Dancing game has 'revolutionized'phys ed classes

Draytonville Elementary fourth graders Alicia Pennington, Kayla Wright and Sierra Rappley enjoy playing "Dance Dance Revolution." Get ready to bust a move.

This is the rally cry for Draytonville Elementary students when it's time to dance.

Physical education teacher Marc Camp has made the video game "Dance Dance Revolution" a weekly part of his physical education time this semester. Originally introduced to Japanese video arcades in 1998, this is a game that requires players to dance.

The game is played on a dance pad with four arrow panels - left, right, forward and back.

Students press the different panels with their feet and attempt to dance in rhythm with the beat of songs.

Students wear pedometers to monitor the amount of steps and physical activity in class.

State law currently requires students to spend an hour each week in physical education class. As part of efforts to fight child obesity, schools must provide an additional 90 minutes of physical active time.

"We are looking to use this game as part of our physical activity time related to the School Health and Fitness Act," Camp said. "We are looking at the relation of physical activity and how it enhances academic performance. I think students are more alert and do better academically when they are involved in regular physical activity at school."

Camp first heard about the "Dance Dance Revolution" school program last fall when a teacher did a demonstration on the game for an Olde English Consortium staff development day at Winthrop University. The Olde English Consortium (OEC) is an education collaborative effort between school districts in Cherokee, Chester, Clover, Fairfield, Fort Mill, Lancaster, Rock Hill, Union, and York.

The dance video game was installed at Draytonville Elementary over the Christmas holidays. It is also being used in Corinth Elementary physical education classes.

Camp is looking at academic incentives that will allow students to earn additional time playing "Dance Dance Revolution."

"The kids are having a ball. It's great to see the kids out there moving around and being active," Camp said. "We have some faculty members who come in here after school to play the game as part of their faculty wellness time."