A professional dance company composed of only overweight performers has launched in China. The troupe is composed of both male and female dancers and they all weigh between 244 and 450 pounds!

The leader of the troupe, Fei Fei, whose nickname is ‘Chubby’, told the press:

“Our only recruitment criterion is that your weight must be more than 200 lbs. I started the troupe to meet people like me. Previously, I would rarely go outside because I could not bear people staring and laughing at me. Now I feel much better and more confident.”

The Overweight Troupe now numbers fourteen, with ten girls and four boys, the lightest being nearly 204 pounds and the heaviest an amazing 450 pounds.

Believe it or not, these performers are quite adept and are working on mastering leg splits and flips in the air!

The Overweight Troupe has just set out on its very first national tour. It is in its own way, a tour de force for boosting self-esteem. Obesity is, without a doubt, a very serious health problem, but to embrace one’s talents despite it brings a very particular and endearing message to a vain and judgmental world.

Good for Fei Fei and The Overweight Troupe, although the shadows of a healthier life style (and maybe even some weight loss) must surely loom between the leg splits and flips!

(Link)

By MDeeDubroff on 13-04-2009