Eric Helser is a dancer of the strangest kind.

All he needs is a dance pad and the video game Dance Dance Revolution to showcase his magic footwork.

Helser, a sophomore computer science major, enjoys getting his groove on with the helpful assistance of a dance pad and a video game to help show him the proper steps.

Helser’s obsession with the video game Dance Dance Revolution started by chance during a random trip to an arcade three years ago with a group of friends.

“One of them put in two credits in the machine and offered a free play to anybody that had the guts to step up and try,” Helser said. “The others stood around and thought about it, but then I stepped up to give it a try. I was instantly hooked.”

Dance Dance Revolution is a video game that puts up different directions a player has to follow with their feet on a dance pad. The player is then awarded points based on accuracy.

Helser has entered three DDR tournaments and has won two of the three, which has earned him more than $100 in cash and prizes.

Helser said while his parents are generally supportive, his friends sometimes show some concern for his playing habit.

“My parents know I play and have seen me play, and they think it’s fun to watch,” he said. “My friends that have seen me play are kind of concerned with how much time, energy and money I put into the game.”

Putting all that time and energy into the game has had its benefits.

“I think playing got me into shape; it made my legs stronger and improved my overall endurance,” he said. “Back in high school, the track coach was practically begging me to join the team after he saw how well I ran thanks to DDR.”

Despite his considerable skills on the dance pad, it has never translated to dance skills on an actual dance floor.

“Everybody knows I can’t dance without a machine,” he said. “When I was dragged to a senior prom, my friends had to do everything in their power to keep me from being a wallflower.”

Chris Langer, another avid DDR player, respects the talents of Helser.

“We went to a tourney last month in Rockford, and we each won a division,” Langer said. “He’s insanely good at Beatmania IIDX, another rhythm-action game by Konami.”

Surprisingly, or maybe not, Helser said his dance moves at the arcade don’t usually help him with the ladies.

“The girls that don’t play [DDR] are usually frightened by my crazy rhythmic stomping,” he said. “The ones that stick around to compliment my performance are most likely put off by the sweat.”