Is dancing a sport? A pending question

Is dancing a sport? 

Dance is often considered a form of art and expression. However, its function does not stop there. It is also intended to be a sporting activity which involves intensive training. What if dance was a mix of the two? 

Dance as an art

Why is dance an art? We say that it is an art since it calls on the intellectual, has the emotional and to the spirituality. It's a unique way to explore the world and discover yourself. She teaches us to socialize through a new vision of what we see, experience, feel and think. It is part of the “performing arts” because it allows us to share our emotions and our experiences. In addition, it is a natural form of expression, the body is spontaneous and needs to make itself heard following the restrictions we give it on a daily basis. 

Dance results in a bodily expression of ideas, emotions and feelings. It has its own code and its own language. Dancers use their bodies as tools For reflect the themes of the choreographies in order to convey the emotions they seek to convey to the spectators. Art passes through transmission of impactful emotional messages, thus creating immersive and unforgettable experiences. 

Let us not forget that dance goes hand in hand with music. This is an important element sinceit guides the movement of the dancer and creates a communion between the body and the sound. Moreover, the music adds a more intensive emotional and immersive dimension for the audience. 

Dance gives great place to creativity. Particularly for choreographies which require to be invented, imagined and to perfectly merge the dance steps simultaneously with the music. Most importantly, dancers must stand out in interpreting the choreography in a unique, personal and touching way. In addition, dance can reinvent itself and evolve over time, which allows dancers toexplore new styles and include new techniques to create new and eye-catching movements. 

Art is designed to provoke reactions and feelings in the audience. This is what dance produces, this is why it is part of the order of art. But beyond the emotional, dance requires physical preparation. So how does dance qualify as a sport? 

Dance as a sporting activity

Dance falls into the classification of a sport since it requires a significant physical effort. Dancers must have a good physical condition to execute complex movements with flexibility, agility, strength, precision, coordination And balance. Just like a sport such as tennis or boxing, rehearsals, workouts And shows can be exhausting since they require a rigor, of the precision, of ease, of the flexibility and of endurance which cause them to sweat and burn calories and have an ability to perform complete choreographies without getting tired. 

Regular dance practice to achieve mastery is part of a sporting activity course. To make the memory and the concentration, dancers take classes regularly to immerse themselves in new movements, maintain their physical condition, refine their technique, and consolidate their endurance, power and strength. If you want to start dancing, follow our advice in the article Learn to dance: everything you need to know when you start dancing.

Unlike art, sport can be practiced in competition. Some dancers experience dance in a objective championship. In this case, the evaluation is based on technique, presentation, precision and creativity. 

Types of dance sports

What are dance sports? Dancesport is a form of competitive dance that blends the elements of dance and sport in a structured way. In this big family, there are different types of sports such as extreme dance, professional dance and ballroom dancing. Dancers should have a healthy lifestyle and be in impeccable physical condition. 

Hip hop

Hip-hop came to life in the 1970s in the United States. It comes from the streets and allowed young people to release their energy, to express their talent while having one objective: to peacefully claim rights that are not always respected. Hip-hop comes in several dance styles such as breakdancing, popping, locking etc. 

Hip-hop is anchored in the aspect of sports dance since it is very physical and asks for a certain agility And flexibility. It is a dance that is done on jerky rhythms like rap or R'n'B. It is practiced in the form of choreographies that consist of standing, ground and handstand figures. The legs are also used a lot. The support point moves from one foot to the other quickly. The arm gestures are complex, complemented by head tilts. The dance intensifies in relation to the rhythm. We are talking about a series of undulations of the body, slips, slow motions, accelerations, throws to the ground, etc. 

Contemporary dance

Contemporary dance is a complete sport that strengthens your body and mind. It was born from a rejection of classic codes. It is a desire to return to the primitive state of man: standing, feet on the ground. Then, we base ourselves on the movement of the whole body and the possibility of moving in space. 

The heart of the dance is improvisation and the creativity, that’s what makes it original. This is why there is a multitude of contemporary dances focused on improvisation or technique. We note changes in unpredictable pace, speed and orientation. It is very sporty since it requires a lot of mobility of the bust, fluidity and techniques on the ground. 

In addition, it requires a large physical endurance. Dancers must practice performing complex movements, jumping and turning, which exhausts the body. It is an intense activity with training periods similar to those of athletes. They must be able to carry their own weight while performing fluid and harmonious movements. Note that the arms, legs and torso are heavily stressed. 

And it does not stop there ! Indeed, to do contemporary dance, to have flexibility is required to be able to bend and stretch the body to produce graceful movements and avoid injury. 

Mentally, this sport requires brain gymnastics. Indeed, you must be able to remember complicated choreographies, apply the right postures while maintaining artistic expression. 

Finally, it is a physical activity competitive. Dancers audition for roles in dance troupes and challenge themselves during stage performances. But you have to find a balance between competition and team spirit since you have to work as a group to create synchronized and coherent choreographies.  

Ballet

Ballet is a sport in its own right. It is a physical exercise that is practiced both individually and collectively which can lead to competitions. It is undoubtedly one of the most difficult sports. He is very demanding in terms of flexibility, of the grace and some technical as well as a lot of rigor and repetitions to have a straight back. 

Like any demanding sport, it requires great physical endurance since the stars spend hours rehearsing several times a week to improve their technical and their physical condition. In short, ballet shares the same physical conditions as contemporary dance. 

Training is not an option since classical dance requires strong precision movements that must be executed with attention to detail for the position of the feet, arms and the correct execution of pirouettes and jumps. Then the coordination plays an important role in developing delicate movements. We also count the flexibility to have flexibility in the legs, arms and torso to perform large splits with more ease for example. Finally, theelasticity is important in helping dancers bounce quickly from positions, which adds lightness to performances. In addition, dance works the outfit, there position, the axis And the balance.  

To conclude

Back to the original question, is dance a sport? We have seen that in factDance is both an art and a sport. 

On the artistic side we remember that dance brings: 

• From the emotional

• Spirituality

• Well-being

• A new vision of the world

• Transmit emotions through choreography

Dance is a sport through these different means: 

• Significant physical effort

• Good physical condition to perform complicated movements

• The ability

• The power

• The intensive rigor of training 

• The finesse

• The competition

Make dance a sport DECIBEL®

Do you want to combine art, hobby and sport in one? Come and shake your hips while having fun at DECIBEL® ! 

Enjoy a combination of workout and of dance during 45 minute sessions. Get started in an itotal immersion in the heart of Paris and let off steam in complete freedom under the play of light. 

Don't worry, you're not released into the wild! You are accompanied by our motivated coaches who listen to everyone to make you experience dance as best and intensely as possible. 

So, ready to try a new sport?