#dancerversion

[takethistoyourstardust]

Mage Ranks the JD2023E Map… Rather Be

We’re officially at the halfway point of our Enter the dancerverses playlist, and at our first song in it that’s ranked as a Hard routine!

MAP: Rather Be - Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne DIFFICULTY: Hard EFFORT: Intense JD+ NEEDED?: No SEASON: Base game/Enter the dancerverses playlist

Let’s switch up the batteries under the cut!

--

Seeing that this song released in 2013 hurt a little, I won’t lie. This song is ten years old! I literally remember when this song came out! Fucked! Putting my crisis of ‘oh god time moves forward’ aside, this song still fucks. The build up from the synth blips in the verses to the full violin in the chorus? Iconic! The lyrics are a bit simple, but when you have a beat as good as this one, with a voice as nice as Jess Glynne’s, who needs complex lyrics? And the message of the lyrics are cute, too; “when I am with you, there’s no place I’d rather be”. Sometimes, all you need are simple lyrics and a beat that fucks.

A slightly easier dance routine would be nice, too, though.

Like I said at the start, this is the first map in the playlist that’s ranked as Hard, and my god does it justify it. This map has very precise and quick hand movements you have to follow during the verses and bridge, which get traded in for jumping and even more sweeping hand movements in the chorus. It’s very easy to get lost and miss quite a few moves the first few times you do it because you just have no god damn idea where your hands go. I don’t usually bring up pictogram counts, because I do believe in mostly following the coach and not relying on the pictograms unless absolutely necessary. However, I do feel the need to point out that this bitch of a routine has 241 pictograms due to the constant hand movements. The song isn’t even that long! The one mercy it gives you is that there is only one Gold Move, and it’s the exact same move you’ve been doing at the start of the chorus, so it’s pretty hard to miss.

As for it’s effort rating... yeah, no arguments. Mild lunges, constantly moving your feet, and the jumping during the chorus, and you got yourself a routine designed to kill those who haven’t done cardio since they were required to in high school. Don’t ask me how I know that. You already know.

Our coach this time around is Mihaly, the second non-binary coach in the entire franchise, and uses they/them! I genuinely love that. As someone who doesn’t identify within the gender binary myself, seeing a feminine-presenting non-binary coach does genuinely make me feel seen, and I do hope they’ll include more non-binary coaches with different types/intensities of outward gender presentation in the future. And I hope they will have slightly more swag than Mihaly. I do get the look they’re going for, since they’re supposed to be a shaman/monk type (JD’s words not mine), and I get that "athleisure” is a genuine look enjoyed by many. I am simply not one of those people. Outfit aside, though, they really do embody the concept of someone who’s able to use Flow in their dance. And even if I don’t personally like their outfit, I must award them the Non-Binary Swag award.

I will not be acknowledging the panda <3

The background actually changes, from a dark void filled with crystals to this bright temple. The final area they end up dancing in looks objectively nice and interesting, but I’m just not vibing with it like I want to. I think the minimalist style of the verses is a fascinating enough visual to dance with, and when the routine gets as difficult as it does, the background can start to feel too busy for it’s own good. However, I can’t completely hate it because the door to the temple has a lotus on it, and I have a soft spot for lotus flowers. I even have a lotus tattoo (tho I will admit I got it because of an anime character who’s first name translates to ‘lotus’)!

The ending is interesting to me. When Wanderlust, Sara, and Brezziana come through the portal, Mihaly is initially happy to see the group, but they seem to hesitate for a minute before agreeing to join. I think because they can feel the vibes around them, they did get legit bad vibes for a second, but understood it wasn’t coming directly from the group, so agreed to join to help Un-Fuck The Vibes. Which is as good of a reason to help as any.

Also, small question that I don’t need answered, but they opened up the whole scene on a busy street... where the fuck did the street go???

--

GENERAL RATING: THUMBS UP!

SPECIFIC RATING: 7/10

After you’re already tired from the last physically demanding routine, this one hits you with a technically demanding routine. Even if you just boot up this map to play solo, it’s a difficult map to keep up with with a background that can end up being too busy to keep up with the coach, and I can see a ton of people getting super frustrated with it. However, with a mix of Non-Binary Swag and a genuinely good song, at least I’m having fun while the OK’s fly across my screen! And as much shit as I gave the background, it does fit with the vibe of the dance. So, overall, a bit of a drop, but still a fun time, even if I feel like I’m gonna die by the end.

--

Thanks for reading! The next map we’re looking at is the map with my blorbo in it (and the map I blame for getting me hyperfixated on this game in the first place), Locked Out of Heaven! And while I didn’t have much to say about the last couple of maps, my god will I have so much to say about that one. Not obligated to follow, but if you would like to see a Category Seven Autism Event in action (and see the rest of the map rankings in the game), feel free to stick around! Have a good day!

~ Mage <3

[tefy-cier-rosales]

Un dibujito de un Hc que tengo, donde estos 4 son un grupito de amigos y asi como para resumir, capaz suba mas dibujos con ellos porque ando obsecionada con el Dancerverse

Abajo esta la base que use para el dibujo.

[thxrnking]

Imperfect - Chapter 2: Learn

Content warning: implied child abuse - a smack is heard and injuries witnessed on a minor.

[Imperfect Masterlist]

Author’s Note - Jack is approximately 14/younger 15, Wanderlust is around older 15/young 16

----

All Wanderlust has to say is ‘red hair’, and his mother, Si’ha Nova, knows exactly who he’s talking about.

Jack Rose, son of the Night Swan.

