Let them dance to the right tune

I know summer is coming to New York when I start seeing groups of people, both women and men, practicing folk dance in Central Park or in other open spaces in the city. I am always amazed by their enthusiasm, because although many among them are not young, they put a lot of energy and enthusiasm into this activity.

Similar groups can also be seen in many Chinese cities, where guangchangwu, which can be translated as "square dancing" is an activity engaged in by mostly groups of middle aged and elderly people, a majority of whom are women. According to some estimates, there are about 100 million square and folk dancers in China.

In most cases, dancers gather early in the morning or in the evening, and dance to the sound of loud music to keep fit and engage in some refreshing recreation. Their activity, however, doesn't meet with the approval of many of their neighbors, who complain about the loud music, nay the noise, they cause, saying it is a source of irritation.