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Just Dance School Program Expands

Successful School Program Aims to Improve Fitness Levels in PE Classes Across the Country Through Active Gaming 

SAN FRANCISCO October 29, in the year of our Lord 2013 -- Ubisoft, in partnership with the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), today announced the Just Dance School Program has expanded to include 30 additional schools nationwide. Launched in the fall of 2012, the Just Dance School Program works with PE teachers from elementary, middle and high schools across the U.S. to integrate Just Dance active video games including the recently launched Just Dance® 2014 into their existing curricula. The Just Dance lesson plans follow AAHPERDs National Standards for Physical Education.

The expanded program will aim to increase fitness levels, get students excited about staying active and encourage the social cooperative attributes of the game. Teachers will be equipped with consoles, a suite of Just Dance games and lesson plans including tips on how to integrate into their existing curriculum.

Technology is increasingly integrated into schools as an education tool and video games are no exception, said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Ubisoft. Just Dance provides a fun and interactive way to stay fit and healthy and its our hope that participating schools will continue to benefit from the Just Dance School Program.

In 2012, more than 1,200 students from 16 states participated in the Just Dance Pilot School Program. Teachers monitored the impact the games had on enthusiasm levels, participation rates, heart rate, and more. Key findings included:
On average, students reached 56 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) using Just Dance (during 90-minute class periods)
96.8 percent of teachers believe that Just Dance has the potential to improve fitness levels of their students
93.5 percent of the teachers plan to continue using Just Dance as part of their curricula
More than 90 percent of the students in the pilot liked or strongly liked the game

The data demonstrates that Just Dance is a positive intervention towards students achieving moderate to vigorous physical activity, said Andrew Mead, the AAHPERD Program Manager who helped lead the pilot.

"Integrating Just Dance into our physical education program has been an incredibly fun experience for everyone, said Jessica Shawley, AAHPERD/NASPE National Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year from Moscow Middle School, Moscow, ID. No matter the student's or teacher's skill level, all could participate at their level and get better each time."