The dance that's taking over China - and filling emergency rooms

A 1990s dance tutorial video from the Beijing Dance Academy has become a viral hit in China with hundreds of millions of views, but young people who tried to imitate the moves found themselves in emergency rooms with knee ligament injuries.

A 1990s dance tutorial video from the Beijing Dance Academy became a viral hit in China in September 2026, with hundreds of millions of views on social media. In the video, teachers Zhao Tiechun and Ming Wenjun demonstrate dance moves with amusing names like "the dodge step," "the vagrant kicks the ball," and "the black bear shakes its fur." Internet users and celebrities, including singer Lei Zhang and actress Li Yitong, joined the trend and uploaded imitation videos. However, the moves, which look simple, require high physical skill. Hospitals in China reported young people injured while trying to imitate the dance, including patients with knee ligament injuries, including the cruciate ligament. Doctors warned that the rapid changes of direction and rotation of the knee while the foot remains on the ground are dangerous for those unaccustomed to such movements. Teacher Zhao Tiechun explained that the success stems from a combination of professional movements and humor, but noted that the video was intended for skilled dancers, not a home challenge.