A dance to the music of time

Conflict has arisen between dancing groups and their annoyed neighbors

Some have labeled them ridiculous and annoying, while others believe that they deserve their own time, space and respect. They are the da ma - middle-aged, retired women, freed from the constraints of work and raising children - who dance in public spaces around the country in the mornings and evenings. However, this seemingly innocent and healthy pursuit has hit the headlines, pitted neighbor against neighbor, and provoked widespread debate.

These elderly ladies have been blamed for taking up too much public space and dancing in the wrong places, such as rail stations and highways, and even in front of the Louvre in Paris and Red Square in Moscow. Moreover, the loud, amplified music they use has irritated neighbors, who have fought back in a variety of ways, such as shooting guns in the air and using loudspeakers to drown out the 'noise'. In some areas, the fraught situation has led local governments to formulate laws to limit the times and locations of the dances.