Viral Chinese Dance Trend 'Flash Step' Lands Participants in Hospital
A traditional Chinese dance tutorial from the 1990s has gone viral as the "Flash Step" trend, sending numerous internet users to hospitals with knee injuries due to complex physical movements.
What began as a traditional dance tutorial has unexpectedly turned into one of the weirdest viral trends on social media in China. Known as the "Flash Step," the dance craze has prompted millions of internet users to imitate professional dancers from the 1990s. However, these playful attempts have not always ended in laughter, with several participants winding up in hospitals.
Origins of the Viral Craze
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the trend started spreading in September after users rediscovered an old instructional video from the Beijing Dance Academy. In the footage, instructors Zhao Taichun and Ming Wenjun demonstrate movements derived from traditional Chinese folk dances, accompanied by peculiarly entertaining names.
One movement, dubbed the "Dodge Step," involves a rapid side-to-side motion, mimicking someone trying to evade a pursuer. Another move, known as "The Vagabond Kicks a Ball," combines a jump and a kick with outstretched arms. A third movement, "Black Bear Shakes Its Fur," relies on a rapid shaking of the torso and shoulders.
Celebrity Involvement and Injuries
The quirky names and performances quickly became internet jokes. Users uploaded imitation videos, generated memes, and incorporated the moves into everyday situations. Celebrities also joined the trend, including Chinese singer Lay Zhang and actress Li Yitong. Chinese media reported that videos related to the phenomenon garnered hundreds of millions of views, and keychains modeled after the original dancers even went on sale.
"While the original video was meant to teach skilled dancers, internet users turned it into a challenge for everyone to try in their living rooms."
However, it soon became apparent that the seemingly simple movements require a high level of physical dexterity. Hospitals across China reported treating young people injured while attempting to replicate the dance, including patients suffering from knee ligament damage. Doctors warned that rapid directional changes and knee twists while the foot remains planted can easily lead to injuries, especially for untrained individuals. In some cases, damage to the anterior cruciate ligament was also reported.
Zhao Taichun, one of the instructors from the original video, addressed the renewed interest, explaining that the success stems from a blend of professional choreography and humor. The phenomenon ultimately proves that sometimes the distance between an entertaining video and a trip to the emergency room is shorter than expected.
