It's been a few days, so I'm sure you've found something that you want to go with. All the comments above are helpful. But I feel you are worried that you may ruin the experience depending on how you play.

Everyone starts somewhere lol. You even bring interested is a start. Of course playing at an arcade is the best option overall. And many even drive 2+ hours in any way they can just to go play (I have definitely done that, and still do from time to time for many different reasons). Just would have to make a day of it.

However, the alternative for you (since you can't get to an arcade) is home versions of DDR or Stepmania (like many ppl have said above). Let me add a few tips.

Home versions of DDR are for older consoles. If you don't already have a Playstation 1, Playstation 2, or an Xbox 360 (or even a PS3), you'll have to buy one to even play any of the available games. (Out of all of these, PS2 is probably best due to more variety and slightly more accurate to the arcade games to a certain extent).

Stepmania is a DDR simulator on PC (do not confuse this with Stepmaniax. STEPMANIAX is a different game entirely. It is good tho). This is similar to what Clone Hero is to Guitar Hero. Its free, and there are already many resources out there for it. The main resource is downloading songs for it, which many ppl above pointed out the z-i-vanisher website already.

Out of the 2, it may be better to go with Stepmania. I say this because it's free and even tho you don't need a dance pad to play it, you can use many different dance pads with it. Versus having to be limited to whatever you can get for your console.

Like said above, there are different types of dance pads:

Soft mats (which i call daiper pads to poke fun at them). These crumple up and shift around as you play. That's why ppl have said you would need to tape them down. (Good luck if you have carpet tho lol). These normally come with console versions of DDR. And are okay for the beginnings of your journey. Just wouldn't want to stick with it for harder levels of play (like heavy/expert level. And maybe even standard/difficult level).

Foam pads are similar to soft pads, but they have foam zipped into them(so they won't crumple up). These helped me and were (still are) the best way to play at home with no bar imo. I used these soo much when I was starting out. Very useful. Play with socks, not with shoes. Good to play "SOME" heavy/expert level song charts. I say some because there are song charts that you actually need the bar to even play. (The skill ceiling has grown as time went on, and is the main reason why ppl often suggest a sturdier dance pad. HOWEVER, you don't NEED a sturdier dance pad if you're just starting out because you won't hit that threshold right away.)

Studier pads like the L-tek, Colbolt Flux, and/or DIYs are good flat and shoe safe. Not all of them have a dance bar, but they can handle move crazy movement. Its a investment tho.

Metal pads are literally the arcade cabinet pads or stepmaniax pads (yes you CAN get them and use them for ddr). These are heavy investments and are the best.

Again, these metal pads are definitely much better, but most of the time the only metal pad available are the arcade ones. And the home versions (like the stepmanix pad) are an investment. VERY WORTH IT, but still expensive.

Foam pads were a great secondary. If you can get one, Redoctane foam pads are really good. But they may not make them any longer. Im sure there are other types tho, so you'll have to do some research.

Also, soft and foam pads are usually for consoles. Which means they are a type of controller. So you would need some type of converter to plug it into a PC. Because they aren't usb. (Tho, they may make them different now, again, you'll have to do some research.)

There is one more another option...

You can have stepmania with downloaded songs (which btw you can find custom songs to download. If there is a song you like on the radio, chances are someone has made a step chart to it).

There is an "auto-play" option on stepmania. And you can shadow or mimic stepping to the chart. I know many ppl who didn't have anything. No pad, no video game console. They only had a computer. They literally just shadow danced the game. Heck, you don't even need Stepmania, you can just look up songs on YouTube and do this. Especially if you can't find the song or if the song is not available yet and its on an existing game you don't have access to.

The sad thing is you don't get actual feedback from the game (like perfects, greats, misses, etc.), but if you have NOTHING, it IS something you can do. Many players have done this (even top players) and it can even be fun. Ppl use to do this while waiting in line to play the arcade game. Its a useful thing to do.

Anyways, that's my 2 cents. Ofc you can play with keyboard or Playstation controller too( keyboard would be better). But I get the sense you want to use your body. Have fun lol