Looking for a cost free way and convenient way to exercise and socialize in Shanghai. Every morning and every evening in every area there is a dance group ready to teach you their moves.
Every evening, as long as it is not raining, couples and individuals converge at Xiangyang Park from 7:40 to 10 to dance. Mr. Shu （舒先生） (left), who has been dancing for ten years, and Xiaoman Sun (孙小曼) say they met when Sun started coming to dance two months ago. “We don’t know each other’s first names,” Sun said. “But we know each other well so we dance well together.”
He taught me how to dance, said Sun, when you start coming it doesn’t matter if you know how to dance or don’t have a partner to dance with, if you stand and watch, people will ask you to dance.
Jinying Guo(郭金英) (center) has been leading a dance class at Liyuan Park every morning from 7 to 8:30 for more than seven years. “I am happy to be doing something that is beneficial for society,” Guo said. “Shanghai is an old people’s city… Before old people just stayed at home and looked after grandchildren. Now they have nothing to do so they come out of their homes.”
If someone comes to the class who doesn’t know how to dance, Guo will teach them. “When I was young, I used to teach people how to dance,” she said. “Now that I am retired, I can use my extra strength to teach people.”
Dancing isn’t just something for older people, said 36-year-old Yue Yu (雨夜) (right), who comes to Xiangyang Park to dance every evening after work. “Young people also have to exercise,” she said. “If you wait till you are old it is too late.”
While exercising is relevant for all age groups, the choice of music at different locations varies widely. Some play traditional Chinese music, others disco or electronic, it’s all up to the organizer. “There are no rules,” says Guo.
For Meizhen Zhang (张美珍) (center) public dancing isn’t just about exercising the body. “All the people here are my friends,” she said. “I come here every day when I don’t have something else to do… dancing makes me feel happy.”
Liyuan park is a hotbed of morning activity. In addition to Zhang’s group (which is slow and traditional) and Guo’s group (which is faster, creative and plays modern music), there is also a group for the elderly that focuses on basic stretches and a tai chi group, as well as various informal groups, individuals and basketball players.
While most park dancers are content with exercising their bodies and meeting friends, others take dancing to the next level. Jihua Shi (史济华) (left) and Meihua Wang (王美华) used to work as dance teachers. “Now we are retired and don’t teach,” said Wang. “This is just our hobby.”
“In Shanghai, almost every park has people dancing in it,” Shi said. This style of dancing comes from the west, Shi explained, and since Shanghai is China’s most open city it has the greatest number and most variety of dancing opportunities.
After several hours dancing within a circle of onlookers in a huge variety of styles, the couple paused to smoke and talk with admirers before packing up for the night. Do they mind dancing while being watched by so many people? “When I started dancing, I was afraid,” said Wang, but “I got used to it. He really likes it.”
“The more people the better,” added Shi.
The best locations to observe the public dancing culture in Shanghai include:
1. Shanghai Fuxing Park (上海复兴公园), 516 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu 复兴中路516号, 近淮海中路
2. Shanghai Xiangyang Park (上海襄阳公园), 1008 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Xiangyang Bei Lu 淮海中路1008号, 近襄阳北路
3. Shanghai Liyuan Park (上海丽园公园), Liyuan Lu, near Jumen Lu 丽园路, 近局门路
4. Beijing Houhai area (北京后海), entrance through the Lotus Market, No. 51, Xi Da Jie, Di’an Men, Xicheng District 西城区地安门西大街51号
5. Shenzhen Lihuashan Park (深圳莲花山公园), Hongli Lu, Futian District 福田区红荔路
Photos and story by Gillian Bolsover for CNNGO: Shanghai