近日，全国广场舞大赛新闻发布会上，广场舞被宣布成为第13届全运会竞赛项目。据了解，第13届全国运动会将在天津市举办，目前已经有来自全国各地的上百个广场舞队伍上传了舞蹈视频，完成了报名工作。经过网络投票“海选”后“晋级”的广场舞队伍最终将到天津进行线下“竞技”。

‘Dancing Grannies’

Go From Park Plazas to National Podium

Sixth Tone

China's most skilled “dancing grannies” — the millions of mostly elderly women whose favorite evening pastime is square dancing — are about to be famous.

Organizers of the country's national square dancing competition announced Tuesday that the sport will be included as a “mass event” at China's 13th National Games, to be held later this year in the northern port city of Tianjin, according to Beijing paper Legal Evening News.

But unlike the other events, participants will not compete against one another for medals. Instead, the public will have a chance to pick their favorite groups in an online voting process, after which a committee will select the best teams to display their skills at the games' opening ceremony on Aug. 27.

Lu Die, a 58-year-old from Shanghai who has been dancing for seven years, said inclusion in the National Games is an “interesting idea,” and that her dancing group may participate.

“We're a pretty informal group,” Lu told Sixth Tone. “We've competed before, but often we don't have the time. We're all aunties and grandmothers with children to take care of.”

Since the announcement, more than a hundred square-dancing groups have submitted video applications showcasing their talents. Wang Fuhang, who works in the department responsible for screening and judging teams for the National Games, told Sixth Tone that the selection committee will be looking for “diverse teams with contemporary* attitudes.”

*contemporary：existing or happening now 当代的；现代的

contemporary music/literature/art/fashion

当代音乐／文学／艺术／时尚

The inclusion of square dancing in the country-level competitions is a part of the broader reform that aims to give so-called grassroots athletes more visibility and recognition. “Mass participation is a big innovation during this year's National Games,” said Chen Zhemin, deputy director of the organizing committee, during a press conference in March.

Square dancing is common all over China for the social and health benefits it offers. As dusk falls, middle-aged and elderly men and women occupy neighborhood parks and plazas*, moving as one to choreographed* dance routines.

*plaza：an open area or square in a town, especially in Spanish-speaking countries （尤指西班牙语国家城镇中的）露天广场

*choreograph ['kɒriə.ɡrɑːf] (v.)

to design and arrange the steps and movements for dancers in a ballet or a show（为芭蕾舞或表演）设计舞蹈动作，编舞

The groups' loud music and sometimes territorial nature can lead to complaints, and even conflict. Some communities have started providing silent disco-like solutions so dancers can listen to music without being noisy.

网友表示：

以后踢足球打篮球的年轻人

更抢不过跳广场舞的大妈了，

人家大妈要为全运会做准备，

你们这些小屁孩儿准备干啥？