Myanmar aerobics instructor keeps dancing as she captures military coup

Khing Hnin Wai Exercise instructor appears to unwittingly capture Myanmar coup

A teacher recording an aerobics class in front of Myanmar’s parliament appears to have accidentally captured the country’s military coup in process.

History was in the making as Khing Hnin Wai worked out on the Royal Lotus Roundabout in Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, seemingly oblivious to the armoured vehicles speeding past her. 

The military seized power in the early hours of Monday, detaining de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top officials in her party.

A woman did her regular aerobics class out in open without realizing that a coup was taking place in #Myanmar. A Military convoy reaching the parliament can be seen behind the woman as she performs aerobics. Incredible! pic.twitter.com/gRnQkMshDe

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 1, 2021

But in the video recorded by Khing Hnin Wai that day she continued to wave her arms gyrate without missing a beat.

The clip’s bizarre mix of the convoy’s sirens and bouncy techno music has attracted worldwide notoriety. 

Khing Hnin Wai shot her to internet-fame within hours of uploading it to Facebook, where more than 630,000 people have watched it.  

One tweet containing the video was viewed more than 11.7 million times within 24 hours of being posted.

"How harmonic with the background music and background scenery!" Khing Hnin Wai said in her post Monday.

"Before I heard the news (of the coup) in the morning, the video I made for the aerobic dance competition has become an unforgettable memory."

As clips spread across social media her dance was photoshopped onto other historic moments — including the siege of the US Capitol in January. 

Others have been more critical and insults soon streamed in from military supporters.

Khing Hnin Wai swiftly moved to defend herself, claiming it was no coincidence she was in the area as she often uses the same spot to film workouts.

"As it isn’t uncommon for Naypyidaw to have an official convoy, I thought it’s normal so I continued," she wrote.