When researching North Korean music I stumbled across this. It's the Chinese Women's Militia on parade on 1 October 2009 as part of a huge parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of People's Republic of China.

Here they are, goose-stepping in magenta (or should it be light cerise?) jackets, decidedly short skirts, white berets and white boots! I've never seen a miliary uniform like it before.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/10/01/article-1217310-06A702B0000005DC-602_634x403_popup.jpg

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/dangerroom/2009/10/xinhua-militia-2.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/60th/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20091001/0013729e47710c2e75f70a.jpg

By some accounts, they almost stole the show.

Here a YouTube clip showing the various women's units at the parade:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cbMLeeV1ww

Incredibly disciplined nation. Yet they still spit on trains and smoke in supermarkets!

Goodness me, they're good aren't they? But do you know what sprang to my mind? Darcy Bussell on Strictly Come Dancing telling the contestants they should keep their legs straight and their knees locked - now I know where they should go for training!

Not half! The mind boggles at the all the drilling that went into that performance.

According to some stories on the web the women were put on a diet and subject to a demanding fitness regime for some months before the parade. Their stylish uniforms all fit perfectly!

Are the women in the photos all about the same height, give or take half an inch, or is it my imagination?

Ah, Flopsy, with the continued burgeoning of private entreprise in China, I imagine there's a business opportunity for someone in China to provide training (plus appropriately rigorous diets, too) for the Strictly Come Dancing contestants.

PS. Keeping those white boots spotless must be the devil's own job!

Ah, now you've got me thinking about Strictly Come Dancing.... Every gay man and straight woman on earth in love with Ben Cohen.

OOOh Yes, oh yum.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/video-ben-cohens-half-naked-2671527

He's a Northampton boy you know, we breed 'em strong round here.