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

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

Still stepping' lively

Easy Talk: Life after retirement

Since he began dancing two years ago, Qian's waistline has shrunk from 87 cm to 73 cm, and one of his fellow dancers, Wang Xiaofang, 66, has lost 15 kg.

Staying fit is not the only reason group dancing in public has become popular.

Some see it as a chance to expand their social life, kill the boredom of retirement, instead of just sitting at home, cooking and watching TV. Most of the dancers are older empty nesters whose adult children have moved away to lives of their own.

Liang Pinghua, 62, dances in a plaza near her community twice a day — two hours early in the morning and two hours again at night.

She is in charge of all the dancing props such as paper fans, balls, silk scarves, and the music.

"Sometimes I spend my afternoons teaching newcomers," says Liang, whose son is married and has his own apartment. "I feel time passes so quickly, and I am happily occupied."

Liang proudly recalls her granddaughter once saying, "Grandma, you are even busier after you retired."

Yu Hai, a sociology professor at Fudan University, says dancing is good for older people for a variety of reasons.

"The dancers, mostly retired people, no longer have to take care of their children, so they have more leisure time. Through dancing, people can improve their health, expand their social network and develop a positive attitude."