I’ve been dancing since I was two years old. Starting as a ballerina, jazz, tap dance, and hip hop dancer, I’ve been practicing, improving, and dedicating myself to what I call my sport for pretty much my entire life. But to some people, just moving rhythmically to music does not fit the characteristics by which a sport is defined, and instead dancing is identified as more of an art. As a dancer myself, dance being recognized as a form of art is a beautiful thing. However, I almost take offense to the demeaning athleticism that goes into it.
According to Webster’s dictionary, a sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. As beautiful of an art dance can appear, the actual performance itself is none-the-less an exhausting and competitive action. To be able to dance well, one needs to maintain strength and flexibility skills. One must have stamina and endurance. In most dance facilities, one is required to practice 4-10 hours a week.
During competition, the talent required to claim first place physically exceeds the ability it takes a football player to run across a field with a ball. 78% of a random sample survey says dancing is a sport, and the 22% of people who say it’s not because either it’s an art, or, it has no contact. I agree that visually, dance is an art. I can also agree that it has no competitive contact. But then tell me what physical contact the sport of golfing involves to be characterized as a sport? Nowhere in the definition is a sport classified as having to be physically against each other.
The Essay on Dominican Republic Dance Music Dancing
Merengue - A Vivid Kaleidoscope Latin Dance has evolved into a vivid kaleidoscope of many different cultures dancing to the beat of a single drum. These types of music which find their origin in African influence have developed into a meshwork of individual sounds and have grown to be identified with a particular culture. An example of such can be seen in the evolution and history of one of these, ...
“No! Dancing is not a sport! Where is the point system, where is the final goal, where is the Olympics (Ryweld, 2013)? ” First of all, the pointing system is not the same as scoring a goal or making a hole-in-one. Dance has almost all the same characteristics as the sport of gymnastics, including the way it’s scored. In gymnastics, balanced, exertion, careful steps, and endurance are required to perform moves across different types of bars and ropes. Judges score you on your stage presence, errors, skill, and overall performance.
Dance is the same sport, however, it is performed in a more artsy, rhythmical way. And that’s just the reason “Dance is not a sport because it takes no physical effort, commitment, or pressure like real athletes (“Is Dancing A Sport? ”).
” One who opposes that dancing is a sport may suggest the pressure on what are considered “real athletes” are much more severe than dancers. However, according to Julie Pederson of WAC Stats, 23% of girls will undergo eating disorders due to the high-pressure put on a dancer’s appearance.
“Dance is a highly competitive, high-pressure and physically demanding profession. In classical ballet, there is popularly believed to be an ideal ”Balanchine” body type for women, with the jobs going to tall, slender women with long necks, long legs and short torsos (Dunning, 2004).
” People also fail to realize the pressure of dancers on stage during performances and recitals. There are millions of people watching, including five judges in charge of deciding which team or individual deserves first place.
From personal experience, I can tell you there’s nothing more nerve wrecking, stomach wrenching than the moments before the music starts on stage. There is the pressure to remember the steps, perfect the dance, breathe right, and perform. Dance has all the characteristics and is just as demanding as any other sport. I do see how people would argue that it is an art. “Dance is an art because with dance you are able to tell a story without using your mouth. Through your choreography and your facial expressions you are able to completely change yourself into another character.
The Essay on Is Dance Really A Sport?
This question has been the subject of ongoing debate. Why are so many people skeptical of it? When people think of sport they think of; good bodies, strict diets, tough training, competitions and possible professional careers. When actually comparing dance to sport a lot of similarities are uncovered to support that dance really is a sport. Television has recognized that dance is a sport, but are ...
” With dance you are able to express emotions. It’s a beautiful art of being able to portray anger, sadness, energy, happiness; whatever you’re feeling or whatever the mood of the dance is. For example, George Balanchine was one of the 20th century’s most famous choreographers. He’s known as the father of American Ballet. Balanchine was known for his musicality by composing music and emotion into an admirable dance. When people say dance is an art I’m happy to agree. However, it’s when people insist that it’s not a sport would make any dancer lose their head.
Most definitely, dance is a competitive, exhausting, skillful, entertaining sport that takes strength and endurance, skill, and years and years of practice to perfect. It is the most beautiful sport that you can connect to physically and emotionally. If anyone disagrees, I’d like to see a golf player, baseball player, lacrosse player, etc. do what we do. The ability to put such passion into complex movements portrays a beautiful performance on stage but without a doubt, dance is a sport.
