Advice on Technique and
Freestyling
Many times, people ask themselves the question,
"I can pass all the songs and hit all the arrows. What
next? How do I freestyle?" Here is an attempt to answer
than question.
Bran
Fanel | Hikari | J Dogg |
kK | Mel B |
Pakwan | SweetPinoy85
Bran
Fanel
Though there are a lot of great technical aspects in playing Dance Dance
Revolution, one of the things that makes the game really fun is the chance
to actually dance along with the game, and adding some style through moves
and tricks. This is what many people consider freestyling.
When it comes to freestyling, there's a lot of different ways to approach
it. Some people concentrate on stuntwork (A-Team), while others go for crowd
pleasing comedy routines (Nakano) or a fluid dance style (Brilliant
Steppers). However, the best thing to do isn't to copy others, but to find a
style of your own. If you're trying to do things that you might think are
cool, despite the fact that they don't fit your own personal style, the
moves will look forced. Finding a style of your own, or a style that fits
you, is the key to becoming a good freestyle player.
Now, a large part of freestyling comes from fancy footwork. After all, the
game is played with your feet. But slides and shimmies aside, don't forget
about the upper body. When both the upper and lower body are working
together, a simple leg move can look many times more impressive. This can be
as simple as moving your arms along with the beat, instead of keeping them
stationary. However, it can also be taken much further, with full arm and
hand routines.
Watch a lot of the "pop" music videos which can be found on MTV or whatnot
these days. A lot of the dancing in these music videos has very simple leg
work, but the dancing looks very good because of a good amount of handwork
is thrown in. #N'SYNC's music videos are good examples of this. Other great
dance moves can be seen in Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, and Alliyah
videos.
Another important thing to freestyling is DON'T BE EMBARASSED. Remember, no
matter how good you are a freestyler, if you're always worried about how you
look, you'll never have fun, and the point of any game is to have fun.
Second, by loosening up, your moves will look more coherent and fluid. It's
understandable to be a bit nervous playing the games at times, especially in
times of DDR tournaments and such. Just take a deep breath, calm down, and
remember, you're supposed to be having fun. :)
Now, here are a few tips that will hopefully get the ball rolling. Remember,
anything goes when it comes to freestyling, so you are not limited to the
moves below. These are just a few examples of what can be done while freestyling.
Knee/Hand/_____ Drop: The great thing about hitting the arrows is
that you can hit them with anything you can think of, such as a knee, hand,
elbow, head, or even your behind. Sometimes, combinations of this can make
for really interesting looking moves as well. For example, if you have a set
of arrows all going in the same direction (i.e. up, up, up, up), try hitting
them with your knee, left hand, right hand, and then your foot as you get
up. It makes for an interesting little freestyle move.
Shimmy: This is a good technique that can be done in places where two
arrows (i.e. left and right, up and down) have to be hit at once. Instead of
jumping to hit both both arrows, then jumping again, simply slide your legs
out from the center to hit the two arrows, and slide them back in before you
slide out to hit the next two.
Heel-toe: is a very easy maneuver which
can add a little flair to your moves, especially during steps in
which you must tap down on the arrow two times fast. simply hit
the arrow with your toes, then again with the heel. It looks a
lot better than just stomping on the arrow twice.
This is just the beginning. Keep playing, and the possibilities are endless.
If there is anything that shouldn't be done during freestyle, it would be
grabbing the bar. It looks incredibly bad if you have to grab onto the bar
every so often during your freestyle. It's put there just in case you might
slip or lose your balance, not for someone to grab onto at all times. Keep
in mind this is Dance Dance Revolution, and when most people dance, they
don't need a bar to hold onto.
The most important thing is to have fun though, so no matter how you do,
just try to have a good time, and smile!
Hikari
Try to keep your eyes off of your feet. Someday
when you create a routine, you'll want to be able to look at the crowd, not at
your feet. You know where the arrows are already, so take a glance up.. at the
cute girl standing right there.. the hot guy in the corner... that supershy
guy in the corner... just.. don't look at your feet!
The bar is not a lifeline. When freestyling or
performing routines, it looks REALLY horrible when you latch onto the bar for dear life.
Almost all moves look stupid when you have to rely on the bar for
balance..
yes, even if
you do manage to spin 50 times in a row.
Not all performances are routines, remember that
you can look good doing
freestyle for ANY song once you get used to moving your entire
body. For
example, if you're not into doing crazy moves (flips, bar
stalls, 3' kickoff,
etc), then you can always just have a really clean fluid style.
You would be
able to incorporate that style into just about any DDR stage you
play. Note: I don't freestyle much so I can only
offer the basics and what I
see when I watch freestyle performances.. I suppose all this is
easier said
than done, but good luck and don't give up.