Wander knows all about her. He’s heard all the horror stories. The kidnappings, the torture, the murder. Every time she’s tried to stretch beyond the reach of her own Map, Wander knows the stories by heart. Father insists on it. One day it will be his duty to protect the Dancerverse and that comes with expectations. Responsibilities.

“Forget the boy.” Father instructs him.

Only he can’t do that. For weeks he tries, but his thoughts are practically haunted by the image of the boy in red, fists raised and ready to fight, until the second Father walked in. Head bowed, almost cowering. That kid was afraid. And they’d left him there. That wasn’t right.

Father refuses to talk about it, shutting it down whenever Wander tries. As far as he’s concerned the situation is dealt with and there are more important things out there to concern themselves with. Mom understands though. She sees what the Traveler doesn’t. She sees the sadness when Wander thinks no one’s looking, the confusion weighing on his shoulders, and the frustration that comes from being refused the answers.

“Your Father is powerful,” she tells her son sorrowfully, “but even he can’t save everyone.”

Maybe not, thinks Wanderlust, but he could have tried.

Weeks turn into months but the memory of what happened refuses to let him go. He can’t leave it like this, he has to go back. Jack’s the son of a power-crazed dictator, he probably doesn’t have a friend in the world. He could even be dead by now!

Father can’t know. He doesn’t understand. So there’s only one thing for it, Wander has to work on his portals. He has to make sure he can get there and back without needing to be rescued by his Father again.

It takes time, more time than he wanted. Tearing a hole in the fabric of the Dancerverse to travel between Maps is apparently easier said then done. It’s more than just creating a secure portal doorway, it’s making sure you’re connecting to the right place, something that Wanderlust really struggles with.

Almost a year passes. Wanderlust isn’t perfect every time but he’s confident that a portal to Swan Tower and back is doable.

A blue line, fritzing and sparking, tears down through the air. As it touches the floor it bursts wide. The portal seems strong, holding its shape, though just to be sure Wanderlust waits, 1, 2, 3, to make sure it won’t collapse in on itself.

It holds.

Wanderlust strides into a sizable bedroom. To one side there’s a large golden four-poster bed covered in luxurious red bedding and purple plush cushions. An ottoman, a chest of drawers, a dresser, and what looks like a privacy divider; the furniture is old and made of what looks to be carved oak. It looks very nice, expensive, and ultimately soulless. This isn’t a room that was made to be lived in.

By the dresser stands Jack, staring in shock at the portal. Jack scowls at the intruder and grabs for a small bronze statue that sits on the dresser, lifting it above his head and ready to throw it.

“Wait!” Wanderlust holds his hands up as the portal snaps shut behind him. “Don’t throw it!”

Jack’s eyes dart around the room, looking back and forth.

“It’s just me” Keeping one hand up, Wander holds the other out. “Please put down the statue.”

A few seconds pass and slowly Jack lowers the statue, keeping it in his hands but no longer threatening to throw it. That’s progress at least.

You can tell it’s been a while. Jack’s grown more than a few inches since last time, almost standing taller than Wander. Meanwhile his face has definitely gained more definition. He’s clearly still a kid, but there’s no doubt this isn’t the same one Wander unwillingly left behind.

“You’re Jack Rose.” Wander says, holding a hand to his chest. “I’m Wanderlust.”

The statue shifts to one hand as Jack raises the other to tap his fingers to the side of his forehead.

Wander stares. He points to Jack before tapping just below his own ear.

“You can hear me?”

Jack nods.

“But you don’t speak.”

Shake.

“Why not?”

The statue raises again and Wander backs away. Stupid question.

“Sorry. I just-” he takes a moment, thinking how to explain, “I’m here because I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

Jack gestures to the room around them. The cold, soulless room that no one would mistake for a child’s bedroom. He then points to himself before he holds his fingers out in an okay.

“I know who your mother is.”

His grip on the statue tightens but Jack merely shrugs with a look of disinterest.

“That can’t be easy.”

Parents are complicated at the best of times. It’s like they’re always at war with their kids, torn between giving them the world and keeping them safe. It’s worse when your parents are crazy powerful beings known throughout the Dancerverse with high expectations and confusing standards. Even then, compared to Jack, Wander won the parent lottery.

“You know, I can easily get you out of here.”

It happens fast. Wander’s barely finished speaking before the statue’s raised and hurled at him with force. He practically has to throw himself down to keep it from hitting him in the chest, watching as it flies overhead and lands with a harsh thunk on the other side of the room.

“Hey! That could have-!”

A flying cushion to the face interrupts him as he moves to stand up. Another one flies at him which Wander catches, standing and frowning.

“Stop throwing things!”

Jack’s by the bed now, a third cushion in his hands when a chilling voice bellows from outside.

“Jack!”

Panic crosses Jack’s face as he drops the cushion, rushing forward and grabbing Wander by the wrist before dragging him to the side of the room. Wanderlust tries to say something but Jack pinches his fingers together in Wander’s face. Shut up. From beyond the door there’s a faint click-click-click as Jack snatches the privacy divider from where it sits and jabs a finger at his intruder. Stay. Down goes the divider to block him from view just in time for Wander to hear the door smash open.

“You shouldn’t be in here.” Feminine, dripping with ice cold detachment and unmistakable resentment. Wander covers his mouth his eyes going wide. Night Swan. “You’re supposed to be-”

She stops before she finishes, her heels clacking much louder now as she crosses the room.

“What’s this doing on the floor?”

The statue!

