Harmless fun, or an antisocial activity?

Although the square dancing craze that's sweeping China has a huge number of devotees, it doesn't lack critics either. According to a recent survey by South Metropolitan Daily, nearly 85 percent of 1,467 respondents said square dancing is a regular activity in their communities, and 60.4 percent complained that the loud music played by the dancers disrupts their lives.

Confrontations between dancers and local residents have become regular fare in the media, which has reported on relatively peaceful demonstrations - such as groups blocking public squares with cars and chairs to prevent the dances going ahead - and more aggressive action such as people throwing sand, firecrackers, and even feces at the dancers. There have also been reports of people ordering large dogs, such as Tibetan mastiffs, to attack dancers.

To some people, it seems the only way to settle the dispute is to ban the dances from taking place in public spaces.