The State General Administration of Sports (SGAS) has planned to re-compose the group dances, which will be introduced into schools this September, to calm the parents who have been worried that the dances would encourage young love, a Shanghai-based newspaper reported.

Yin Guochen, a SGAS official in charge of the mass sports was quoted by the Oriental Morning Post as saying that the new dances would let students dance by themselves or in large groups.

"They don't have to dance with specific partners, which will be more easily accepted by both students and their parents," Yin said.

He said the new dances were expected to be introduced to campus by the end of this year.

He didn't say whether the new dances would replace the original ones composed by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

The MOE announced early in June that the waltz, together with six other group dances, would be introduced to China's primary and middle schools this September.

Parents with traditional values are alarmed at the prospect of boys and girls dancing hand in hand, believing the risk of their children falling in love and losing track of exam results would increase.

"Four students will be grouped together to perform the waltz and they will change partners regularly as soon as one song finishes. This way, the risk of young love will be lowered," said Yang Guiren, an official in charge of art and physical education with the MOE.

Yin said the SGAS has also noticed the parents' concerns and were discussing with the MOE about the recomposition of the dances.

"It will give more choices to the students and cultivate their interest in sport dance," Yin said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2007)