UMaine’s Memorial Union to Hop Nov. 17 with Dance, Dance Revolution
Contact: Paul Stern, Campus Recreation sports club coordinator, 581-1081; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — It started in Japan and quickly became one of the most popular crazes to sweep shopping malls and college campuses around the world. Now, Campus Recreation in conjunction with the Division of Student Affairs at UMaine is holding a DDR Tournament Thursday, Nov. 17, from 4 p.m. to midnight in Room 135 in the Memorial Union.
DDR, or Dance, Dance Revolution, is a highly athletic, rhythm and dance game that flashes colored lights through a platform of about nine floor pads and a screen that instructs the player which pads to dance on and when – all to the blaring beat of popular dance music. It might be called the pop culture’s answer to computer gamers’ addiction to testing hand and motion dexterity in a very physical way – a mixture of disco and high-intensity aerobics.
As players pick their levels of expertise, the music changes to accommodate either beginners or experts. Some DDR machines even have calorie counters, as many young people use their DDR experiences for fitness. It’s fast and can seem chaotic as players jump, spin and tap their way through the songs and trying for a near-perfect routine.
Paul Stern, Campus Recreation sports club coordinator at UMaine and the Division of Student Affairs decided to hold a DDR tournament as a healthy alternative to just another night in front of the TV, a break from studying and just because of the sheer popularity of DDR among young people. It’s also a way to inspire community youth to join the fun while visiting the campus, he says.
Stern says that research shows a majority of participants have seen extreme health benefits from DDR.
While there is a nominal competition fee, Stern will hand out prizes for winners and T-shirts for the first 50 registrants. Free soda and pizza also will be available. Prizes include an evening of free dancing for the winner and a companion, gift certificates to local music stores and the EB Games store in Bangor.
More information about the DDR Tournament Nov. 17 is available by calling Stern at 581-1081 or visiting the Campus Recreation website at: http://www.umaine.edu/campusrecreation.