Online lessons, offline steps

The dance floor of Chinese square dancing fans has just got bigger－so big all outdoors are potential dance venues, as smartphone apps turn middle-aged women and retirees into dancers with a fair chance of hitting the jackpot of instant cyber fame.

Professional online dance courses, opportunities to reach vast audiences through video uploads, and chances to network with fellow dancers－it's a virtual world trodden, step after step, by real people.

Three women who have learnt some nice moves from the Tangdou Square Dance app, share their stories, encapsulating how new businesses like dance apps of startups are influencing and transforming some lives in China.

Wang Li, 36, is the user of Tangdou Square Dance app. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Going solo, making friends

Music teacher Wang Li, 36, from Dongying, Shandong province, takes a moment to smooth out her dance costume, adjust her silk-embroidered footwear and silverware, before pulling out a makeup compact to quickly dab her lips with rosy lipstick.

She then dances in front of her smartphone fixed to a selfie stick, the front camera recording her moves, which she then shares with her dancer community on the Tangdou Square Dance app.

This routine has come to mark Wang's lifestyle ever since her friends introduced her to the app last year.

"I love singing and dancing. Tangdou Square Dance attracts me because it offers professional dance tutorials. Through the platform, I can communicate with teachers and other dancers," said Wang.

Unlike most of the other app users who enjoy group dances, Wang prefers solos. To date, she has shared more than 190 videos on the app, which cover Chinese folk dance, modern dance and aerobics.