Press Release

Dance Games Get Kids Moving

Two players move to the new Dance, Dance Revolution video gamed installed at the Onawa Community Center through Got 2 Move grant funds.

Kids in Onawa now have free access to get-up-and-play fun and enjoy an energetic, fitness workout with the video arcade music game “Dance, Dance Revolution,” now available at the Onawa Community Center.

The interactive dance game was purchased with funds from the Got 2 Move grant program now benefiting kids in Onawa. While the grant targets kids in grades 3-5 at school, several community sites-- like the new disc golf course and the dance video game -- offer new activities for all ages.

The new dance game is located in the fitness room of the community center.

“Dance, Dance Revolution offers high energy music in games that get kids off the couch and moving more,” says Sue Mc Laughlin, Got 2 Move grant coordinator at Burgess Health Center. “You’re motivated to move faster to get higher scores. You don’t notice you’re also building stamina, coordination and rhythm.”

Players stand on a "dance platform" and step on a specific pattern of colored arrows with their feet to energetic dance songs . As a song plays, they have to step on a specific pattern of arrows in response to the song's beat.  The idea is to get higher scores to choose more music.

The game has grown so po pular in recent years that it’s now in use in many gyms and schools across the country. It can be used as both a home game or arcade game.

“We’re thrilled to provide this to kids in Onawa for use outside of school hours,” McLaughlin says. “Everything we’re doing in Got to Move is encouraging kids to have fun while they move more for better fitness.”

Community center is open Monday thru Friday until 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday's from 1 to 6 p.m.