Students in tears after 'abusive' Beijing dance teacher fired

Students at the Beijing Music and Dancing school wept after they were told their teacher had been fired - surprising the media because Miss Liu was no ordinary teacher. 

Nor was she their favourite teacher. The Beijing dance teacher abused her students verbally and physically, which was captured on tape, and now she was leaving, reported Beijing Evening News on Tuesday.

In the viral video, which surfaced on the mainland at the weekend, the teacher is seen striking pupils with a cane, kicking them in the torso and slapping and shoving their heads. First posted on video sharing site Youku, the clip drew national media attention and angry remarks from teachers and students alike.

A video showing a dance instructor physically and verbally abusing her students in a studio went viral on mainland social media over the weekend.

“She was a responsible teacher, although sometimes she lacked patience,” a student told Beijing Evening News. “She was worried that the expensive tuition our parents paid would be wasted [when we failed to live up to her expectations].”

Even after the news of Liu's expulsion, comments posted on weibo seemed somewhat divided. While many urged criminal charges against Liu, others defended her.

"A good student comes from a strict teacher," said one blogger, citing a Chinese adage, "but you cannot go too far."