In China few activities escape the watchful eye of the state – and soon that will include square dancing. 在中国，有些大型活动不太受政府督促规范;最近热火朝天的广场舞就是其中之一。

Ever-growing numbers of enthusiastic dancers – usually "damas", meaning elderly women – have gathered on the street corners of China's cities in recent years to gyrate in unison. Some urban dwellers have complained that the elderly participants blast their music until late at night, disturbing the peace and quiet of local residents. 随着热情舞者数量的增多，通常她们被叫“大妈们”，意思是上了年纪的妇女;最近几年这群中国各地的大妈们聚在一起蹦蹦跳跳。城市居民抱怨她们的音乐嘈杂不休还持续到深夜,闹腾又扰民。

In the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a simmering dispute between enthusiastic "damas" and their irritated neighbours made headlines in 2013 when the residents threw coins, rocks – and ultimately, faeces – at the group in a bid to make them stop. 2013年，在中国中部城市武汉，这伙热情不灭的大妈就同恼火的居民起过冲突。居民从扔硬币到砖头再到米田共——就为了阻止她们的闹腾。

According to the China Daily, authorities have hired an "expert panel" to choreograph 12 state-approved square dances. 据中国日报报道，政府已经聘请“专家”编排了12支国家批准的广场舞。

The dances "will be introduced to local fitness sites in 31 provinces and municipalities in the next five months", the newspaper said, adding that authorities have yet to decide standards on music volume, dance times and venues. 报道说，这些舞蹈"在接下来5个多月将作为健康运动项目被推广到31个省去"。当局将对音乐音量、跳舞时间和地点设定标准。

Square dancing has become an improbably hot topic in China, with stories on the dancing "damas" – not all of them flattering – lighting up state media. 广场舞话题在中国是大热门，但故事里点燃国家媒体的“大妈们”——并非都是那么招人待见。

Often clad in matching outfits and wielding fans or other props, they gather around dinnertime, performing choreographed moves to sometimes thumping dance music piped through a portable boombox or even a live band. 你经常能见到手持扇子或者其他道具装备的大妈们，在午饭过后集结，他们表演编排动作，有时随着一个便携式音箱播放的音乐起舞。

But if the General Administration of Sport and the Ministry of Culture have their way the nightly routine will be strictly regulated. 但是体育总局和文化部是否能有办法管理他们的夜间行为呢。

"Square dancing represents the collective aspect of Chinese culture but now it seems that the overenthusiasm of participants has dealt it a harmful blow with disputes over noise and venues," fitness official Liu Guoyong, chief of the sport administration, told the state-run China Daily newspaper. “广场舞是中国集体文化的代表，但现在看来参与者对于噪音扰民和场地纠纷的冷淡态度引起了负面影响。”体育总局局长、国民健康部官员刘国勇告诉中国日报。

"So we have to guide it with national standards and regulations." “我们必须要设置些国家标准和法规来引导。”

Last year photos of a group of middle-aged Chinese women performing a square dance routine outside the Louvre in Paris set off a debate over whether the pastime had gone too far. 去年，一群中国大妈在卢浮宫门前大跳广场舞的系列照片传遍全球引发讨论。

A video of several women attempting to perform a square dance on board a crowded passenger train in Q a went viral last year, sparking further controversy. 还是去年，几个大妈试图在中国一辆拥挤的列车上大秀广场舞的视频引发了更大的争议。

"All the negative comments on square-dancing are about reckless practising without caring about the publ ic benefits," fitness trainer and square dancing expert Wang Guangcheng told the China Daily. “对广场舞不满的观点全部集中在，只管跳舞不顾公众利益这一点上。”健身教练广场舞专家王广成告诉中日报的记者说。

"The unified drills will help keep the dancing on the right track where they can be performed in a socia lly responsible way." “统一标准和规范可以让这种舞蹈运动进入一个正确轨道，他们可以用一种更具有社会责任的方式去进行表演。”

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