I've successfully compiled DANCE in VC9 (Visual C++ 2008).
Hereafter the troubles I had, and how I solved them.
But: last trouble is not solved yet :-(

1. Conversion of project: ok
* "Solution Items Folder is no longer supported" ... just removed

2. My Python version is 251.
* added c:\...\Python251\include in tools/options .. includes
* added c:\...\Python251\libs in tools/options .. library
* changed references to python libs into python25.lib

3. GLAux is known to be deprecated and obsolete.
* found OpenGL95.exe somewhere (can't remember where ...), e.g.:
**
''http://download.microsoft.com/download/win95upg/info/1/W95/EN-US/Opengl95.exe'\
'
** ''ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/MSLFILES/OPENGL95.EXE ''
** ...
* -> added c:\...\OpenGL95 in tools/options .. library

4. DANCE currently uses the 0.6 version of ODE, that in turn looks for
mvc*80d.dll
* -> problems loading ODESim.dll in debug version, as mvc*80d.dll were
not on my PC
* tried to compile ODE 8.0 and substitute oded.dll, but DANCE crashes
on some ASSERT
* --> so: copied ode.dll over oded.dll, so it can work anyway (no
debugging)

However, I see that several msvc*.dll are loaded in the same session.
*'C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvcrt.dll'
*'C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvcp71.dll'
*'C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.VC90.DebugCRT_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.21022.8_x-w\
w_597c3456\msvcp90d.dll'
*'C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.VC80.CRT_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.1433_x-ww_\
5cf844d2\msvcr80.dll'

-------------------
Now I'm having trouble on tutorial 6. I'm wondering if this could be
related with such a dll mess.

After loaded tutorial 6,I press 'play'. DANCE crashes on:

#define skel18uforce (*sduforce)
[...]
int skel18motfunc(double time, ....)
{
[...]
skel18uforce(time,state,&state[38]); <<< here

variable 'sduforce' indeed, is == 0x00

BTW, this function is never called:
DLLEXPORT void SdSetUserForce(void (*userforce)(double, double *,
double *))
{sduforce = userforce;}

Thanks for any advice.

Andrea