Is Dance a Sport? Examining the Athleticism and Competitive Nature of Dance

The Athleticism in Dance

Dance requires individuals to consider themselves athletes, particularly at high amateur and professional levels. The physical demands of dance, including strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination, rival those of traditional sports. Dancers undergo rigorous training regimes similar to athletes in sports like gymnastics or figure skating. This level of physical exertion and skill development is a testament to the athletic nature of dance.

The Oxford languages dictionary defines sport as an activity involving physical exertion and skill, where individuals or teams compete for entertainment. By this definition, dance qualifies as a sport if it involves competition and is performed for entertainment. This aligns with the Global Association of International Sports Federations, which includes dance as a sport based on criteria like competition, skill, and non-reliance on luck.

Dance as a Performing Art

Despite its athletic demands, dance is categorized as a performing art rather than a sport. This distinction stems from dance's emphasis on artistic expression, creativity, and storytelling, which are integral to performances. Unlike traditional sports, where the primary focus is on winning, dance performances aim to evoke emotions and convey narratives through movement.

The Olympic Games aim to educate youth through sport, promoting values like friendship, solidarity, and fair play. The inclusion of dance in the Olympics would highlight its dual nature as both an athletic and artistic endeavor, showcasing the versatility and skill of dancers. However, the subjective component of judging artistic performances, such as originality and musicality, can make it challenging to evaluate dance purely as a sport.

Judging Competitive Dance

Artistic performances that involve athleticism and competition, such as gymnastics and cheerleading, can be objectively judged. In these sports, judges often emphasize objective technique, such as uniformity and consistency, over subjective qualities. In breakdancing, for example, judges can evaluate the execution of specific moves, like freezes, based on core strength and precision.

However, there is always a subjective component in judging artistic sports, with criteria like originality and musicality being harder to measure. This subjectivity can make dance competitions prone to manipulation, as the interpretation of artistic elements can vary widely among judges. This variability in judging can be a point of contention for those who argue against dance being classified as a sport.

The Potential for Olympic Inclusion

The inclusion of events in the Olympics can be subjective and may change over time, as shown by the fluctuating number of races in Track Cycling. The Olympics have the potential to grow by including a variety of sports without diminishing the value of existing ones. If there is enough global interest in an activity, it could be justified for inclusion in the Olympics.

Breakdancing, for instance, is seen by some as requiring less athleticism compared to gymnastics or figure skating. However, the variability in move sets in breakdancing makes it harder to judge compared to standardized moves in gymnastics. Despite this, the athleticism and skill involved in breakdancing cannot be denied, making a strong case for its inclusion in the Olympics.

The Intersection of Athleticism and Art

Athleticism can coexist with artistic performance, as sport involves the improvement of physical and mental skills. Dance, especially involving two people, can be highly technical and competitive. The physical demands, combined with the need for synchronization and communication between partners, highlight the athletic aspect of dance.

Everything requiring athletic or mental talent and can be judged by some metric can be considered a sport. Dance meets these criteria, as it involves both physical prowess and artistic expression. The subjectivity in judging dance competitions can make them prone to manipulation, but this does not diminish the athletic skill required to excel in dance.

Ultimately, the debate over whether dance is a sport or an art form may continue, but its inclusion in competitive arenas like the Olympics could help bridge the gap between these two perspectives. By recognizing the athleticism and competitive nature of dance, we can appreciate its full scope and the incredible talent of dancers worldwide.