"Let's dance. Let the next generation of Chinese loves dancing," says Tsai Chun-chen, who has devoted her life to teaching dance in the Republic of China.

Tsai has assembled a group of dance enthusiasts to establish a school known as the "Chiatzu World of Rhythm." Choreographers have been recruited to work out a program of dancing lessons and high-class facilities have been installed.

In the spacious classroom, a dozen women, wearing close-fitting dresses, dance to disco music in front of a big wall mirror. Some are a little overweight. Others are out of step. But all are intent on learning.

Vogue: Dancing classes and physical fitness schools have mushroomed in Taipei. Only a few years ago, learning dance was a privilege for children from wealthy families. Now, more and more housewives and office workers fill their spare time by attending classes. Dancing to achieve physical fitness has become the vogue.

According to Tsai, women today are much different from they were in the past. Their lives are no longer limited to their homes and kitchens. Instead, they have reached out to more rewarding realms. They attend flower-arranging, cooking, embroidery and painting classes, and are paying special attention to maintaining good taste and a trim figure.

Realizing this, some 18 months ago, Tsai Chun-chen and her two sisters used their savings to establish the Chiatzu World of Rhythm. Tsai actually started preparations, how-ever, when she was a student at the National Normal University in Taipei.

Tsai carried out a systematic study of the population structure of each district of Taipei before she decided to set up the school in the newest and most fashionable business district in Chunghsiao East Road.

She believes that women working in high-rise office buildings and housewives and children in this district are better educated and able to afford to learn new things. This meant that a dancing school would have a greater chance of success here even though the rent was higher.

New attire: At first, most of the students came to the school mainly to lose weight. Only a few of them had worn tight-fitting clothes and dancing shoes before. Many students were too shy to look at themselves in their new attire in front of the mirror, and as a result, they found it difficult to improve.

Now, however, they are used to the training. As soon as they have changed clothes, they try to take a lead position, and are reluctant to leave at the end of the class. Some like to find out if their figures have improved, while others try to make their gait and movements more graceful.

Undoubtedly, learning dance has become a sort of obsession. Some students return to the school to look around and enjoy conversation even when they are not attending class. Dancing has become part of their lives.

Helping them in particular to put aside the mundane aspects of home life are the close-fitting dancing clothes. The changed appearance seems to give the students more vigor and a new attitude toward their families.

Confidence: One of the students first became interested when she looked through the window at the dancers. A few days later she asked whether she could enrol for classes. She explained that her husband is kept busy as a procurator, and her mother-in-law has old-fashioned ideas, so she feels depressed at home. She eventually joined the class without telling her family. A few months later, her personality completely changed. She became more outgoing, and her shapely figure has given her more confidence in meeting others.

When her husband learned of the changes to both her body and mind, he became interested too. He paid a year's tuition fee for his wife, and later he himself became a member of the men's dancing class. Now, it is the mother-in-law's turn to look through the window. She may also join the class one day.

Since its founding in September 1979, Chiatzu has become one of the fastest-expanding businesses in Taipei. In the past 18 months, it has enrolled more than 1,550 students aged from the teens to the 60s.

As a young girl, Tsai Chun-chen studied education and received strict dance training. She is therefore an expert in both dancing and teaching its techniques. A small research group she organized to collect and study the latest dancing and physical fitness courses in use in Japan and the United states has worked out its own progressive lessons for dance students. Because only simple movements are taught to newcomers, they do not find dancing difficult, and they are eager to progress.

Teachers: Tsai is very strict in her standards for selecting teachers. They can only start work after undergoing a two-month training course. As they are all young and love dancing, they are dedicated to their work. All of them have become shareholders in the school.

The school has become a place where instructors learn as well as lecture. Each week they receive three hours of training and are taught the Chinese classics and foreign languages. Tsai hopes this strict regimen will improve the teachers' knowledge of art and taste.

The classroom is air-conditioned and equipped with high-quality acoustic equipment. There is a library for children who accompany their parents to the school. Tsai says that she enjoyed dancing as a small girl, but her father, who was of a traditional mold, demanded that she receive regular education. She could only dance during her free time at school.

She managed to take up special education when she entered the Normal University. After she graduated, all her classmates elected to teach at elite schools. But she decided to take up a job at the municipal engineering vocational school, where she saw students had difficulty in speaking English or solving mathematical problems, even though they were expert at fixing an electric fan or mending a chair. This convinced her that everyone has his own aptitude and way of development. Her determination to establish a dancing school was strengthened.

Tsai believes that art education must begin in childhood. She has therefore used the money she has earned from her dancing classes for adults to set up a dancing ballet class for children.

[Picture Caption]

Tsai Chun-chen, owner of the "Chiatzu World of Rhythm," is only 30 years old. Her enthusiasm for dance education and flair for good management have made Chiatzu one of the leading dance schools in the Republic of China, even though it was opened about a year ago. Tsai's trim figure is itself a good advertisement for the school.

"Chaitzu World of Rhythm" offers several types of classes, ranging from rhythm dance and calisthenics to disco and jazz. Through these exercises, many women have improved their physical health and stamina.

A children's dance class is provided at Chiatzu, where such leading choreographers as Huang Li-hsun are instructors. Interesting teaching materials have been compiled to suit children of all ages. It is hoped that in this way, the seeds of dance art will take root in local educational fields.

Taekwondo classes are offered for young boys. The only girl seen in the picture, though only five years old, insists on practicing boxing with her brother rather than take part in classes. At one side of the school is a lobby, where students may read journals, chat with old friends and make new ones. Children waiting for their mothers in the lobby may study or play games.

Chaitzu World of Rhythm" offers several types of classes, ranging from rhythm dance and calisthenics to disco and jazz. Through these exercises, many women have improved their physical health and stamina.

Chaitzu World of Rhythm" offers several types of classes, ranging from rhythm dance and calisthenics to disco and jazz. Through these exercises, many women have improved their physical health and stamina.

Chaitzu World of Rhythm" offers several types of classes, ranging from rhythm dance and calisthenics to disco and jazz. Through these exercises, many women have improved their physical health and stamina.

Chaitzu World of Rhythm" offers several types of classes, ranging from rhythm dance and calisthenics to disco and jazz. Through these exercises, many women have improved their physical health and stamina.

A children's dance class is provided at Chiatzu, where such leading choreographers as Huang Li-hsun are instructors. Interesting teaching materials have been compiled to suit children of all ages. It is hoped that in this way, the seeds of dance art will take root in local educational fields.

A children's dance class is provided at Chiatzu, where such leading choreographers as Huang Li-hsun are instructors. Interesting teaching materials have been compiled to suit children of all ages. It is hoped that in this way, the seeds of dance art will take root in local educational fields.

A children's dance class is provided at Chiatzu, where such leading choreographers as Huang Li-hsun are instructors. Interesting teaching materials have been compiled to suit children of all ages. It is hoped that in this way, the seeds of dance art will take root in local educational fields.

A children's dance class is provided at Chiatzu, where such leading choreographers as Huang Li-hsun are instructors. Interesting teaching materials have been compiled to suit children of all ages. It is hoped that in this way, the seeds of dance art will take root in local educational fields.

Taekwondo classes are offered for young boys. The only girl seen in the picture, though only five years old, insists on practicing boxing with her brother rather than take part in classes.

At one side of the school is a lobby, where students may read journals, chat with old friends and make new ones. Children waiting for their mothers in the lobby may study or play games.