In China’s Zhejiang province, a new dance craze has emerged, and it all started on a farm. Fan Deduo and Peng Xiaoying, a couple who live in a rural area with their two children, began to shuffle dance together several years ago.
The idea came about after Deduo was involved in a car accident that left him feeling depressed. Xiaoying suggested that they try to get more exercise, and learning a dance together seemed like a fun way to do it.
They started with the “ghost step dance,” and Deduo’s mood improved almost instantly. He no longer felt scared all the time, and he was able to open up to his family more.
Dancing flooded his body with endorphins, making him feel more optimistic about the world. Before long, the couple was dancing every day, often stopping during farm chores for impromptu dance-offs.
According to Xiaoying, the shuffle dance always cheers them up and lightens their mood whenever they feel upset. “It has been such an uplift in our lives,” she said.
“I think the main reason we get so happy when we dance has to do with the idea of our exercising with the shuffle on the ridges. It’s really exciting.”
Xiaoying and Deduo created their own version of the moves, calling it the “rural shuffle dance.” Their kids have also joined in on the action, making these daily dance-offs even better.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to stay on their farm for weeks, they began sharing their videos on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Their posts quickly went viral and inspired many others to dance along.
This story shows that exercise is not only good for the body but also for the mind. Xiaoying and Deduo’s inspiring journey of finding joy through dancing is a reminder to us all to find ways to stay active and keep our spirits up, especially during challenging times.