Residents step up to take free waltzing lessons from visiting duo

In the sunny yard of the Bloom Gallery at 798 Art Zone on Monday afternoon, about 80 people watched 10 couples waltzing to Austrian music.

"One, two, three eight, and turn," Heinz Grossmann calls as people from various countries dance the basic steps of the waltz Austrians traditionally enjoy at weddings.

Grossmann, a veteran dancer who owns a dance studio in Vienna, has come to China with his wife Karin to give free lessons to keen dancers in Beijing and Shanghai.

The Grossmanns are visiting with three other pairs of instructors on the invitation of the Austrian embassy. As experienced instructors, they offer easy-to-follow steps and movements.

Liu Ziling, 21, and 22-year-old partner Li Xuecheng are fresh graduates who came to 798 for a fun weekend and were attracted to the gallery by the Austrian music.

"When learners finish the lessons, every time they hear the music they will remember 'one, two, three and back'," said Liu, who admitted that she felt a little dizzy after making numerous turns under Grossmann's instructions. However, the excitement and sense of achievement were obvious on her face.

This was her first attempt at the waltz and she told METRO they enjoyed the free lesson very much. "My mum retired last year and she dances now," said Liu. "I will go home and show her my newly learned waltz steps."

The Austria Dances With China project, which offers Beijingers waltz lessons from May 20-29, is part of celebrations to mark the 40th year of diplomatic relations between Austria and China.

Gudrun Hardiman-Pollross, cultural counselor with the Austrian embassy, said she was inspired to set up the project by seeing people dancing at almost all of Beijing's parks.

"The Chinese people are so zealous about dancing, which we are too," she said.

"We've added four events in the three days after the launch in Beijing, due to requests from participants."

The counselor said it is an Austrian tradition for young people to attend dancing classes because "it offers a chance to socialize and learn about etiquette".

Hardiman-Pollross said she knew Chinese people were familiar with the waltz and the famous Vienna Opera Ball, so when it came to celebrating the two countries' friendship, she said she wanted to offer something special.

"Dancing involves relations between the two dancers, just like relations between the two countries," she said. "But it's more personal and it's more fun."

She added that she wants the lessons to be something people could take part in, so the instructors have been giving lessons at parks in Beijing and will also visit two middle schools.

"We'd like to share the enjoyment with all sorts of people," she added.

The Grossmanns said they are excited about their first visit to China and are happy to share the waltz, one of the most essential elements of Austria's cultural heritage, to the "friendly people" they are meeting here.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/24/2011)