Teaching video clips of 'Shanshen Step' spark imitations worldwide.
A sudden twist, a swift shift of weight, a vigorous shake of the shoulders — moves once taught in a Beijing dance classroom nearly a decade ago — have become the latest social media sensations, inspiring millions to give Chinese folk dance a try.
Two moves, dubbed "Shanshen Step" and "Bear Shaking Off Its Fur" by Chinese internet users, have become unlikely viral hits, inspiring imitations, comic remakes and online challenges.
Some users have joked that mastering the "Shanshen Step" could help them squeeze into a packed rush-hour subway train, while others have turned the moves into playful routines that mock the idea of sneaking away from work. The trend has also taken on a life of its own, with people adding their own twists and even artificial intelligence-generated characters to add to the fun.
But these seemingly quirky moves are no internet inventions. Both originate from traditional Chinese folk dance moves and were filmed years ago as part of the Beijing Dance Academy's teaching material. The demonstrators, Zhao Tiechun and Ming Wenjun, are respected veterans of China's dance community.
Now, the clips are being seen well beyond China. As the United States-based Martha Graham Dance Company prepares to perform in the country in November, principal dancers Xin Ying and Lloyd Knight have joined the trend, showing off their own versions of the moves. German fitness influencer Pamela Reif has also filmed herself trying the "Shanshen Step".
The unexpected popularity of the moves has brought fresh attention to Chinese folk dance.
Tian Lu, a professor at the Beijing Dance Academy who participated in the original recordings, said the "Shanshen Step" comes from Anhui Huagudeng, a traditional folk dance in Anhui province.
The move involves a sudden move of the body and a change of direction. In folk performance, it is part of a continuous sequence of movements. The exercise allows practitioners to work on shifting their center of gravity quickly and initiating movement through a controlled tilt of the body.
The other viral move, "Bear Shaking Off Its Fur", comes from Shandong Guzi Yangge, a traditional folk dance in Shandong province. Traditionally performed mainly by men, the dance features vigorous movements and rhythmic patterns, with drums among its signature props.
The teaching videos were designed to break down the cultural and physical elements of folk dance into exercises that university students could study and practice. The team did not expect the clips to become internet sensations years later.
For Tian, however, the movements' appeal is not entirely surprising.
"Folk dancers move naturally, without rigid rules," she said. Expansive movements can express powerful emotions, while restrained gestures convey subtler feelings. The movements grow out of authentic expression and the humor found in Chinese folk culture, she added.
The craze has even spilled onto the stage.
Dye House, or Da Ran Fang, a dance drama directed and choreographed by Guo Haifeng and produced by the Shandong Song and Dance Theater, incorporates the "Bear Shaking Off Its Fur" movement. The production premiered in April and is touring nationwide, with the viral attention generating new curiosity about the work.
Guo, who was also trained at the Beijing Dance Academy, sees the online craze as an unexpected opportunity to reconnect audiences with the art form.
The movements have always belonged to a world beyond the studio, Guo added.
"They come from everyday life, become teaching material and eventually return to the people," he said. "Now everyone is learning them. Art comes from life, returns to life and becomes part of life. If people like something, they will imitate it. That is a good thing."
Zhao, who demonstrated the "Shanshen Step", likewise sees the viral success as both surprising and understandable.
"It was unexpected, but in a way, it was also to be expected," he said. "The knowledge embedded in Chinese folk dance needs to be passed down. These teaching videos meet the needs of teachers and students, while also helping preserve the culture itself."
The "Shanshen Step", he said, combines the distinctive features of traditional folk culture with qualities that make it easy to share and adapt online.
Zhao sees the trend as an example of a new form of popular cultural expression created by the audience.
"People are taking movements from Chinese folk dance and turning them into something that speaks to their own feelings and sense of fun today," he said. "They recognize the movements, try them out and put their own spin on them. If it makes people happy and sparks new ideas, that is what makes it interesting."
However, there is one important caveat. Experts cited by CCTV News warned that imitating the moves without proper training can put the knees at risk.
chennan@chinadaily.com.cn