“I go out of my way to give you luxurious things and you just throw them around like an animal! Why do I even bother? Get over here!”

There’s a soft tread against the floor. Likely Jack doing as he’s told.

The harsh SMACK that cracks through the air makes Wander flinch. She didn’t….

“Clean it up.” Night Swan says. “Then get back to your duties.”

The clacking leaves, echoing into the distance leaving nothing but a painful silence in its wake.

Wander doesn’t move. He can’t. She didn’t. He didn’t just hear that. The privacy divider is pushed out of the way and Jack stands in front of him. The statue is in his hand. One cheek is flushed a bright red with cuts in just about the right position for fingernails.

“She hit you.”

It isn’t a question. Wander reaches for the cheek but Jack’s free hand catches his wrist and holds firm. His lips are a firm line, his eyes looking anywhere but at the blue man before him. Jack throws the arm away and points to the door. A clear message. Leave.

Wander doesn’t wait to be told again, opening a portal as Jack returns the statue to the dresser. As he goes to step through, Wander looks over his shoulder again in time to catch Jack wincing as he touches at his cheek.

He steps through the portal, allowing it to sew itself shut behind him. His hands are shaking, he’s that disgusted by what he just witnessed. That’s not right.

Jack shouldn’t be there. It isn’t safe. It isn’t right but it doesn’t seem like Jack particularly wants to leave. Even so Wander cannot and will not leave him alone to that monster. As long as there’s breath in his body, Wanderlust will make sure Jack Rose has at least one friend in the Dancerverse.

[crazymouztache]

The Traveler might actualy be Jack's dad (or Cygnus's dad??????)

I decided to make a post because this has been in my head for a day and a half. So with "Murder on the Dancefloor'' being released and people being scared for WanderRose (Wanderlust x Jack Rose), I started to ponder if Jack really could be Traveler's son, and I REALLY think it is possible after realizing some implications in maps. The first implication is cloning, how? Well, I think Jack can make clones of himself based on the map "Treasure"( also/maybe "Locked out of Heaven" because of the mirrors {not all of the mirrors would have seen Jack so it might be clones in the mirror but it also might just be his imagination that there are mirrors there as well} "Canned Heat" may also be a possibility because of the mirrors we see, not all of them would see Jack, it could also be just a stylistic choice{We have to question everything because we aren't given all the lore}). We know this map is an illusion but why would she make up his ability to use magic/flow? When it gets to the part where they are on the big stage the clones behave and look differently, the clones no longer look like an illusion (mirror/smoke effect), and the 4 clones all act differently from one another which makes me think that this is something that he also can do, he appears to have a magic staff (Normal Jack Rose also has this) or he uses his flow to make the staff appear and disappear. Who else can make clones? The Traveler and Si'ha Nova. Night Swan has never shown the ability to make clones only illusions with her magic, so if he does have the ability to clone who did he get this from? It had to be from a Deity/Sorcerer who knows how to use flow so well that they can clone and Jack inherited or was taught it by them before Leda took him and left. Not even Wanderlust who is the son of Traveler and Si'ha, has the ability (from what we've been shown) and he's the prince of dancerverse, a deity.

I know a lot of people don't think the Traveler can be Jack's dad because they look nothing alike however Jack doesn't look anything like his mom either other than hair color (I used a color finder for Jack's hair color and it appears to be Rosso Corsa which can be made with Magenta (Leda's hair color) and Cerulean Blue (The Traveler's hair color which is a cyan and cyan helps make red) (other colors are used also to make red) Not only that, if anything I think he has more in common (outfit colors) with the Traveler, he has purple, and gold accents in his outfit which tie in with the Traveler meanwhile Jack has magenta feathers which tie in with young Leda not Night Swan. In all other instances, Jack has a gold glove on his main hand, in treasure his main glove hand is now purple and his other hand is gold (Night Swan changed some of his colors and reversed his outfit so he looked like her instead of him). What do the Traveler, Wanderlust, and Jack have in common? They all have a gold glove on their main hand, Si'ha Nova does have gold on her main glove but the glove is mostly purple. This is a link (in the main story) between the three, all the signs were there the whole time. When it came to the hand part in the map "Majesty" Jack probably was the only one who could save Wanderlust since they share the same ancient flow magic (also because they could be related).

Wanderlust also doesn't really look like his parents either (he has black hair), the only thing he has in common (other than outfit colors) is the fact that he has blue skin. So the argument that Traveler can't be Jack's dad because of hair color isn't really valid. I also saw people say that it can't be possible that Traveler is Jack's dad because when they touched hands there was no magic flare like when Traveler and Si'Ha did. Well, I have a counter against that, Leda and Wanderlust didn't have a magic/flow flare because Leda didn't have magic/flow at that moment she only got magic from him a couple seconds afterward, They probably would have had a magic flare If they did the holding hands gesture after she got powers, which they could do the magic baby thing too actually, like how Wanderlust came to be. Overall I think it is VERY likely that they are brothers. It makes sense storyline-wise because it seems like even though they just met each other it looks like there's already a connection between them.

Also it explains why Jack is resistant to his mother in ways that the others cannot, he's half-human but also part not human (humans are resilient to flow, it took longer for Sara to get captured) he isn't like the others which is why she didn't try to turn him she has to coerce him, (Jack may also be part deity? I can't remember if Traveler was just a protector of dancerverse). It makes sense that Leda and Traveler would start a relationship because of the map "Save your tears” the lyrics are giving relationship/toxic relationship struggles, Traveler and Si'ha want to be together but at the same time don't, they push and pull each other. So Leda and Traveler may have had a magic baby together during the time when Si'ha and Traveler were on and off again, {before syt remix maybe} (the timeline is a little messed up because in Motdf he is obviously younger but has disco ball but he made that for Wanderlust, unless every dancerverse protector has a disco ball in which case he might have met Leda before Si’Ha). Before Night Swan had been consumed by the feelings of needing to be perfect and taking Jack Rose with her to Eternyx and changing her name to Night Swan.

