? If so, you may want to check out China’s Knock-offs to continue your exploration.