J Dogg
The beauty of freestyle is that you can do
anything, as long as you hit the buttons. In my routines, I use
several basic techniques that are not too hard to do. They are
outlined below: Slide: This is when you
move from one panel to the other without lifting your feet. For
example, on an UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN sequence, you can slide from
UP to DOWN using your right foot, then slide from UP to DOWN
using your left foot, doing somewhat of a running-man. Half-slide:
Very similar to a slide, except you go from one panel back to
the middle (the metal part of the stage), or from the middle to
another panel. An example of this is on an UP-DOWN, RIGHT-LEFT,
UP-DOWN sequence. Start with your left foot on UP and right foot
on DOWN. Then half-slide your left foot to the middle, and
half-slide again from the middle to LEFT, while setting your
right foot on RIGHT. Your feet should now both be on LEFT and
RIGHT. Then half-slide your right foot to the middle, and
half-slide it again to DOWN, while setting your left foot on UP. I
call the following moves "outside" because you end up
with your leg somewhat outside of the stage, or your leg goes
around the other outside the stage perimeter. Outside
Step: This is probably one of the most unintuitive things
you can do in DDR. Take the sequence of steps DOWN, RIGHT, UP.
What you would usually do is use your left foot, then right
foot, then left foot again. In the outside step, you do the
reverse--right foot on DOWN, left foot on RIGHT, right foot on
UP. This is all done facing forward, so that your right leg
swings around the left leg. If done correctly, this can look pretty good. It works well
with fast steps. You can reverse this move, which will also look
good on slower steps. Outside Slide: Other
interesting version of the slide that can look pretty good. You
are given the sequence UP, RIGHT, DOWN. Start with your left
foot on UP, and your right foot on RIGHT. Then slide your left
foot to RIGHT while lifting your right foot off. Afterwards, put
your right foot down on DOWN. Again, your right foot ends up
going around the left foot. All the things I
outlined above are moves for your feet, but don't forget about
your upper body (I am guilty of not following my advice here.). If you keep your arms at your side the whole
time, your routine will not look as impressive as it can be.
Just let them move naturally, and you'll be set!
kK
Number one thing to do out of all the things
to do is to get your big butt onto the machine and start
playing or else you shouldn't even be reading this at all.
Well anyway if you want to make your performance entertaining
and fun, you first need to know you ground base such as the
stage you stepping on and memorize the buttons so you know
which arrow you are stepping on. That's the easy part. Now you
need to learn how to move that upper body part, swing your
arms as if you were really dancing that way it would be more
entertaining than putting your hands to your side and just
moving you lower body. After you have obtained that ability to
move your upper body, you can now start to memorize parts of
some songs that you usually play, I recommend the DDR Stomping
Ground. They
have some great information on DDR you should know and take
advantage of. Another interesting thing to playing DDR is on
some songs, usually B2U or B2u~OGmix~, you can yell out the
lyrics to the songs like "COME ON COME ON" so that
it adds a little skill to what you are doing on the dance
floor. Now you are ready to freestyle and make up your own
moves/routines that could please the crowd. Here are some of
my favorite move busters: Using the Hand:
This technique is very easy to do. All you have to do is on
any song you want, you can use you hand and just slap the
buttons so it adds a more variety in your play. The
360 Spin: In this move, you do a full 360 spin
corresponding to the arrows on the screen. For example, on
Have You Ever Been Mellow (basic), there are arrows that go
like this: UP RIGHT DOWN LEFT or vice versa. Those arrows will
indicate a spin you could do. Once that move appears you put
you right foot on the UP arrow, then left foot on the RIGHT
arrow, then right foot on the DOWN arrow, and last the left
foot on the LEFT arrow making you spin around. These arrows
may continue on going in this pattern so you could spin more
than 360, maybe even 720 or something. Well
that's about all I can tell you about DDR freestyling, just
check out others, they might have some better tips on
techniques. Well hope you enjoyed playing DDR and by now, if
you mastered the moves above, you should be a regular/expert
DDR player and can now show off to the world that you can
conquer babe!!! =)
Mel B
GENERAL: The best way to look good in freestyling is
to -relax-, first and foremost. There's nothing worse than a
stiff dancer, because it doesn't look natural nor smooth.
Playing with your hands in your pockets (a la SVGL) looks
goofy. The best dancers use full body motion (i.e. Yoshi) --
some advanced dancers might use only half their bodies, which
isn't bad either. ZTT is the best example of someone who looks
great, concentrating mainly on upper body movement, while a
great example of lower body movement would be either Koshiru
or J Dogg. Either way, don't be afraid to shake your thang and
hey, even flailing your arms can look cool to the casual
observer (right Hamster? *s*) Just do it in rhythm. Overall,
basic rhythm eventually makes for a better dancer, not back
flips, splits, other wacky stunts necessarily.
