But old folks, many feign as they were dead;
Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.
Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 5
Though it is highly unlikely that the Chinese government takes its cues from Shakespeare, in China women must retire at the age of 55, and the theory behind this mandate is that women who are 55 and older tire easily. Really? Walk through any public square in China and you will find more than enough evidence to easily debunk such a cockamamie idea. Everywhere there are women lined up in rows, dancing to music either played by live musicians or blasted from boom boxes. And they aren’t just dancing; they’re moving and grooving. Some of them even put John Travolta to shame.
Rowdy Retirees; it’s more than just a wonderful oxymoron. These women are a powerfully positive force. Pedestrians often stop to watch them, because their dancing is lively and happy; it’s refreshing. It’s also sometimes astonishing. These ladies dance not just to one or two songs and then take a breather; they seem to dance all morning. Even so, other folks who live or work near the squares have begun to complain, and many of the complaints have been filed by young people. The decibel levels are too high, they say. And many of the dance moves are licentious. Good grief! Have you ever noticed what a bunch of fuddy duddies young people can be?
The government has taken note, however, and issued some rules. Certain moves are no longer to be allowed, and other moves have been suggested instead. First the feds make these outdoor disco doyennes retire early because they’re supposedly too tired to work any longer, and then they sic the vice squad on them. Well, not quite.
The government is as likely to enforce its new dance regulations as it is to clear the streets of tuk-tuks, also banned, which are second only to scooters as the most popular mode of motorized transportation in China. As the dancing continues, the feds, I suspect, will be the only ones looking the other way. Hit it, Ladies!
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