The State General Administration of Sports (SGAS) has planned to
re-compose the group dances, which will be introduced into schools
this September, to calm the parents who have been worried that the
dances would encourage young love, a Shanghai-based newspaper
reported.
Yin Guochen, a SGAS official in charge of the mass sports was
quoted by the Oriental Morning Post as saying that the new
dances would let students dance by themselves or in large
groups.
"They don't have to dance with specific partners, which will be
more easily accepted by both students and their parents," Yin
said.
He said the new dances were expected to be introduced to campus
by the end of this year.
He didn't say whether the new dances would replace the original
ones composed by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The MOE announced early in June that the waltz, together with
six other group dances, would be introduced to China's primary and
middle schools this September.
Parents with traditional values are alarmed at the prospect of
boys and girls dancing hand in hand, believing the risk of their
children falling in love and losing track of exam results would
increase.
"Four students will be grouped together to perform the waltz and
they will change partners regularly as soon as one song finishes.
This way, the risk of young love will be lowered," said Yang
Guiren, an official in charge of art and physical education with
the MOE.
Yin said the SGAS has also noticed the parents' concerns and
were discussing with the MOE about the recomposition of the
dances.
"It will give more choices to the students and cultivate their
interest in sport dance," Yin said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2007)