A 60 year-old woman in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, has proven that street dancing is not just for the young, local newspaper Modern Express reports.

In an oversized coat, baggy pants and a visor lowered to her eyes, Guo Yingbo looks no different from a trendy boy in his twenties. "My clothes are perfect for street dancing. I hate to be called an old lady. At least I can dance on the street with youngsters," she said.

Champion of a provincial disco dance competition in 1995, Guo Yingbo fell in love with the modern performance art four years ago after watching a video tape of a street dance contest in the US. "I was deeply touched, " she said. "This dance allows you to speak your mind and relaxes you deep down to your soul!"

A self-taught street dance pro, Guo Yingbo started to pass on her skills and spirit to others. She leads three group dances in the city every day, as she says, "it is so exciting to dance with hundreds of people on the street."

Among Guo Yingbo's "students," most are middle-aged people trying to strengthen their bodies and improve their health. But street dancing has given them more. "To street dance you need a young heart," Guo Yingbo explained. "After dancing with me for a while, many people change, not only in their characters, but in the way they dress. They become young again."

Guo Yingbo is now considering establishing a street dance group with other dancers her age to promote the art/exercise as she says, "you're never too old to dance!"

(CRI November 23, 2006)