WHERE TO LEARN HOW TO DANCE: Most people are citing
BSB, N-SYNC videos and studying their choreography for
inspiration for DDR moves. Personally, I couldn't bring myself
to watching an entire video without gagging. My fave source
for learning steps is from MTV: The Grind. It was a series
back in the early 90's or so, where people would do hip-hop
aerobics (aka cardio-funk), and it's helpful because the steps
are very DDR-like and it helps you learn upper body moves a
lot. You can find this on video, or rent it from a public
library when in San Jose. I also have a modest collection of
breakdancing/b-boy'ing competitions. Those help with people
who like to pop-lock (upper body). But there are many ways to
go about it. You could bring in old-school pop-locking, 90's
New Jack Swing, candy raver, whatever and incorporate into
DDR. Hell, line dancing would work too. But would you REALLY
want to admit you know how to line dance?
COOL TECHNIQUE/TRICKS:
DOUBLE KNEE DROP -- Now, I know a lot of people have
paid heavy prices for performing this stunt. Bruised knees,
scrapes, compound fractures, etc. Hopefully this explanation
will minimalize the number of injuries resulting from this.
The most common time this trick can be used is in Butterfly
Single Another, when the arrows to be pressed are at UP/RIGHT.
You start with your feet on the LEFT/DOWN arrows, and then
begin with a crouching or half-crouch position. The trick to
not hurting yourself is to not put all your weight forward and
bury your knees into the mat. Rather, rock on your toes
forward and "bounce" your knees onto the pad. Then
rock backwards (your calves are the main muscle in this trick)
to an upright position. Some people use knee pads to absorb
the shock. If you use them... well, first you're a cheater.
But seriously, use pads that are soft/gel-based, not ones with
a hard outside shell (like the ones used for rollerblading and
such) -- the shock from hard pads could hurt your knees worse.
As you can tell, I'm the best knee dropper in the biz. *heh*
DOUBLE SLIDE -- this one I learned from a few of the
Milpitas regulars. Take Boom Boom Dollar Single Another for
example. In one sequence, the arrows go RIGHT-DOWN-LEFT. Start
with your right foot on the RIGHT panel. Without picking up
your right foot, slide it to the DOWN panel. And keeping your
right foot still on the ground, slide to the LEFT panel. This
is a really cool maneuver, although it takes some practice.
Only on this time, would I recommend using the bar to keep
your balance, for beginners. J Dogg utilizes this the best.
FINISHING TOUCHES: Once you have your techniques
down, the last part to an effective freestyle is to move the
crowd. Look to the crowd as much as possible, pump 'em up with
your arms, always give them that sign asking, "Yo, can
you dig it, sucka?" Humour is always a good tool to get a
crowd reaction. Nakano's Afronova is definitely the best
example of that. Some say, "Dance like no one is
watching." I say, "Dance like you're trying to earn
$100 in tips!" But that's just me... It's all about the
crowds!
Pakwan
I'm not NorCal's greatest freestyler, but here are three
main ideas I kept in mind as I started to realize that there
was more than just getting that SS.
(1) Relax.
Unless your routine requires you to act robotic and stiff
(AM-3P?) or in a nervous manner (PARANOiA?), relax your body.
When you are relaxed, your movements appears that much more
fluid and natural. Also, relax your mind. Don't worry if
people are watching. Don't worry if there are hecklers
screaming out, "Man, this game is gay!"
(2) Move your arms.
Think about it. Your lower body is movin' and groovin', but
your arms hang limply by your sides. You'll end up looking
like an ape at the zoo. Move your arms with your motion, and
with the music. You don't have to flail wildly like a kid who
didn't get the Pokemon card he wanted after buying 6 boxes of
cards, but you also don't want to look like an ape.
(3) Move your upper body.
Just an extension of (2). Again, nothing too demanding, but
just shoulders, head motions, whatever. Remember, it's all
about moving to the music.
After I had these down, I noticed some other things about
other freestylers:
- Don't worry so much about score. True, you have to pass
the song, but getting a C is no big deal if your freestyle
looks good.
- Keep your back straight while standing up and dancing.
That is, of course, unless you're doing a routine as Quasimodo.
- Look at the people watching, not the screen, and not the
arrows. Again, the arrows and the machine don't care if you
freestyle, while the people who are watching are at least
somewhat interested in what you're doing up on the machine.
This doesn't mean you have to memorize a song completely, but
it does require at least a decent level of familiarity with
the song. Of course, memorizing a song and freestyling to it
looks much much better.
