Chao News Client Reporter Fang Li Correspondent Shen Qiuyan
It is said that women are twenty-one flowers, but I didn’t expect that the “gentles” here can also dance like a flower. There is a "Grandpa" dance team in Gudang Street, Xihu District, Hangzhou, and they really can make their C-level debut!
Li Xiuying is the only female beauty among this group of "gentlemen" and the instructor of the dance team. She was not a dance major and became a monk on the way. She met two "Bole" teachers one after another who took her in. After that, she quit her job and concentrated on being a dance instructor in Hengdian Film and Television City for many years. In 2008, Li Xiuying established Li Xiuying Dance Studio with the support of Gudang Street.
She had been leading a women's dance team, but she found that there were very few male dance teams, so Li Xiuying thought of forming a men's dance team. The "Old Man" dance team was laughed at at first, and no one was willing to go. Huaxing Community first called on party members, but the number of party members was still not enough, so Huaxing Community found a few more from the chorus team to complete it. In 2013, Li Xiuying finally formed this "gentleman" dance team in the community with an average age of 70 years old.
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After having two dance teams, Li Xiuying often "missed" all day long, always practicing dance until ten o'clock in the evening and not getting home. The first reason for the "gentlemen" is that they have no foundation and can never do the movements well; the second reason is that they rehearse once a week and always remember and forget the movements.
Li Xiuying taught her tirelessly, over and over again, year after year, and the "old men" really showed their talents. In 2016, they won the first prize in the Hangzhou Retired Personnel Art Performance, and in 2017 they won the runner-up in the first "Meiao Cup" square dance competition in Hangzhou.
Chen Weiqiang, captain of the "Old Men" dance team, said, "Either you don't participate, as long as you participate, you will be in the top two." How did this group of "Old Men" do it?
All of Li Xiuying's dances are original. She likes fishing, and fishing has become a part of her dance moves. When she sees people raising birds, the birds become her dance teachers... Sometimes when she is asleep, Li Xiuying suddenly gets inspiration, and She got up and started writing. From conceiving the content, selecting music, conceiving the characters, and deciding on the costumes, she already had a stack of choreography notebooks.
"Bird Fun", "Grand Ear" and "Lamp", Li Xiuying's inspiration comes from this land and life, so her dances are always telling stories, but there are always new stories to tell.
In particular, "Beautiful Big Feet", a performance in which "gentles" play the role of old ladies, tells the story of how people with big feet can dance confidently and pursue a better life. Li Xiuying was very proud when she mentioned it. The "grandfather" dances got better and better, and the more they danced, the more confident they became. Now they are comparable to professional dance teams. "Of the 30 public judges, 29 voted for us. The chairman of the Zhejiang Dance Association commented that this dance has already It's 'nothing to say.' It's perfect."
Seventy-year-old Li Xiuying suffered from a severe lumbar disc herniation due to her long-term dance moves, but she still insists on doing the moves. "I can't dance by myself, but there are some moves that I have to do. Show it to them, so that they can understand the charm of the dance movements." Li Xiuying's dance has charm, so every frown and smile is full of charm, and the story is told in every gesture. Only with such ingenuity can we produce high-quality products.
Interviewee Photo provided by
Today, the "Old Man" dance team in Huaxing Community has been established for ten years. Many people in the dance team are still old members and have now become old friends.
Every Thursday morning, Li Xiuying and team leader Chen Weiqiang will take this group of gentlemen to the dance studio on Gudang Street to practice. Recently, the "Old Man" dance team also participated in the community dance competition. The judges and teachers spoke highly of the original choreographer Mr. Li's choreography and the team members' humorous, strong and soft performance.
Dance is a rhythm and a collision of hearts. The "Old Man" dance team breaks the constraints and makes life colorful with love.
danced this time with no questions or ridicule, only applause and flowers.
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