Dance... Sport or not a sport?

Question

I have danced for now 11 years and I have always heard different things. Dance is sport. Dance is an art form. I'm not talking hip-hop, break, or popping. I'm talking about true dancing. On en pointe, lyrical, and tapping. Competing against the other studios to win the platiumun trophy.

It isn't going to make a difference if it is or not, because I won't stop dancing, its the only reason I'm still alive. I just simply want to know what you would consider it. I personally consider it an art form of pure strength and emotions. You'd be surprised how much strength you need to be a professional dancer.

Answer 1

If you want to know a lot of opinions, here is a link : http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=ApaLwPablrxvQQlTwpaM3JAezKIX?p=is+dancing+a+sport
This question was asked many times and you might be curious what people say.

I think dance is art, first of all, particularly if you are talking about serious dancing. It is art that requires a lot of physical strenght. It is art that requires you to be fitter than a fottball player. But it is still art. I don't really understand why dancers want to classify it as sport so much. To make it more popular? To look stronger? Sometimes I like to argue that it is a sport, but only in cases when it is implied that dancers are too soft to call themselves athletes. I also argue when people ignorantly say that there are no competitions therefore it is not a sport.

Competitive ballroom is often argued to be a sport. It probably is, but when I look at the top 6 couples in the World Professional Championship I think 1st place couple if far more artistic than 6th place couple. They are probably on the same level of fitness and technical skill. Technique is no longer an issue at that level. It is artistic expressin that seaparates 1st place from the 3rd place and the ones below.

Answer 2

Dance is both a sport and an art form. As a sport, we get to compete against others (as do all other sports). But as an art form, we express ourselves and the music using body language.

Answer 3

dance is a sport. if you compare dance to other sports we do the same stuff. we stretch, practice, compete agaisnt other studios/schools, get injuries, have coaches/teachers, etc. I ahve been dancing for years and i dont know where i would be with out it. and the definition of sport is an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature. Now i think that dance is under that, we have skill and competitive nature.

Answer 4

My favorite quote happens to be:

It takes an athlete to dance but an artist to be a dancer

I fully support that. To correctly execute the moves and with good tequnique, you are working just as hard as any althete. In fact the NY times had an article recently listing the top ten most difficult sports, and ballet was number one.

However to be profesional you need to have that little somthing extra. The thing that makes it looks easy, makes it look as if you love it. That quality separates the althetes from the artists.

Over all I feel it is a blend of both. Without one you are not beautiful, without the other your not accurate.

Answer 5

Dance is a sport. It takes skill and practice and such just like any other sport if not more. You have to be strong and artistic and have good motion. In my opinion, its even harder than football or soccer or anything like that! REAl dance is a sport and an art. Its like beauty. Hip-hop and break are for fun.

Answer 6

I am a ballet, lyrical, jazz, and contemporary dancer and I've been dancing for 12 years and I think that dance is not sport, it's really an art form because you are expressing your feelings when you dance, you are putting yourself out there, you are not playing, competing, or throwing balls at the opposite team. DANCE IS ART!!! And I hate when people say that dance is sport. I think you are right. ;-) IT'S ART!!!!

Answer 7

I was a dancer when I was younger. I always thought it was a sport. Physical movement or major muscle groups, competition, strength...yep, sport! Dictionary.com agrees:

sport  /spɔrt, spoʊrt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[spawrt, spohrt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun 1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature

Answer 8

Dance is ART!! However girls and guys who dance seriously are in better physical condition than serious participants in most if not all sports.

To consider dancing a sport, in my opinion, would be derogatory to the Art of Dancing.

Answer 9

definately a SPORT (ik some ppl who disagree but really a sport is someting where u practice, work, hard, and try to "win" in something, and u do that w/ dance) and it is also definately an ART FORM as well. dance can be so expressive i would argue w/ any1 that sais it isn't!

Answer 10

i consider it a sport and a art form.Did you know that the average dancer is stronger than a football player?!?!?well I have danced for 8 years and get really ticked when someone says anyone can do pointe or lyrical or tap because my friend was over and without me knowing tried on my pointe shoes and broke her big toe!!!!!!!and then blamed it on me!!!!!!!!!!