How ‘dama’ becomes drama—assessing the ideological forces underlying open air group dances by Chinese senior females
ABSTRACT This research note explores and examines the ideological underpinnings of the open air group dances of Chinese senior females (Dama), a leisure pursuit that has been regularly attended to by 160 million Chinese females and has been rapidly sprouting to many countries around the world. A discourse analysis comes up with three major pillars of socialism ideology of collectivism, staged propaganda as well as controlled feminism which have contributed to the group dances in their current mode and maintained their stability. Accordingly, how leisure activities in China are extended beyond common boundaries and entrusted or even imposed with broader political, social and cultural implications are discussed. This note concludes with appealing for more cross-cultural investigations of the group dance which is already arousing worldwide repercussions.