They have become known as the "dancing damas" and gained fame outside China after taking their show beyond the country's public squares to places such as the Place du Louvre in Paris and Red Square in Moscow.

In these overseas jaunts the dama (an endearing term meaning aunty) have become ambassadors for older, energetic Chinese who delight many with their en masse performances in parks throughout the land, particularly in summer.

But it recently dawned on someone that even as the dama are out and about kicking up their heels, their other halves must be elsewhere keeping themselves or others amused.

(China Daily European Weekly 08/01/2014 page6)