Square Dancing for Environmental Conservation

From within the heavy layers of dusk rose the hazy outline of the Huangshan mountain range. We stared out in silence as the tesla snaked quietly up the mountain road. Ahead a quaint village with sloping thatched roofs -crafted in signature Anhui fashion- and rolling fields of corn drew into view. The car engine whirred to silence as pulled into a well-lit roadside plaza. 

Loud music, featuring a soprano singing Chinese Opera, seeped into the silence of the car. Zhang Zheng, a member of The Paradise nature conservation, turns around to face us from the driver's seat.

“Do we still remember the mission briefings?” He asks in Mandarin Chinese. 

“Today’s goal is to gather whether or not the village residents recognize the purpose of the square dancing we have set up. We are also here to check in on the engagement levels.” He continues.

Gesturing for us to follow with a lopsided smile he opens the car door and steps outside. The heat smothers the air, making each breath difficult as we make our way to the twenty or so elderly ladies dressed in brightly colored fabrics. With immense synchronization they perform a hypnotizing dance, moving to the right and swirling their arms in circular motions. 

As we follow Zhang Zheng through the buzzing swarms of mosquitoes the opera singing playing from the antiquated television warbles to a stop and the ladies finish their dance with a flourish. Within seconds they had abandoned their neat columns and rows to swarm around us. 

“How's the night going, ladies?” 

“Good, good.” They chorused

A lady clothed head to toe in red fabric with her hair drawn back into a bun responds blithely,” No poachers sneaking into the nature reserve to report tonight!” 

“All thanks to you ladies and your square dancing.” Zhang Zheng responds. 

“We’re here from 8 to 10 pm every night.” proclaims another voice “I’d like to see poachers try sneaking in from this entrance now!”

Square dancing for conservation. Who would have thought such a common everyday practice could make such an impact. The ladies flocked back to their positions for the next dance. We watched as they hopped and clapped their ways a step closer to restoring HuangShan to what it once was.