I may update this with more information if I realize/missed something I want to talk about. And I will probably answer any questions that are given. Also Just Dance Team did you really have to do the ship that dirty? XD

[caitierose-butwithfics]

Abandoned

Description: Ever since he was young, Polo had the desire to travel the Danceverses. His dreams become a reality when he gets the opportunity to travel to the Danceverse Cyberfunk- and make a new friend.

Author's Note: Hello everyone!!! This is my second fic on this site, and the reactions to my first one were super sweet!!! It warms my heart when you guys let me know I broke yours:D Anyways, this prompt was sent to me by @lyndexv, so I hope y'all enjoy!!! Please blog and repost if you do:)

CHAPTER 1

This was it. Everything Polo had done for the past year had lead up to this moment. Being able to finally afford his own Starship.

When he was young, Polo used to star at the stars above Dancity and tell his mom all about the Danceverses he wanted to see. She would hug him close as he described the barren war lands of Westerra, the vibrant circus-like Danceverse of Carnivalium, and the futuristic world of Cyberfunk. Of all the Danceverses, that was the one he wanted to see the most. Posters advertising the colorful marketplaces and tranquil space bays were plastered all over Dancity. His mother never had much money, and she wished to send him to all 10 Dancerverses, she also wanted to send him to the best college.

While studying Robotics at Dancity University, Polo had purchased the cheapest Starship he could find. Which meant it came completely broken. But not to worry, as someone who was very passionate about engineering and robotics, it was a piece of cake for Polo to repair. And now, all he had to do was put a couple of finishing touches on the Starship and he was good to go to the one Danceverse he always wanted to see. Cyberfunk.

Reuben sat a distance away, carelessly eating a carton of ice cream. He didn't understand Polo's desire to travel the Danceverses. Dancity was the best Danceverse anyway, so why leave? But that was fine by Polo. Someone needed to stay and hold down the fort, anyway.

"That better not be my ice cream you're eating."

Reuben didn't miss a beat. "Naw. I know for sure this one's mine."

Polo looked back, raising an eyebrow. Confident, was he?

"Is it strawberry? Because then it is, beyond the shadow of doubt, mine."

"No, it's... Shit! You know this wouldn't happen if you labeled your crap!"

Polo gave a small bow. "Your Honor, the state rests."

Reuben stood up, setting aside the ice cream. "Dude, you are a pain in the ass." He then offered his hand. "But your my best friend, so don't get hurt, 'k?"

"Sure you don't want to go?"

"Yeah, no. Love you man, but I am not getting in that rust bucket and traveling 9 Danceverses away from home. Thanks, but no."

Polo smiled, shaking Reuben's outstretched hand. "Yup. Got it. I promise to return in one piece."

***

Polo was this close to breaking that promise.

Stumbling out of the makeshift Starship, Polo only realized now that he could have made the steering a little more accurate, could have made the engine last a little longer. There was a possibility he kinda forgot the finer details in the excitement of finally being able to travel.

Polo dusted himself, glancing at his surroundings. Yeah, this wasn't the Cyberfunk that was advertised in all those posters in Dancity. He would have gone to Winterhaven if he had known Cyberfunk was just abandoned factories.

Something clanked in the distance, echoing off the barren walls. It sounded like something was dropped. Polo grabbed what looked like a rusted pipe that was closest to him. Apparently this factory wasn't as abandoned as he initially thought.

Taking a deep breath, Polo rounded the corner with a barbaric yell, weapon raised and ready to attack. Only he froze, suddenly in the presence of a very terrified robot. Wearing Dancer clothes.

What the...?

Polo lowered his weapon hesitantly. The poor thing was shaking. Shaking? Could robots shake? Music played off its system, a soothing tune that Polo had never heard. It was moving boxes, but had dropped the box it was holding in shock at its unexpected guest.

"I'm sorry, I'm not going to hurt you. You just... you scared me."

The small face on its screen gave him a look, almost as if to say: I scared you? You almost attacked me!!!"

Polo dropped the pipe, and raised his hands in surrender. "I'm really sorry. I...I think I'm lost."

The robot stayed exactly where it was, unmoving. Polo let out a sigh. This was going to be harder then he thought.

[rachmob]

The real last hope of the dancerverse:

THESE GUYS✨️✨️✨️

and chik-*explodes*

((Mc's drive thru meme))

[Kevin out to deal with the complaint in parking lot.] Gray : seriously...?

[ladyshandioftheendless]

Shandiiii what’s the ridiculous idea you we’re writing last night???? I’m sure it’s not awful!!

Ugh it totally is and I have no idea what I’m doing. I dunno if I’m even gonna post it tbh. I’ll know when I finish it I guess? 

[darkate16-blog]

I can't believe this is me*^* !!! I think that it's a MAGIC!! Thank you @oldpenholder for this amazin pic! I LOVE IT♥️ #cosplay #cosplaygirl #cospleyer #dancerversion #rinhoshizora #nya #yellow #beach #nya💛 #dreamcosplay (presso Rimini Beach)

[lordofvos-blog]

@restitutiopax liked ‼️

« 🎻 » ||  Well, wasn’t he a cute one. Terribly out of place, though. Starscream snorted, canting a wing in the other mech’s direction.

