Show Me Your Moves!: Japanese Music and Dance as a Global Culture through Dance Dance Revolution

Facilitator: Lou Vijayakar

Is Dance Dance Revolution (Konami, 1998) the true dance game for the masses? Ever since its arcade release in Japan, the game has sparked a cultural phenomenon not just in its home country, but also throughout the world within the following years. Numerous spin-offs and rival dance games have been offered up to this day, but Dance Dance Revolution has remained one of the most popular dance games around the world. The success can be attributed to many factors, but it is ultimately the result of the players themselves as part of a growing dance culture that embodies much more than what the game offers on the surface. I will first examine the core gameplay as, while it looks deceptively simple at first, it is as infinitely complex as the practice of dance itself. Then I will briefly look at the history of the game through its music offerings, from the inclusion of Western dance music when it was first released to the recent inclusion of J-pop and anime songs, and how players interact with such music. Finally, I will argue for music arcade games as a form of public art and expression as they create a kind of intrinsic connection between the player, the gameplay, the music, and the social space that arcades provide. In addition, with the use of both popular music and original, diverse music made specifically for the game, there will surely be at least one song that anyone will like and be able to dance. The result is a series that continues to captivate players and that Konami continues to support even today.