Square Dancing in Contemporary Urban China

Sun, Ying (2024) Square Dancing in Contemporary Urban China. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham City University.

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Abstract

Chinese square dance is an activity with distinct Chinese characteristics and typical Chinese elements, which is very popular among middle-aged and elderly people in China and usually takes place in public and open spaces in contemporary urban. This research aims to focus on an interdisciplinary investigation that aims to provide new insights into the square-dancing phenomenon in contemporary China, including exploring the characteristics of the dancing community, the body in dance, and defining the role of square dancing in contemporary urban China. This study obtained effective data through the qualitative research method combining off-site documentary research, on-site observation of multiple square-dancing teams and semi-structured interviews with dancers and audiences. The result delves into the origins of square dancing, focusing on its emergence as a form of collective activity among dama groups. It particularly examines the dynamics of dancing communities and their interactions with neighbourhood relationships, emotional connections, and political influences. Additionally, a notable finding is that square dancing serves not only as a means of fostering nationalist ideology and patriotic sentiment but also as a vehicle for transmitting and contextualising national values. Moreover, square dancing reflects an extreme shift in female body aesthetics during Mao Zedong’s revolution of femininity erasure and in a contemporary society characterised by brightly coloured patterns and flowers. Finally, this research discusses the definition of a square as a semantic expression of the location of square-dance activities, one that is floating and intangible. Overall, the study provides new knowledge in the interdisciplinary study of the phenomenon of square dancing and contributes to the inspiration and motivation of policymakers, cultural researchers, urban planners, landscape architects and other communities.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:
Date
Event
27 February 2023
Submitted
16 May 2024
Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords: Square Dancing, Dancing Community, Nationalistic Bodies, Body Aesthetic, Square
Subjects: CAH25 - design, and creative and performing arts > CAH25-02 - performing arts > CAH25-02-04 - dance
Divisions: Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection
Faculty of Arts, Design and Media > College of Art and Design
Depositing User: Jaycie Carter
Date Deposited: 30 Jul 2024 09:22
Last Modified: 30 Jul 2024 09:22
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15679

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