China’s Guangchang Wu: The Emergence, Choreography, and Management of Dancing in Public Squares

Dancing in public squares has become extremely popular among the middle-aged and elderly in China, especially women. It has been widely covered by mass media, but few understand it beyond the spectacle. What are the dances like, and how does grassroots organizing interact with government management (and support)? The Chinese socialist past and present, generational difference, gender, and the cultivation of modern citizenship underlie this popular activity.