| They were once to be found only in the occasional | | | | show where your feet should be to help you follow |
| pub on a Friday night, but today karaoke machines | | | | a simple dance routine. These dance routines are |
| have invaded the home, much to the delight of the | | | | usually shown on the television screen, and will start |
| parents whose children are given them by adoring | | | | with simple routines and become more and more |
| friends and relatives, and by the neighbours who | | | | complex. The idea of these is not as much to get |
| have to put up with daily renditions of the current | | | | children to learn to dance or to learn dance moves, |
| pop hits being belted out by a group of children | | | | but to provide them with personal challenges, friendly |
| whose enthusiasm is matched only by their inability to | | | | rivalry and competition with friends, whilst at the |
| hit the right note at least occasionally. | | | | same time getting some exercise. |
| These machines are actually fairly inexpensive, and | | | | The more complex and demanding dance routines |
| usually come with a few sample tracks for use by | | | | involve a great deal of very fast jumping, stepping, |
| the children to get them started. The cheaper models | | | | turning and other foot moves, that can be very |
| don't tend to come with monitors, although many will | | | | difficult to copy exactly, and very tiring to keep up |
| provide the ability to wire the machine to a television | | | | with. The mats themselves have pressure sensors |
| and play the videos. The more expensive ones will | | | | built in to each of the coloured spots so that a |
| either use DVDs rather than CDs or tapes, and will | | | | computer can identify how quickly and how |
| either have their own built in screen, or the ability to | | | | accurately the child is copying the moves, and will |
| broadcast the video and lyrics on the television | | | | provide scores. In some cases the score can be |
| screen at home. The machines come with a built in | | | | increased simply by moving faster, completing more |
| amplifier, stereo speakers and a microphone. Often | | | | moves in less time and beating your opponent. |
| the machines also allow the child to alter the voice in | | | | Certainly the physical exercise gained from these |
| various ways, such as adding a reverberation effect | | | | games is well worth the money, and they prove |
| to make it sound more as though they are | | | | very popular. |
| performing on stage. Some even come with flashing | | | | Together, the karaoke set and the dance mat will |
| disco lights for the full club effect. | | | | create blockbusting divas and pop idols, or at least, in |
| In addition to the karaoke machines there has also | | | | their own minds they will be. Just remember to make |
| been an interest in dance mats. Sometimes these are | | | | sure that the enthusiasm with which these are |
| sold in pairs together, but they can be bought as | | | | received does not result in either late night full |
| individual items for use on their own too. The dance | | | | volume performances that sees you being ostracised |
| mats are usually made of plastic, and have a number | | | | by your neighbours, or that you don't keep your |
| of squares, coloured spots or other markings to | | | | collection of Ming vases next to the dance mat. |