Biz Unusual
In a gloomy economy, some dance the night away
By Zhou Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-12 08:00
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 Students practice their skills at a dance studio in Shanghai. Every weekend, young people meet to learn flamenco and other intricate dances. [Asianewsphoto] |
It's a dark time for the global economy, and some people choose to dance the night away.
Jennifer Lin is among the dancing fans. After practicing flamenco for more than three years, the 35-year-old accounting manager quit her job at a foreign company in Shanghai and in May set up her own flamenco studio called Camino, which means "road" in Spanish.
"We have seen the circle of flamenco fans in Shanghai develop from none to around 50 over the past three years, and learned that more white-collar workers are dancing as an emotional outlet for stress," Lin said.
"Dancing, as an effective way to deliver expression and physical exercise, is becoming more popular," she said.
Every weekend, more than 10 students - mostly young, female and white-collar - punctually appear in Lin's 40-sq-m studio located in a quiet park along Kaixuan Road. At the studio, they practice the rapid and intricate steps of flamenco.
"It fits the fast-paced city life of Shanghai, and has attracted more and more practitioners," Lin said.
Wang Wei, 25, a fashion designer, was among the studio's first students.
"I was stunned by flamenco -- from the upbeat music to the clothes in bright colors. It has become a major part of my leisure time and a good escape from my work stress," Wang said.
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"It's worth the money. I will keep on learning from the very beginning level to the mid- or even higher levels," Wang said.
That Camino's opening ceremony held in a small pub in early June attracted more than 200 people was not a big surprise to Lin.
Participants in colorful, flamenco-styled clothes packed Lin's small studio.
"All were coming by word of mouth. Obviously, people are starting to pursue more than material things now. Exotic dances have turned up the heat in Shanghai," Lin said.
