People enjoy dancing at the Swingtime Ball in 2017, initiated by Zeng Weiming (third from left, front row), one of China's first swing dancers. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Lee went on to teach others in Beijing.

After a year, Zeng decided to seek master classes and camps in countries where the genre is popular.

He wouldn't have been able to attend if not for the support of the swing community, who crowdfunded his trips to South Korea and Sweden in the hope that he would teach them when he returned.

"The spirit of camaraderie that permeates through the swing community makes me feel a strong sense of responsibility to help the swing scene develop in China by teaching local fans the moves I learned overseas," Zeng says.

He rented a ballroom in the capital's Haidian district to offer swing classes in 2012. He and his partner mostly taught friends, initially.

Two years later, he bought a basement space to open Cat's Corner swing studio, "a cozy home for swing dancers in Beijing".

"It's a place for us to practice and rehearse, deliver classes and hold parties to tighten the bonds of the community," Zeng says.

The community has continued to grow, and there are now seven places in Beijing regularly visited by about 2,000 dancers, according to Zeng's "conservative" estimate.

He attributes the dance style's increasing popularity to the country's economic development.

Wealthier Chinese are more willing and able to afford to learn foreign dance styles and the cultures associated with them, he believes.

"Most importantly, swing enables relaxed face-to-face-and even heart-to-heart-interactions in an age where young people spend too much time on social media," Zeng says.

"It may also help people to overcome their social fears."

Zeng believes swing dance, especially the lindy-hop couples' style, is more than just about movement. It's also about feeling and interpreting the music, self-expression and responding to a partner's timing and style.

Shi agrees. He learned international-style ballroom dancing for 12 years from the age of 6, and started competing in several domestic dance sport contests at a young age.

Compared to international ballroom dancing that often requires learners to obtain a higher degree of physical vigor, Shi explains, swing dance features impromptu moves that are likely to release him of daily pressures.

"I've found greater release in swing dance's impromptu motions," Shi says.