Six test skills at Dance Dance Revolution
While the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants were getting ready to face frigid sub-zero temperatures battling for the NFC Championship, Batavia had a tournament of its own taking place at the Batavia Public Library.
Six middle schoolers braved the cold to dance in the opening round of the Dance Dance Revolution competition.
According to library staff member Michelle Martzel, "Dance Dance Revolution is a dancing game played on a dance pad with 8 arrow panels. The players press the panels with their feet in response to arrows that appear on a screen in front of them. The arrows are synchronized to the beat of a song, and success is dependent on the player's ability to dance along."
This was not my first experience with DDR. I tried it years ago. I know that it is not a game for the weak of heart or the challenged of foot. It is not a game where one can be embarrassed by excessive sweating or falling off the three-quarter inch pad. It is not a game where one should feel humiliated when a lack of coordination draws spectators. It is not a game where a dancer should feel sadness when she is so bad that her young sons double over in laughter.
My experiences with this challenging game only made me feel in awe of the participants who challenged each other for the DDR title at the library.
I did learn that I was not alone in taking the three-quarter inch dive off the pad.
"It's easy to fall off of since there isn't a bar to hold on to," said Jason Hensley.
According to Jason, many of the games have a bar in the back of the pad that gives the dancers more stability.
Older brother, Justin, felt that his feet were a disadvantage.
"My feet are big and sometimes they miss the square," he said.
The two boys traded off beating each other in the competition. It seemed the rivalry was as friendly as brothers can be.
What about a brother and sister? How do they handle competing against one another?
Jenna Hopphan competed against her older brother, C.J. Neither seemed to be intimidated by the other.
"He might be upset if I beat him," said Jenna. "But he would never show it."
It seemed like the one to beat was Ryan Sterling. He was light on his feet and seemed to be in a constant bouncing mode.
He's been dancing DDR for two and a half years. He thinks it will help him in sports.
"You just have to keep moving on the middle square and then move from there," he explained as if to think I might actually be able to do it. It was apparent he had never seen my cool and awkward dance moves.
Newcomer Kevin Batek had only done Dance Dance Revolution one other time but he approached the pad with confidence. His first try wasn't what he hoped for.
On his second try the voice on the game's soundtrack said, "No turning back now." Kevin turned to his mom and said, "He's right you know."
By Kevin's third try, he was adding some hip action and a cool turn.
"I don't think he gets any points for that," said Joleen Batek.
The DDR tournament will continue through March 2 when one of the dancers bounces out with the top prize and DDR bragging rights