Out of step: Dancers and neighbors clash

Public dancing is a consequence of China's rapidly aging society, observers say. Although the dancers have emphasized the positive aspects of the pastime, the amplified music they use has led to tensions with neighbors who say they are constantly being subjected to unwanted noise pollution and have taken steps to eradicate it.[Photo/Xinhua]

"My life was boring and I was isolated after I retired. I just spent my days cooking and cleaning the house. I made lots of friends after I started dancing, and I'm happy to share my life with people of my own age," she says.

The activity also helps her to keep up with the latest fashions and musical trends. At the moment, her favorite song is Little Apple by the duo Chopstick Brothers. Hu's group often dances along to the song, even though its simplistic beat and lyrics have led some commentators to describe it as "brain washing". The team also goes shopping as a group to buy suitable clothes for the dancing sessions.

According to Du Peng, chief of the Institute of Gerontology at Renmin University of China, the dancing craze among retired people can be attributed to a psychological change among the nation's elderly population.

By the end of 2013, there were more than 200 million people aged 60 and older in China, accounting for nearly 15 percent of the population, and around 83 percent of people in that age group engage in some sort of physical activity.

"In the past, they had less entertainment, but now they want a range of activities," Du says. "Meanwhile, elderly people are much more educated nowadays and they need to enrich their lives during retirement."

Du points out that the furor about public dancing is a consequence of China's rapidly aging society, which is something the government should be aware of.