Taking a hobby to the next level
Be it dawn or dusk, along the Bund or on the pedestrian walkway of Nanjing Road, one can always find groups of middle-aged and elderly people moving their bodies to the sound of music.
While most public square dancers in Shanghai spend conservative amounts of money to buy items such as shoes, costumes, props and makeup, a small group of them have been shelling out tens of thousands of yuan to take their hobby to the next level: professional training and performing on stage.
There are presently more than 300 dancing clubs in the city that cater to wealthy enthusiasts who would prefer to stay out of the public eye. At these clubs, participants learn proper techniques from professional dancers who also help to design a choreographed routine for their stage performances.
Located in the heart of the Gubei residential community, Yarose Dance & Art Studios launched its 37 Days program in 2015. Participants have to pay a whopping 37,000 yuan ($5,370) to enter the program and the fee includes dance classes, personal tutoring, makeup, costumes and rental of the theater space, which makes up the bulk of the costs.
In contrast, a survey by The Paper found that those who dance regularly in public squares spend between 300 to 500 yuan a year on their hobby.
Those who sign up for the 37 Days program attend 36 training sessions - four times a week for nine weeks - before taking part in a final rehearsal on the 37th session. Following this rehearsal, participants get to showcase what they have learned in a formal theater setting. The performance is open to the public and tickets can be purchased on the website Damai.cn.
Founded by Jenny Yao in 2006, Yarose Dance & Art Studios held the first 37 Days gala performance at the Shanghai Grand Theatre last year. Those who took to the stage to perform included grandmothers, housewives and men who are leading figures in the business world.
Yao, who learned to dance when she was just 4 years old, studied international accounting when she was in college. After graduating from university, she went on to work for a series of international companies such as KPMG and the LVMH group before quitting the corporate world in 2006 to pursue dancing.
