diff --git a/stepmania/src/Background.cpp b/stepmania/src/Background.cpp
index 9144aaa88f..7543abdff5 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Background.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/Background.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,10 @@ Background::Background()
 		if( GAMESTATE->IsPlayerEnabled(p) )
 			bOneOrMoreChars = true;
 	if( bOneOrMoreChars )
+	{
 		m_pDancingCharacters = new DancingCharacters;
+		m_pDancingCharacters->LoadNextSong();
+	}
 	else
 		m_pDancingCharacters = NULL;
 
@@ -375,6 +378,8 @@ void Background::LoadFromSong( Song* pSong )
 	m_BGADanger.SetZoomY( fYZoom );	
 
 	TEXTUREMAN->EnableOddDimensionWarning();
+
+	m_pDancingCharacters->LoadNextSong();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.cpp b/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.cpp
index 642da8ecfe..e5dd5d04fa 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.cpp
@@ -60,10 +60,12 @@ DancingCharacters::DancingCharacters()
 		m_Character[p].LoadMilkshapeAsciiBones( "warmup", pChar->GetWarmUpAnimationPath() );
 		m_Character[p].LoadMilkshapeAsciiBones( "dance", pChar->GetDanceAnimationPath() );
 		m_Character[p].LoadMilkshapeAsciiBones( "howtoplay", pChar->GetHowToPlayAnimationPath() );
-		m_Character[p].PlayAnimation( "rest" );
 		this->AddChild( &m_Character[p] );
 	}
+}
 
+void DancingCharacters::LoadNextSong()
+{
 	// initial camera sweep is still
 	m_CameraDistance = CAMERA_REST_DISTANCE;
 	m_CameraPanYStart = 0;
@@ -77,9 +79,13 @@ DancingCharacters::DancingCharacters()
 	 * in course mode.  Init in first update? */
 	if( GAMESTATE->m_pCurSong )
 		m_fThisCameraEndBeat = GAMESTATE->m_pCurSong->m_fFirstBeat;
-
+	
+	for( int p=0; p<NUM_PLAYERS; p++ )
+		if( GAMESTATE->IsPlayerEnabled(p) )
+			m_Character[p].PlayAnimation( "rest" );
 }
 
+
 int Neg1OrPos1() { return rand()%2 ? -1 : +1; }
 
 void DancingCharacters::Update( float fDelta )
diff --git a/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.h b/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.h
index 643b3b8782..b1be9291d4 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/DancingCharacters.h
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ class DancingCharacters : public ActorFrame
 public:
 	DancingCharacters();
 
+	virtual void LoadNextSong();
+
 	virtual void Update( float fDelta );
 	virtual void DrawPrimitives();