Yang Mei

yangmei_szdaily@163.com

DEEP in the rice paddies and rolling hills of Debao County, Baise City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Ma Rican dared to dream beyond the horizon.

At 10, a glimpse of an electrifying street dance on TV ignited a passion that would propel him from rural fields to the bustling metropolis of Shenzhen and ultimately, the vibrant world of Douyin stardom.

Now 27, Ma lives in Bao’an District. His days are a whirlwind of teaching children at a dance studio in Bao’an and livestreaming on bustling Dongmen Pedestrian Street in Luohu District, shuttling across the city. He and his three partners host four-hour sessions across multiple chat rooms, captivating audiences with their dynamic moves and infectious energy.

Ma shared with Shenzhen Daily that their dance style revolves around breaking, also known as b-boying, a street dance style that originated in African American and Puerto Rican communities in The Bronx, New York City, the U.S. Within the team, Ma predominantly highlights small moves like freezes, while his partners showcase dynamic power moves.

Ma’s journey wasn’t paved with ease. Family disapproval, financial struggles, and exhaustion threatened to extinguish his flame. After vocational school, he defied family expectations, and lived by street dance performances and competitions. “The first month was brutal,” he recalled, “I had instant rice noodles every day, barely making ends meet.”

Turning points arrived in the form of commercial gigs and a Guangxi TV Spring Festival Gala performance. These successes not only boosted his finances but also earned him his family’s blessing.

Debt, however, loomed large. To clear it, Ma took on diverse jobs — from online lending to instant noodle sales — but these drained his dancing time. Yet, the fire never truly died.

A chance encounter with fellow Guangxi natives reignited the embers. Seeing their shared passion, Ma knew he couldn’t leave dance behind. “I still love dance. It really touched and inspired me when dancing with them again. I felt extremely happy and relaxed when dancing with my friends,” Ma recalled emotionally.

In March 2023, Ma embraced the digital age, transforming his humble moves into captivating Douyin performances. In less than one year, the viewership of his Douyin account “小麻” skyrocketed from under 10 to a staggering 10,000, and his follower count soared to 36,000.

Several months ago, Ma and his team went to Dongmen. Their talent, enthusiasm, and positive energy captivated online and offline audiences, earning them recognition from the Dongmen Subdistrict.

“The audiences applaud for our real skills and positive energy,” Ma said, “Their recognition makes me happy and motivated. A virtual gift from our online viewers would be such a big boost for our performance.”

The relentless performances took its toll. Calluses mark his shoulders, waist, and hands. But Ma remains undeterred. “Hard work pays off,” he said. “Douyin can make the ordinary people extraordinary. As long as you work hard, you will make a difference one day,” Ma noted.

Recently Dongmen Pedestrain Street has become a magnet for Douyin livestreamers, some with millions of followers. To ensure a healthy environment, the Dongmen Livestreaming Registering Platform was launched Jan. 15. Ma’s team and other fellow livestreamers are required to register and perform with a license, and livestream within designated areas, times, and according to content guidelines. Dongmen also offers designated areas for rest, makeup, and device charging.

Ma said that he is grateful for the support from the Dongmen Subdistrict Office, and revealed to Shenzhen Daily that he and his team have been invited to soon be featured in an official promotional video. In the future Ma said he wants to open his own dancing studio after his Douyin account becomes stable and successful enough.