A new national law aimed at curbing prolonged hours at karaoke bars and discos has put a stone in seniors' morning dance steps.

The seniors in Shanghai are irked because the law closes not only those clubs, but also for-profit ballrooms and community dance halls as well, from 2 AM to 8 AM. The problem is many of the community dance places served as a venue for their early morning dance practices, which often serves as their morning exercise from 6 AM to 8 AM.

Authorities said the situation was not likely to change anytime soon.

For the older folks, the early morning dance exercise is wrapped around other morning chores, such as going to the wet market and buying breakfast for the family.

"It's a good way to exercise dancing at the ballrooms and it's also a good way to make friends since those who danced there early in the morning were mostly the old of every family," said He Huifang, a 55-year-old local woman.

The operations were usually small-size ballrooms with simple decorations.

The tickets were rather cheap and many of the old also bought quarter or annual cards for regular participation.

"Dancing for two hours only cost 6 jiao at the ballroom in our community. The cheap price is suitable for the old," said He, the woman, living on Dong Yuhang Road.

As the city began enforcing the new Regulation on the Administration of Enertainment Venues on March 1, the rules also ensnared the simple morning routines of local seniors.

Many cheap dancing sites followed the new rule and wouldn't open until 8 AM, a time most of the old were already home and too late for morning exercise for them.

He complained the aged, who were used to dancing every morning, now had to go to parks to find places to continue with their hobby.

"I went to the park to dance today but I quit quickly. There was no floor there and it's crowded," Liu said.

"I am not in a good mood today because I did a poor morning exercise. We feel the new rule disturbed the regular pace of our lives as aged people," she said.

He Huifang called Shanghai Daily last week, saying she and her old friends hoped there could be a change to the law.

"My dancing friends, who are all aged including several in their 80s, sent me as a representative to make the call. We hope authorities could hear our voice and make a change to the new rule," she said.

However, they might be disappointed.

"It's a national law and as long as the dancing sites opening to the old were operational venues that make profit instead of being free, they must follow the rule," said Lan Yiming, an official with the local cultural inspection team, executor and watchdog of the law in the city.

(Shanghai Daily April 5, 2006)