“Excuse me, sweetspark, but I think you may be lost. You don’t seem like the sort of mech to frequent this neighborhood.”

[let-the-rainbow-remind-us]

orin331 also has an alternative starlight glimmer backstory/redemption in the form of an au! it's kinda long though lemme get yu a link

orin331-deviantart-com/art/Dancerverse-Majesty-713531645AH this au is cool !!!! Majesty look great, I wish orin331 would’ve delved into how her kingdom of justice was corrupt and fucked up, since that would’ve been interesting! but it doesn’t seem to be the point of this , and i appreciate it for the fun adjustment of canon universe that it is 

[takethistoyourstardust]

Mage Ranks the JD2023E Map… Physical

Today, we continue our journey into the story mode with the third song, where we meet our fourth character, the popular fitness influencer Brezziana!

MAP: Physical - Dua Lipa DIFFICULTY: Easy EFFORT: Intense JD+ NEEDED?: No SEASON: Base game/Enter the dancerverses playlist

Who needs to go to sleep, when it’s my review you can read (under the cut, as always)?

--

I’ve never actually heard this song before! I know Dua Lipa (who’s name I keep wanting to spell as ‘Dia Lupa’) is a very popular singer, but I think I’ve only ever heard three songs from her. Nothing against her, she’s just never really on my radar. But if all her songs are as fun as Physical, then I really should be looking more into her, because WOW this is a fun track! It makes me wanna sing along to it... if the dance didn’t make me so out of breath!

Which isn’t a mark against the dance at all! It’s supposed to be a cardio workout, done by an in-universe fitness influencer! And it’s even rated as needing an intense amount of effort, with all the jumping and the spins she does! Seriously tho, everyone makes fun of Locked out of Heaven for the spins like spins aren’t a major part of this map’s chorus... Hell, the first gold move is you dropping to your knees while flexing! And there’s not much repetition in the moves. Well, you do the same sets of moves twice during the verses, but verse 1 vs. verse 2 has completely different sets. However... I don’t think this is a very ‘easy’ routine. In the beta version, this was apparently ranked as “medium”, and I gotta say that I agree with the beta version’s ranking. With how much jumping and popping you have to do, even if it’s easy to follow, it’s gonna be tough for a lot of players at a lower skill level, especially coming off of two easy ranked songs that felt justified in their ‘easy’ rank (and, well, Being The Third Song In The Playlist, it’s gonna feel a bit tougher than just going into it solo).

They may have been just ranking it off our coach, though, who makes everything look easy.

The coach here is Brezziana, who is just... so iconic. Her outfit is so fun, I love the colors, and her body type is so unique compared to the other dancers! The energy she injects into the dance is sooooo much fun!! She’s also the first coach in the story mode to partially lip synch along to her song. She doesn’t do it much on the verses, but she does lip synch basically all the chorus and the bridge. I mean this in a complimentary way, it gives the vibes that she’s making a TikTok! And the way she makes such a physical (no pun intended) routine look so fucking easy cannot be overstated. Trust me, by the time I finished this one, I was ready to make like the first gold move and fucking collapse.

And it’s really cool that she doesn’t hesitate to join Wanderlust and Sara on their quest to get the other coaches back! Her presence seems to calm them, and she gets the vibes immediately. Oh, shit’s going down and she’s gotta dance to help everyone? Hell yeah, let’s fucking go! Open up your portals and let’s get to it!!

The background of a fun little mall is also, well, fun! I’m a sucker for malls and big loud colorful aesthetics, so seeing her dance in such a place is a delight for the eyes! I’m sorry if this review seems shorter than the others, this is just a really solid map, so I feel like it really speaks for itself! And I love that this setting comes back in the extreme alt for this map (which will be ranked separately, as all alts will be)! Another thing I liked about the background is that it seemed extremely lived in! A ton of extras walking around, some reacting to Brezziana’s dancing, some just going about their day, and of course people joining in with her during the chorus. It’s just fun! This map is just pure fun!

--

GENERAL RATING: THUMBS UP!

SPECIFIC RATING: 10/10

The first 10/10 I award a map! This routine is fun personified. A fun coach, a fun background, a fun dance, and a fun song! I really couldn’t ask for anything more if I tried! If I had to give any specific criticism to it, I would say that it really should’ve kept it’s beta rating of Medium difficulty, I feel like Easy is a bit of a deceptive ranking. Sure, the moves themselves are easy, but stringing all of them together in this cardio workout, not so much. Also, the tie in to the story line is a bit clunky, but since everyone is technically a silent protagonist, I’m not too terribly pressed about it. But yes, I love this map!! Not much more to say than that!

--

Thanks for reading! Next map, we’re encountering a massive difficulty spike and non-binary swag with the map Rather Be! You’re not obligated to follow me, but I’m posting a ranking of a JD 2023 map every day at noon EST until I finish all the maps (and obviously when they add new ones, I’ll review those too!), so if that interests you, please stick around! Have a good day!

~ Mage <3

[eagc1995]

Dancerverse - SciDancer by Orin331

[thxrnking]

Imperfect - Chapter 1: Belong

Summary -  High expectations rest on the shoulders of Jack Rose and Wanderlust, two sides of the same coin. One heralded the Prince of the Dancerverse, the other destined to serve in his Mother’s sinister shadow. Majesty was not the first time they met, having known each other for years, but can their friendship survive in such an Imperfect world.

