Dance is sport, not just art

When I was four years old my mother signed me up for dance at my daycare. At the time my sister was in cheer and my brother played baseball. I had felt as if I finally fit into the “family of athletes.” The older I got, however, the more I realized that not everyone considers dancers athletes. Some consider dance to be a hobby, while others see it as art; but very few call it a “sport.” Despite the naysayers, though, I believe that dance is the most graceful sport out there.

If you don't dance or don't know a dancer, you may believe that dance is just a group of people twirling around on a stage. In reality, being a dancer is a lot of hard work. Some dancers have six days of practice for about 5 hours each practice. Dancers train just like most athletes. It's not easy to hold all of your body weight on one foot, while having your leg turned in unnatural positions, all while smiling.

In soccer it's essential to have strong legs. In football you must have upper and lower body strength. As a dancer you must have a very strong core, strong arms, strong back, very strong legs, and most importantly strong feet and toes. Basically dancers are very well rounded. Unlike most sports who are seasonal, dance is all year round. Every season is dance season. Dancers don't get much of a break.

Many people believe that dance will never be a sport and will always be an artform. In many ways dance is an artform. It is performed, not played. It is to entertain, not to compete. Dancers put on stage makeup and intricate costumes, not pads and tight uniforms, but dance is much more than art. Behind the scenes dancers train all year round and put much stress on the body.

Even though the argument of dance being a sport or joy may never be resolved, I believe that dance is very much a sport. The public may only know dance as an art, but behind the scenes every dancer is an athlete. Anyone can dance, but it takes an athlete to become a dancer.