Chinese Gangnam-style dance takes Liverpool by storm

LONDON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese-style Gangnam flash dance has made its street debut in Britain.

Liverpool city center's main square was crowded as the dance was performed during celebrations to mark Chinese Lantern Festival.

Hundreds of people cheered on the dancers in the city's Clayton Square when Fenfen Huang of non-profit arts & cultural organization China Pearl introduced the flash dance.

More than 100 shoppers and passers-by joined in the dance when Huang and other people performed Xiao Ping Guo (Little Apple) dance, creating a carnival atmosphere in one of the city's busiest shopping streets.

Xiao Ping Guo dance, designed after the emergence of a popular hit composed by a Chinese songwriter, has taken China by storm and gained a level of popularity comparable to Gangnam-style.

For Huang, who came from the city of Linhai, Zhejiang Province in China and has been living in Liverpool for over 13 years, the aim is to "introduce it to the general public for British audience to know about China's latest trend and pop culture."

"As it has never been performed in this way before in the UK we have set a new record, but we want to go further and attract even bigger crowds to take part," Huang said.

"Our aim is to create in Liverpool, my second home, a flash dance record for the greatest number outside of joining in the dance. This was our first attempt and it was a huge success."

The song was performed by Liverpool University graduate Shaun Gibson who sang in both English and Mandarin. His own version of Little Apple has been watched on various platforms in China.

Among the spectators watching Liverpool's citizens enjoying Chinese flash dancing was the city's Lord Mayor Erica Kemp.

Lord Mayor Kemp told Xinhua: "It was a lovely demonstration of different aspects of Chinese culture. We are very proud of our Chinese community in Liverpool and what they contribute to our city cannot be quantified."

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-03/09/c_134052243.htm