The Power of the Circle: The Development and Value Orientation of Square Dancing in China — Focusing on the Health Promotion and Community Building of Ethnic Circle Dances

Abstract

Square dancing has become one of the most widely practiced and geographically widespread forms of popular cultural activity in contemporary China. However, existing scholarship has focused primarily on governance challenges and the health benefits of square dancing, while providing insufficient systematic attention to its roots in traditional Chinese culture and its potential for value formation. Drawing on documentary research, field observation, and logical analysis, this study examines ethnic circle dances, including Tibetan Guozhuang, Yi Dati Dance, and Dai Gaguang Dance, as representative cases. It traces the historical development of Chinese square dancing from the tradition of circle dances accompanied by linked arms and communal singing, and proposes and examines the concept of the “threefold guidance” of circle dancing. At the physical level, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and low barriers to participation encourage healthy lifestyles. At the psychological and social levels, the egalitarian structure of the circle formation and the synchrony of collective dancing foster organizational identification, self-esteem, and subjective well-being. At the spiritual and cultural levels, the symbolic structure of the “concentric circle” promotes ethnic unity and a shared sense of community among the Chinese nation. Building on these findings, the study proposes a four-stage progressive model of “circle-based guidance”: physical engagement → emotional connection → group identification → value internalization. The model is further examined through the author’s action research on bringing ethnic circle dances into communities and schools. The study argues that ethnic circle dances constitute both a cultural foundation and a value core of square dancing. Their creative transformation should therefore follow the principles of “simplifying the form while preserving its rhythmic essence, retaining the musical roots and lyrics, and maintaining the circle formation.” In this way, ethnic circle dances can play a greater role in advancing both the Healthy China initiative and the strategic goal of fostering a strong sense of community among the Chinese nation.