Dance, dance evolution(2)

Women dance to traditional folk songs. Gao Erqiang/Shanghai Star

NOISE POLLUTION

But all is not that rosy. Group dancing has its darker sides.

Loudspeakers used for the music has angered some residents, who have complained about the noise. There have also been fights among the dancers themselves.

Earlier this month, an elderly man in Shanghai's Minhang district stabbed another old man for stepping on his toes during a square dance session. His victim later died from his wounds.

In other provinces, residents angry at the loud noise have poured gasoline on dancers.

Others brought their own loudspeakers, to try to drown out the competition. One person even threw a large python at a group of dancers.

In Beijing, a man fired a gun and unleashed his Tibetan Mastiff on a group of dancers last summer.

Yu calls all these incidents manifestations of "a moral defect in the Chinese culture".

Local governments have tried to contain the noise.

According to Shanghai regulations, there is a "sound curfew" between 10 pm and 6 am when no musical instruments or audio equipment are allowed to be played in parks and public spaces near "noise-sensitive areas" such as schools, hospitals and hotels. Offenders face a fine of up to 500 yuan ($80).

The regulation took effect early last year, and Qian's group was forced to move from a square on Nanjing Road, near Shanghai's most bustling shopping center, to their current location at People's Park.

Some areas such as Zhongshan Park on Changning Road have set decibel meters to monitor the volume of music. The numbers on the screen flicker between 60 and 70, and remind dancers to keep the volume under 70 decibels.