Surely hearing someone ask “Did you win?” is a highly annoying question for a dancer, but have you ever been asked, “Is dance really considered a sport?” Yeah, way to ruin the mood. After all the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears we put into our art, yes, it is most definitely a sport. But not everybody likes to believe that.
Not only is dance a beautifully artistic way to tell a story, but it is also something to get some exercise in you. Dance requires athleticism but without the elements of flexibility, endurance, stamina, and conditioning, it could arguably be considered a hobby more than a sport. While particularly a sport is what some people would refer to as a “fun after-school activity,” this is not the case. Dance could still be a super fun sport but on some levels, it goes from just having fun to delivering that success and drive that your teacher wants from you.
While everybody has their own opinion, there’s always going to be moments you don’t see. A dancer’s job is to provide entertainment by portraying a story and making it look easy. Just imagine all of the headaches from the stage lights, and quick changes that are incorporated in some performance roles! For the audience, it could be a nice night out to go see “The Nutcracker,” or even just a friend or family member’s recital. Unfortunately, key moments that are hidden behind closed doors could be a dancer’s mental health. We all obviously want to be the best in everything and get all this recognition, but it really does take a toll on your own well-being when you’re constantly thinking “Am I even good enough?”
I, myself have struggled with my own thoughts and self-consciousness. This got to a point where I wanted to stop dancing, just quit. This goes to show how much dedication and work we put into our sport. The common phrase, “Fake it till you make it” is a good example of the daily life of a dancer. It is all worth it though once we get to our yearly showcase, a time to show all of the hard work we dancers have put in the past year.
With the amount of work and determination put into our sports, we all deserve some recognition here and there. Even with everybody. If it gets your heart rate up, it’s a sport. You will never walk in somebody else’s shoes and they will never walk in yours. But it doesn’t have to end up in the “Is it a sport or just an activity?” debacle. Instead, we could all support each other in our own way of expressing ourselves. Whether it’s kicking a soccer ball through a field, or shooting hoops. None of that matters, Just that we are happy at the end of the day.
