Dance is a sport. Some may disagree, but my personal definition of a sport is an activity that takes physical exertion and is also competitive, whether individual or not. Some may argue that dance is a performative sport, but every sport is for the entertainment of others.
BVN students love football. However, like other sports, football was made to entertain people through wins and losses. Football players work hard to stay in shape and to be able to put their bodies up to a specific level so they can play at a high level, but so do our dancers. They are able to condition their bodies to keep up with their dance routine and also able to do the acrobatics, performative aspects and quick movements that they do. While doing this, they put a smile on their faces and put on makeup to appeal to the audience. Athletes put on protective gear to be able to protect themselves, but the outfits that the dance team put on are for performative aspects.
Although when a dancer falls, they cannot just take a break. A simple trip can ruin their whole performance. They do a lot of dangerous things while also moving their body, which I personally can’t do. Just doing any amount of movement for a while tires anyone out, but dancers make it look effortless. Multiple times, I have seen dancers work their bodies for the performance.
Dancers push their bodies and their minds, constantly pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. Many players will say that they push themselves mentally, as the action itself tends to be mentally taxing. Rarely do I see others consider that dancers also push themselves mentally, going for the best of the best, like any other athlete.
As found from the 2021 NBC report, in the Roland Garros tournament, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the tennis tournament. She said that she was facing mental health issues, and then chose to opt out of the tournament. This shows the mental strain sports can be, but dancers also face these struggles.
People can also have biological advantages within dance, just as in swimming, people can have a lower lactic acid production, or even longer arms. Within the dance community, dancers could be able to have stronger feet or different metabolisms. This allows dancers to be able to withstand a lot of pressure while being on their feet for a while, and the different metabolisms can allow them to hold energy within their bodies for longer. According to Harvard Health, these are traits that can also be trained over time.
Even then, some people don’t consider it a sport. I don’t see the strong reasoning other than for the fact that it’s performance and that dancers want to look good, but doesn’t everyone want to look good while doing something they love? I personally would love to do something that I look amazing while also doing my passion, but dancers put their bodies to work while challenging their minds, just like any other athlete.
