Chinese children waltz away the excess weight

Like so many countries around the world, China is suffering from the relatively new phenomenon of childhood obesity. This is now taken so seriously by the Chinese authorities that dancing is to become compulsory in all the secondary schools from this September.

Every opportunity will be taken for the children to practice their steps - during breaks between classes and in extracurricular activities.

Part of the reason for the obesity amongst the young goes back many years when the 'one couple, one child' rule was introduced. These children grew up being pampered by the parents and grand parents alike. This pampering included treats and extra food.

As the children continued to grow up, they started to lead a more sedentary lifestyle as their homework became more onerous, and coupled with more extracurricular activities (extra mathematics, English, piano tuition, etc), their time or opportunity to play was severely restricted. This lack of exercise added to the obesity problem.

Whilst 20% of the population is considered to have a weight problem, the greatest worry is that the children are presenting the greater cause for concern.

The dance being advocated is the Waltz - a far cry from the days of Cultural Revolution when any form of dancing was considered a decadent bourgeois evil of the worst kind.

It is expected that university entrance will soon include proof of physical fitness, as well as good academic grades. Competition for places in China's top universities is very fierce - the fact that physical fitness is to be a new criteria has just greatly increased the pressures on the students applying for those places.

If you wish to watch or learn the steps - click Waltz Steps 

For those who may be interested here's information about the Waltz:

Facts about the Waltz

• Dating from the mid-18th century it is the oldest ballroom dance.
• It became popular as a result of Napoleon's troops taking the dance with them as they conquered Europe.
• In the beginning, the Europeans were outraged because of the 'scandalous' physical proximity the dance required.
• After 1830, the dance became very popular - in no small part due to the works of Strauss.

Various styles of waltz

In the 19th and early 20th century, numerous different forms of waltz existed, including versions done in 2/4 or 6/8 (sauteuse), and 5/4 time (5/4 waltz, half and half).

In the 1910s, a form called the "Hesitation Waltz" incorporated Hesitations and was danced to fast music. A Hesitation is basically a halt on the standing foot during the full waltz measure, with the moving foot suspended in the air or slowly dragged. Similar figures (Hesitation Change, Drag Hesitation, Cross Hesitation) is incorporated in the International Standard Waltz syllabus

Waltz Variants

• In contemporary ballroom dance, the fast versions of the waltz are called Viennese Waltz.

• International Standard Waltz has only closed figures; that is, the couple never leaves closed position.

• The American Style Waltz, in contrast to the International Standard Waltz, involves breaking contact almost entirely in some figures. For example, the Syncopated Side-by-Side with Spin includes a free spin for both partners. Open rolls are another good example of an open dance figure, in which the secondary partner alternates between the primary partner's left and right sides, with the primary partner's left or right arm (alone) providing the lead. Waltzes were the staple of many American musicals and films, including "Waltz in Swing Time" sung by Fred Astaire.

• The Cross Step Waltz is a newer style of waltz where the first step is a cross-step into the line of direction. This was popularized in classes at Stanford University and allows for a much richer assortment of variations.

• The Peruvian Waltz (Called and recognized in Peru as vals criollo).

• The Mexican Waltz (vals mexicano) follows the same basic rhythmic pattern as the standard waltz, but the melodies reflect a strong Spanish influence.

• Tango vals allows the dancers to dance one, two, three, or no steps to any four beats of waltz music; and to vary the number of steps per bar throughout the song.

• The Venezuelan waltz

• Country Western Waltz is 99% progressive, moving counter clock wise around the dance floor. Both the posture and frame are relaxed, with posture bordering on a slouch. The exaggerated hand and arm gestures of some ballroom styles are not part of this style. Couples may frequently dance in the promenade position, depending on local preferences.