Peek at MC Hammer's DanceJam, Dance Party 3D Launches

Though DanceJam, a Web 2.0 site with which MC Hammer is involved as an "advisor", still hasn't gone live you can get an early look via TechCrunch.

Actually I'm taking that on faith cause the video isn't working for me but KRON 4 covered the demo pit at TechCrunch 40 and Michael Arrington, who's an investor in DanceJam, says they got some footage.

Here's Don Dodge's description of a DanceJam demo:
DanceJam can best be described as YouTube mashed up with American Idol. Users can contribute their own dance videos to the site for others to see and vote on. The DanceJam people set up "Dance Offs" where they put two dance videos up against each other and have the user community vote for a winner. After several rounds of voting they declare a champion.

So the community contributes and rates content with recurring Dance Offs to add drama. 

Kaneva has launched Dance Party 3D which seems a bit more ambitious than DanceJam.

According to the press release:
Dance Party 3D, a free, casual game...is the first virtual world-based, massive multi-player online (MMO) dance game where hundreds of thousands of people from across the globe can simultaneously bust out cool moves on the dance floor, compete and win dance battles, spin hot playlists, party at amazing clubs and even build their own rockin' 3D nightspot.

I haven't checked it out closely though I like the fact that not only does it offer dance activities but you can also design your own club and play dj.  It does say you can choose facial features and skin tone, so I assume it doesn't have to be a dance world of whiteness, but I think having a more multicultural look to the avatars in the opening graphics would be a smart marketing move.

Either of these projects could do well depending on implementation and luck.  We're in the midst of a serious dance boom so I think there's lots of room for unexpected growth with one or more of these dance-focused projects.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
MC Hammer Survives TechCrunch40, DanceJam Soon?