By Raul Brady, Founder and CEO of Godatu
Dance is a form of art that is both beautiful and entertaining for the audience and for those who participate in it too. Dance is an art, but can also be considered a sport; it is a sport that requires rigorous training. The Merriam-Webster dictionary states that Sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. People who dance for exercising usually take a class that involves intense cardio.
All competitive dancers put in the same effort as athletes. It is competitions like these where dancers can not only be entertained but also show their talent and hard work to the audience and judges.
Dancing in the competitive industry is a strenuous activity that should not be overlooked. Dancers are often underrated simply because dance isn’t usually considered a sport. Not until now.
Here are many reasons why competitive dance is a sport:
1. Dancers compete at competitions
Dance doesn’t always have to be competitive, but some competitions take place all over the world. Dancers compete everywhere and anywhere in a variety of different styles, There are a wide variety of competitions available for dancers. Dancers can compete at on ground competitions, virtual competitions or in-studio competitions. Many argue that dance isn’t a sport because dance competitions aren’t televised. Thats an old archaic thought, because today there is a plethora of dance competitions on television. CAse in point : Dancing with the Stars, Jhalak dikhlaja, Boogie Woogie, Nach Baliye, are a few of the popular dance competitions that have been aired on TV.
2. Dance requires sacrifice
Dance is an all year round sport. Like all professional athletes, dancers need years and years of study to become the best they can be, a process that takes determination, drive, and a whole lot of hard work. Like any sport, dance is far from easy. But it’s what we love to do which makes all the blood, sweat, and tears worth it.
3. Dancers need to build and have stamina, speed, flexibility, and muscle
Dancers have to condition and train their bodies so they can accomplish different sets of techniques and choreography. Dance is the only sport that requires stamina, speed, flexibility, and muscle, all of it. The physical activity and endurance needed to be a dancer should classify dance as a sport.
4. Dancers need patience and perseverance
With all the physical activity, training, and competitiveness, patience and perseverance are key. When dancers lose, they have to work hard so they can produce better results in the future. When dancers get injured, they have to be patient and treat their bodies right so they can heal faster. When dancers lack technique and choreography, they have to practice and prepare themselves mentally and physically.
5. Dance requires discipline and strength
Competitive dancers are disciplined to break through barriers and accept pain because the road to the top of the competition is never easy. Be it practices, learning routines with intricate choreography, practicing to obtain technique, memorising formations, and much more. It pushes everyone to the point of sweat, sore muscles, tears, broken bones, and sometimes even the thought of quitting. In pretty much any sport, strength is key. In dance without strength, there’s no way dancers could get through an entire show.
Dance is also unique from other sport because at the end of the day, it still is a beautiful art form. At any competition, you can witness the artistry of dancers. There is no doubt that it requires a great amount of physical exertion, but it’s also capable of tapping into an audience’s emotions to make them feel a specific way. There is also some amount of creativity that has to go into the creation of a dance, and choreographers usually focus on movements and visuals that are aesthetically pleasing. All in all, when thinking about dance, it’s best to consider that it is special. It is both an art and a sport.
Now, put yourselves in our shoes and think about this. You just had a long day. This is when most people would unwind and go to bed, but not dancers. Even if we’re tired and emotionally, mentally, and physically drained from work or school, this is our time to push our minds and bodies even further. You become more tired every day, but at the same time, you get more energized because the performance is right around the corner.