Content warning: implied/referenced child abuse

[Imperfect Masterlist]

Author’s Note - Jack is approximately 13 and mute/nonverbal, Wanderlust is around 13/14.

----

It’s a small room, maybe 8 feet by 6. Jack’s never been any good with measurements. It’s large enough that he can lie down on the floor and not hit either wall but small enough that it feels like the punishment it’s meant to. Near enough every damn day now, his Mother has him thrown in here and Jack learned years ago it doesn’t matter if he’s even done anything wrong. Mother says he’s wrong, so he’s wrong.

The door is locked, though it doesn’t need to be. Jack knows better than to try and get out before Mother lets him. Hopefully she’ll let him out soon. He didn’t go to breakfast and it’s been a few hours. Faint pangs of hunger are starting to roll in his stomach but he’s no stranger to them. Once, Mother kept him from food for three days. He doesn’t remember why.

Jack picks mindlessly at the carpet as he stares at a spot on the opposite wall. He’s sat on the floor, his back against the wall to one side of the door. One leg is bent, while the other is laid flat. A bead of sweat trails uncomfortably down his back and Jack shifts, trying to catch it with the creases of his shirt.

He had been trying to dance when Mother threw him in here, that’s why he missed breakfast. Mother has plans and Jack must learn the moves and perform for the people. Jack had spun, caught his foot, stumbled and nearly fell. Big mistake.

Nothing but perfect is good enough for Mother.

Suddenly, there’s a mighty crack as a blue line sparks and fizzes through the air. It starts about 5 feet up, drawing a haphazard line to the floor before bursting open wide to reveal another world.

Jack leaps to his feet, fists raised ready to fight. He’s seen enough of his Mother’s magic to know that good things do not come through doorways to other worlds. He can’t make out any of the details through it, like there’s a dirty glass window in the way. An indistinctive grey figure steps towards him and Jack braces himself.

Through the doorway steps a boy, not much taller than Jack is, with vibrant blue skin and dark hair down to his shoulder blades. Deep purple shorts are held up by a golden belt with a triangle buckle and look somewhat at odds with the bright pink shirt.

The boy glances at Jack before looking around the small room

“I don’t think I got this right.” He turns just as the doorway sparks and collapses in on itself.

“Shit.” his hands fly up to the wall, uselessly trying to find the door but it’s gone. “Father is going to be pissed.”

Jack steps back, pressing his back against the door, his fists still raised and a determined look on his face. When the boy spins back to look at him, he’s smiling and Jack doesn’t trust it.

“Wanderlust.” he steps forward offering his hand

Jack stares at it, raising an eyebrow. He’d never seen anyone near his age before. His Mother despises children and won’t let them anywhere near the tower. It’s a miracle he’s even allowed to stay there.

Jack says nothing staring at the hand like it might bite him.

“It’s fine,” Wanderlust turns his hand over to show he’s not hiding anything, “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Another step forward. Jack panics, slapping the hand away and shoving him in the chest with all his might. Luckily Wanderlust wasn’t too close, only being pushed back onto his ass.

“Oof, hey!”

Jack draws back again, fists raised. He doesn’t like this.

Wanderlust pulls himself to his feet, dusting himself down and holding his hands up. “I get it. I got too close. That’s on me. Can you at least tell me where I am?”

Jack shakes his head. Not even if he wanted to.

“I like your emblem.” The blue boy points to the golden feather that hangs from the golden chain around Jack’s neck. It was a gift from his Mother, one of the few things she’d ever given him.

There’s another crack and a blue line, this time starting several feet in the air before drawing a much more controlled line to the floor. It bursts open to reveal another world and immediately a man walks through.

A black beanie over blue hair, a blue shirt with gold detailing, black pants, black boots and a vast cloak with gold patterning on the outside and what looks like the universe shimmering inside.

Jack flattens himself against the door, hands bracing him against it.

The Traveler.

Mother’s told him stories of the Traveler. A man with the power of a god who walks wherever he wants in the Dancerverse. Who created a new world for the woman he loved. Self-proclaimed hero who wouldn’t hesitate to take Jack away from her.

As he enters, the room seems to shrink, his presence filling every inch leaving barely any room for Jack to breathe. Those dark eyes clock him quickly and Jack immediately drops his head, staring at the floor as his heart races.

The Traveler turns to his son, dropping to one knee as he takes the boy by the shoulders.

“What do you think you were doing? I told you, you aren’t ready to portal on your own. You could have ended up anywhere.”

Wanderlust looks a little sheepish but otherwise unaffected. “I know Father. I got excited.”

The doorway behind the Traveler hasn’t collapsed, strong and sturdy as he stands about to guide his son through it, though Wanderlust doesn’t move. He turns to Jack, that smile on his face again as he reaches out his hand toward him.

“Come with us.”

Jack doesn’t move, but looks up in time to see the Traveler’s stern look above the boy as he takes his son’s outstretched hand and turns him away.

Wanderlust looks at him in confusion.

“Father?”

The Traveler’s hand is firm against his son’s back, guiding him towards the doorway.

“This is where he belongs.” is all he says.

Wanderlust tries to look over his shoulder, the boys catching each other’s eyes as he walks through the portal, the vibrant blue turning a dull grey and within seconds the portal has sewn itself shut, disappearing without a trace.

It’s quiet. The room somehow seems darker. Jack’s heart is pounding in his ears and his chest feels tight.

The room around him blurs and tears begin to track a trail down both his cheeks.

Where he belongs.

