A 10-second video footage of a school principal leading his students through an energetic shuffle dance routine has gone viral online.
Zhang Pengfei has abandoned the traditional daily exercise activities such as calisthenics and replaced them with shuffle dance at the Xiguan Primary School in Linyi County in north China’s Shanxi Province.
According to regulations of the Ministry of Education, middle schools and primary schools should give students 25 to 30 minutes of free time in the morning to relax and exercise.
However, with the school playground being too small to accommodate over 700 students into different sports and activities, the bold and creative principal has introduced the shuffle dance to the students in last December.
Zhang never thought his decision to introduce shuffle dancing to his school will get so much attention. He said that in the past, the school used to promote the practice of calisthenics, but realized that the students are not into such kind of activity.
“We have also promoted the calisthenics for many years, however, I find the students always look disinterested during calisthenics. The school adopted many measures, including compulsive measures and regulation, and even asked the head teachers to force the children to practice calisthenics. But the children just have no interests in doing that,” he said.
From the footage of the teachers and students performing shuffle dance under the leadership of Zhang, one would easily be forgotten for thinking that the principal has been an avid shuffle dancer for a long time. However, Zhang said that he was just introduced to shuffle dance last summer when he stumble across a dance group practicing in the county’s square. He thought to himself it might be a good activity for the morning exercise and keep the students active.
“If I introduced [the shuffle dance] to our school, [I knew] the students will definitely love it because of the charm of the rhythmic background music. So I secretly learned the dance routine and technique,” he said.
Within less than two months, Zhang were able to grasp the basic skills of shuffle dance. When school started in September, he made a survey among students to find out if there might be any interest in such activity. He even asked a professional shuffle dance group to come and perform at the school.
“Of course I had to ask the students and teachers to give advices to see if the students are interested in the dance. I always insist that interest is the best teacher,” he said.
In November, Zhang set up a team to start teaching the students about the dance routine and a month later, the whole school was practicing shuffle dancing during the break.
Students now look forward to their morning exercises and break. The shuffle dance not only has attracted their interests with its fast and powerful moves and sense of motion and energy, but has also benefited to their studies.
“They usually have especially high enthusiasm in learning in class after performing the dance. We always teach the students that it is time to relax after class while it is time to carefully study in class,” said Li Haining, a teacher.
As for the parents, they have also bought in into the new idea.
“I think performing dance is very good to children which can also reduce burden of studies for them. [My child used to] play iPad, the games like the King of Glory but now he doesn’t anymore,” said Hao Xiaochun, mother of a student.
