Chinese authorities in charge of sports and cultural affairs feel their good intentions have been wronged recently. Their decision to introduce 12 choreographed practices for Chinese "dance moms" (dama) has been blasted as a latest bizarre misuse of administrative power.

There has been a backlash in recent years against these dancers due to the inconvenience they have caused to local communities, such as noise and occupation of common spaces.

Sometimes words are powerless to describe the spectacle of a large number of elder Chinese ladies group-dancing in public squares after dinner. Sound conveys it better than words. Accompanied by eardrum-rupturing versions of popular hits, Chinese and Western, and led by a couple of enthusiastic leading dancers, dozens of Chinese dama move their feet, stretch their arms and twist their bodies all together following the rhythm.

But people cannot deny the fact that group dancing is one of their favorite ways for these women to mingle. After retirement, these women need social activities to fill the emptiness in their heart. Some would like to play mahjong, while others prefer dancing.

Getting by on pensions, most damas actually belong to a disadvantaged group. Their welfare merits attention, not only from society, but also from the government.

Administrative involvement in this case is a good start to make the increasingly marginalized damas feel they can be part of mainstream society again. According to the General Administration of Sport, there will be a non-governmental association in charge of all group-dancing-related affairs. The association will be helpful to regulate these group-dancers and minimize inconveniences. It will be welcome in most self-organized dancing groups.

I read one article in your weekend edition newspaper, which echoes my thought. It mentioned that the movements of the choreographed practices are designed based on kinesiology by experts and professionals. This will not only entertain these elder women, but also improve their health and living quality in their twilight years.

It is unfortunate that some media reports have deliberately ignored important details of the policy: It is meant to promote social welfare and it is not a compulsory directive. There are some Western reports euphemistically criticizing "collectivism," a token of communism, which they think is equal to authoritarianism and inferior to individualism the West holds dear.

Biased and ideological reports, however, have gotten one point right: It is possible that the guidelines, which are not compulsory, will be abused by local governments as a bizarre way to fawn over their superiors.

You can imagine a picture: In a county or town somewhere in China, thousands of elder ladies, faces heavily powdered and dressed in cheap and gaudy attire, dance in a cookie-cutter style in a local stadium, festooned with lights, balloons and flowers. Above their heads hangs an enormous red banner which literally says "a warm welcome to leaders to supervise The First Group-dancing Competition."

The scene has been seen a million times in every Chinese city or town. "Competitions" and "performances" like this end up being a display of the work performance of local government officials and a hotbed for bribery.

Therefore, the authorities have done the right thing, but it still will take time to see whether it will have its hoped-for results.

Aaron Liu, a freelance writer based in Beijing