Slowly, he slides down the door, wrapping his arms around his knees and burying his face in them as his chest heaves and aches.

This is where he belongs.

Silent sobs wrack his body as he fights desperately to stop. Tears will get him nowhere. They never do.

There’s no sound.

There hasn’t been for years.

It doesn’t matter if they’re coming to let him out.

He belongs here.

[alacrityabound]

Starscream drapes himself over the lounge in the practice studio, indicating one of the poles on the floor. "So, I assigned you some moves to practice over the week. Show me how you've been improving."

Oh, right. Those moves. He’d been struggling with them, mostly balance issues, and honestly, it felt like he was getting worse. “Right, um, about that...I wouldn’t call it ‘improvement.’” Gripping the pole, looped a leg around it. “I keep falling off the poll.”

[takethistoyourstardust]

Mage Ranks the JD2023E Map… Locked Out of Heaven

IT’S BLORBO TIME BITCHES. Um, I mean, we’re getting a bit dramatic now in our story line, as we meet Jack Rose, the flamboyant superstar son of our main villain!

MAP: Locked Out of Heaven - Bruno Mars DIFFICULTY: Medium EFFORT: Moderate JD+ NEEDED?: No SEASON: Base game/Enter the dancerverses playlist

Category Seven Autism Event inbound under the cut! Seriously, though, this one is long, ramble-y, and overall just a big excuse for me to infodump the fuck out of this map. It might not make a lot of sense, but putting it all down made me happy, so I hope it makes you happy to read it :)!

--

I don’t need to tell you this song is good, right? It’s Bruno fuckin’ Mars, of COURSE it’s good! This song was actually pre-Uptown Funk, and it’s honestly one of his best songs from that time. I actually hated a lot of early Bruno Mars stuff (Grenade my beloathed), but now he’s probably one of my favorite vocalists. So yeah, I don’t need to tell you the song fucks! You already know that!

However, it’s the way that this song is used that fascinates me. The original context of the song is just “wanting to spend the night at someone’s house because they’re real good in the sack”, and the JD team saw that and went “But What If It’s About Parental Neglect” and ran with it. During the second verse, Night Swan’s face keeps taking over the background, that’s supposed to just be reflections of Jack dancing. And during that final chorus, after the first gold move where Jack is on his knees, and Night Swan Tower reveals itself, the jumbotrons that had Jack’s face on it are replaced by the tower’s visage, as the chorus sings “I’ve been locked out of heaven/for too long/for too long” and it fades back to his room, right where we started. Hell, even before that, he’s pointing to the audience during the lines “Can I just stay here?/Spend the rest of my days here?”, telling us in pretty fucking clear terms that his passion isn’t what he’s supposed to do, but what he wants to do - perform. He’s been locked out of heaven for too long, he’s been kept away from the love a mother should express for her child. And now he’s trying to find that happiness in his performance.

Speaking of, the routine! It’s fucking great! I think it’s ranked pretty fairly in terms of difficulty and effort, but if I can be honest, I found this routine shockingly easy. It’s not the easiest thing in the world, but after the technical nightmare that was Rather Be, and the (slight spoilers) upcoming technical nightmare that is Majesty, I would consider LOoH as almost a breather level. Almost, I say, if it wasn’t for the FIFTEEN SPINS you have to land. Seriously, between the one leg spin-hop, the full circle he makes during the chorus, and even the spin you have to do before the final Gold Move, there’s a reason a lot of people were joking that this song should’ve been called “Spinned Out of Heaven”. But maybe it’s the theater kid in me (it’s probably the theater kid in me), I didn’t find the spins all that difficult or demanding. And both the Gold Moves in this routine are fairly easy, with one being the jump you have to do at the start of the final chorus, and the other being the final move in the entire song, the hand raise that you started with. If I had to complain about one thing, I would say that I wish they had you “holding” the microphone in your right hand more. It’s easy for me to imagine holding the mic while doing certain moves, the bridge of the song being the most obvious, but most of the time it’s “in” your left hand when the game only tracks your right hand. It’s just a bit of a dissonance in my head, where it goes “wait, but i AM holding something in the right hand, why are you saying there’s something in my left?!”. But at that point, that’s just a nitpick.

The whole choreography tells us so much about Jack as a dancer. He’s flamboyant, he’s a showman, he lives for the dramatics. He knows how to work a crowd! His stage presence is amazing.

Speaking of! Jack Rose! The blorbo that has ruined my fucking life!!!

Quick note before I get into this... I’m not crazy when I say his name, Jack Rose, probably comes from the two main characters from Titanic, Jack and Rose, right?! No one else has pointed this out, not even the wiki, and I feel like I’m going fucking crazy. Like I know “Jack” is a very common guy’s name and “Rose” ties into the face his main color is red, but together? That’s a Titanic reference, baby! I’m not the only one who saw that, right?????

Anyways! Look at this man in his red suit, his stupid (affectionate) feather boa shoulder piece, his lipstick matching his hair, his gold glove, his stupid little microphone!!! All of this combined makes for one hell of a memorable character, at least for me. I love love love love LOVE monochrome character palettes, I love the mix of reds and blacks, I love it when random strappy things are on a character, I love a little pop of fur...

... wait a god damn second. Those are all the elements my ultimate blorbo of all time has!!!

