China will ensure that children taking part in new compulsory dance exercises at school do so in large groups, an attempt to calm parents worried about puppy love blossoming between their offspring, local media reported.

The Education Ministry said in June it was introducing seven sets of dance steps to all primary and secondary schools from September amid concern over declining physical activity and rising obesity among schoolchildren. One routine would involve senior pupils learning to waltz together, the announcement said, prompting some parents to air their concerns.

The Xinhua news agency said they feared that encouraging boys and girls to dance hand in hand would heighten the risk that their children would fall in love and neglect their studies. The sports authority which is designing the dance classes had noted the parental concerns and would rethink the routines, Xinhua reported, citing the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post.