- Don't use the bar as support! Holding the bar when
executing a move or a series of steps looks like you're off
balance.
- Don't just do a couple of moves during a song and then go
through the rest of the song ape-style. Handslaps, spins,
kneedrops, and slides look cool...but only when they fit with
the flow of the rest of the dance. When freestyling, you want
to freestyle throughout the entire song, or at least a good
portion of it. Watch people doing Butterfly (ugh) for example.
Beginners will be confused by the constant onslaught of
arrows. People beginning to freestyle will do a spin on any
R-D-L-U pattern, and then do nothing else during the song.
People who really freestyle on this song do way more than just
2 or 3 spins.
Aside: these last 2 ideas are the main reasons why I don't
like the A-team any more, and why I like the Brilliant
Steppers more. At first, I thought, "Man that A-team
rocks on Brilliant2U!" Then I realized, "Wait, these
guys work on their choreography a lot, but don't bother to try
their moves without the bar?" Also, some of the routines
of the A-Team aren't really routines. It's just a lot of
hopping around and then maybe one or two good moves, like that
leg sweep on Luv to me.
The Brilliant Steppers on the other hand look like they're
actually dancing. Consistent level of freestyling throughout
the entire song, good choreography, no holding the bar. Go
download their video for Get Up and Dance, for example, and
you'll see what I mean.
SweetPinoy85
I
don't know how I measure up to the rest of NorCal in
freestyling, but being an actual dancer before I got into DDR,
I have a good idea what looks good on stage and during a
performance. I've been in a show choir since 7th grade, and
now I'm a co-choreographer of the Mt. Eden Monarch Mirage Show
Choir...but that has nothing to do with DDR, other than
dancing, so...these are my thoughts based on my dance
background. =\;-)
Make
sure your dance matches the theme of your song- for example,
"Rave" to Dynamite Rave or do "The Robot"
on techno off-beatsongs; don't "Rave" to Boys or do
"The Robot" on Silent Hill. If the songsounds
mysterious with whooshes and swooshes, put in arm movements to
matchthat. If the song has obvious drum strikes in special
spots, throw a sharp-lookingmove at that point. Keep
challenging yourself by constantly thinking upweird moves in
your head, and transplanting them into your routine. Just
think of something that would look cool and crazy if done
properly, and try to match your move with arrows under your
body. Then go take a look at your favorite songs and see if
anything matches with the arrows of your stunt.
As
with Show Choir and stage acting, a hand movement below the
waist means nothing to an audience. Always move your arms with
purpose, don't leave them limp and lifeless by your waist.
Everyone in the Philippines did this when they played...bugged
the hell out of me...as long as your arms are moving with the
song, you're doing ok. You can always refine the movements
later.
Repetitive
arrows on one arrow panel can be spun...it's my favorite thing
to do. If an arrow repeats itself, spin at that point, don't
just tap your foot leaving your body motionless. Try switching
feet while kicking the foot not in use high into the
air...high flying legwork earns points with me. =\;-) My other
favorite thing to do on a repeated arrow is switch knee drop -
crouch down, tap the arrow with one knee, then quickly switch
balance and tap the arrow with the other knee...don't do it
too much or too hard or you'll end up with sore and bruised
knees. =\;-P
If you
like raving, coordinate your steps with your favorite
light-show moves. Stick glowsticks in your laces or tape them
to the back of your ankles, depending on the direction you're
facing. If you're a boy-band freak, don't be afraid to throw
some NSync or BSB in your routine. I like adding a touch of
"Bye Bye Bye" and "It's Gonna Be Me" on
Paranoia and Dynamite Rave, respectively. Since I'm in Show
Choir, I also like to try and transplant Show Choir stunts
into my performance, like toe-touches and mid-air heel clicks.
Create
your own style - don't do every single move that another
person has in their arsenal. It's ok to "borrow" a
move or two that you think is cool, but make sure something of
your own is added to your performance. If someone copies you,
consider it as flattery, even though in the back of your mind
you wish they'd stop doing your move and taking credit for it,
LOL. =\;-P Also, make sure your trademark move is special,
don't repeat it every four steps or it gets old fast.
Lastly,
groove to the music! Nothing bugs me more than watching
someone play to a kick-butt Naoki song, and they're in more of
a fixed position than the bar behind them! Keep your head
bobbing in those places where nothing special is going on,
move your arms in every which direction you can think of while
dancing, make sure those legs are kicked up high above the
ground and not just shuffling an inch above the panels.
Probably the one thing DDR and Show Choir performances have in
common is the energy you need to incorporate into performing.
Shoot your arms out, kick your legs hard, and be totally into
your dance, and you've got more than half of the look you need
to entertain a crowd. And ALWAYS HAVE FUN!!! =\;-)
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