(pictured: my ultimate blorbo of all time, aka my warrior of light in final fantasy xiv, ahrora, in her current outfit. note the reds, blacks, strappy things, and pop of fur. no matter what, she’s always gonna be my absolute favorite just because she’s my oc i poured so much into. don’t worry rora, you’re not getting replaced, you never could be <3) (it doesn’t help that her main class is quite literally dancer ALDFSKJAS;DFLKJASLD)

Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch, but I do adore red-coded characters, and honestly with the feathers it’s reminding me of one of my top 5 favorite characters of all time, Yamato Kazakiri from Animal Sentai Zyuohger, mostly because they’re both red and both give off Bird Vibes and not much else. But Yamato could sometimes serve this type of cunt. But now we’re getting twenty miles off from the topic so let’s get back the fuck on track.

Okay I’m sorry this is so much longer and more disjointed than the other reviews but this map makes me scream cry and throw up.

The map starts with Jack as a kid, dancing alone in his room. His mother, Night Swan, looks on, and motions in a way that says she’s disapproving of her son’s actions.

How it’s supposed to come off: Night Swan disapproves because Jack is supposed to be training to be the leader of her army, and shouldn’t have time for frivolous shit like “his own happiness”.

How it comes off to a lot of people: Night Swan disapproves because Jack is expressing his interest in a traditionally “feminine” hobby.

I’m not sure how many people related to that second interpretation, but I did see a LOT of people say that’s how they felt when they saw this cutscene for the first time. Personally, my interpretation was more like the first one; Jack wasn’t being absolutely perfect, and she thinks that if he’s not, he shouldn’t even bother. Of course, a bit of parental neglect never stopped anyone! It just traumatizes and yassifies you!

Honest to god, when I first saw this transition from his child self to his adult self, it made me gasp a bit, Even after his mother has expressed disapproval, he’s still going forward with being a performer. Sure, he is the main leader of her assimilated army, but he just wants to perform in front of people! And he loves it! And the audience loves him too!

But at the end of the day, the one person who he just wants to get some form of approval from won’t give it to him. He’s not good enough.

No, not good. She doesn’t care much for good.

He’s not perfect enough.

God, the love of performance and heartbreak over still not getting any love from his mother after all this time is portrayed so well by his dancer. Makes me feel extremely insane.

I think a question that’s fair to ask is “well if she wants Jack to follow all her orders, why not assimilate him, too?”. And I think the answer is twofold. One, she needs someone who’s able to make snap decisions outside of her own brain to lead her army successfully. If you’re left to your own devices, you may end up making a huge mistake you didn’t foresee. And secondly, no matter how much parental neglect she’s shown Jack, on some level she can’t bring herself to assimilate him because he is her son. She doesn’t care about his happiness, but she doesn’t want to lose someone who may potentially be the final tie to her life before Night Swan, since the dad seems to be M.I.A. And her disapproval of Jack being a performer might stem from her own insecurities of being a failed ballerina; she’s already gone through the pain and humiliation of trying to be a performer and failing, and she doesn’t want Jack to go through the same. Of course, there might be an element of jealousy there too. He IS a successful performer. He’s performing in front of an arena of people, for god’s sake! She’s seeing him live out a dream she couldn’t have, and wants to shut that down for him.

Many thoughts, head full, blorbo living in there.

Of course, by the end of the map, the Just Dancers make it through to where he’s staying...

But for now, that’s where our story must stop.

--

GENERAL RATING: THUMBS UP!!!!!!!!

SPECIFIC RATING: 10/10

Holy shit this is my favorite map in the whole game. I don’t give a shit. The choreography is fun and easy for a theater kid like me to grasp while still being genuinely challenging in a fair sense, the story of the map is told so well in less than five minutes, Jack Rose is just an iconic coach, everything about him just rattles my fucking brain like a cup of dice. Does he know how much I care about him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And to top it all off, he gets a song that already fucked hard and gets it recontextualized to be about an emotionally distant, neglectful mother, and how he just wants that closeness with somebody, anybody, and that he just wants to perform!

He just wants someone close to him to care about it, too!

... Is that really too much to ask?

--

THANK YOU for reading, especially if you actually DID read my absolute fucking brain rot on a page and didn’t just scroll down to the end. No shame if you did, I would do the same LMFAO. Next time, we’re looking at the penultimate song in the playlist, Majesty! There’s no obligation to follow me (especially not after the absolute thesis i just wrote), but if you wanna see my rankings of all the other JD2023 maps, please stick around! I promise they won’t be as long/disjointed/nonsensical as this one ended up being! Have a good day!

~ Mage <3

[thxrnking]

Imperfect - master list

Imperfect | Overkill | Legacy | The Thorn King

High expectations rest on the shoulders of Jack Rose and Wanderlust, two sides of the same coin. One heralded the Prince of the Dancerverse, the other destined to serve in his Mother’s sinister shadow. Majesty was not the first time they met, having known each other for years, but can their friendship survive in such an Imperfect world.

Ships - Jack/Wanderlust - pre-slash/quadrilogy slowburn

Includes - mute/non-verbal Jack, heavily implied persistent abuse

Chapter 1: Belong - [ tumblr ] - [ AO3 ]

Chapter 2: Learn - [ tumblr ] - [ AO3 ]

Chapter 3: Perform - [ tumblr ] - [ AO3 ]

Chapter 4: Support - [ tumblr ] - [ AO3 ]

Chapter 5: Regret - [ tumblr ] - [ AO3 ]

Chapter 6: Recruit - [ tumblr ] - [ AO3 ]

Chapter 7: Corrupt - [ tumblr ] - [ AO3 ]

Chapter 8: Unite - [ tumblr ] - [ AO3 ]

Chapter 9: Recover - [ tumblr ] - [ AO3 ]

Jack Rose | Wanderlust