Dancing on the asphalt: Extending the bodies and materialities of chromatic leisure in Hong Kong

Public spaces in Global East cities are socially hierarchical, with green and blue spaces often being reserved for affluent urbanites. In contrast, in Hong Kong, grey spaces are accessed by marginalised residents. On Sundays, female migrant domestic workers–typically invisible in the city–gather for collective leisure fitness in the grey spaces. Previous research has explored the affordances of various urban environments and their relationship with individual and social well-being. However, limited attention has been given to how grey spaces support diverse fitness activities. This article addresses that gap by examining how spaces that are materially and symbolically grey have been reclaimed and become social infrastructures through the collective fitness activities of migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong. Using qualitative methods, including participant observation and semi-structured interviews (N = 10), this study reveals how groups of migrant women have reclaimed city streets and the bare street infrastructure for collective Zumba dance. The study explores how these reclaimed grey spaces empower migrant domestic workers by fostering self-care, togetherness, and agency. By integrating scholarly discourses of chromatic leisure and grey spaces into socio-political transformations, our findings contribute to the understanding of social justice and inclusive urban design.