China ‘square dancing aunties’ vilified for ‘disrespectful’ performance at martyr’s cemetery
Cemetery honours people who died in local area during Red Army’s Long March in 1930s
A troupe of “square dancing aunties” in southwest China has ignited widespread outrage across the nation after they chose to dance at a martyrs’ cemetery.
These groups, referred to as “damas” in China, typically consist of middle-aged and elderly women, though not exclusively, and their vibrant dance sessions have become a common sight throughout the country.
On September 4, a group of damas turned on their music and began dancing in front of tombstones at the Zhaxi Chinese Red Army Martyrs’ Cemetery located in Yunnan province, crossing the boundaries of what is considered an acceptable space for their activity.
The cemetery spans an area of 46,700 square metres and was established to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Zhaxi during the Red Army’s Long March. This historic event, which took place between 1934 and 1936, involved the Chinese Communist Party’s military retreating from the Nationalists and holds great significance in the narrative of the party’s history.
