Is Dance A Sport? - CrossFitWereld

Is Dance A Sport? – Dancers are some of the most athletic and skilled people in the world. They are also very competitive. The International Olympics Committee recognizes dance as a sport. Dance is an activity that requires hours of practice every day for several years to become a pro dancer.

It involves a lot of physical strength and stamina. A kinesiologist observes dancers and notices that they can move their legs up to 15 mph and turn over 100 times per minute. They also have incredibly strong core muscles for turning and leg muscles for leaping. Dancers exert force all over their bodies, which is different from how most athletes move.

Athletes who participate in other sports often take dance classes to improve their flexibility and agility. Dance requires a lot of strength and stamina. Professional ballerinas are stronger than most athletes. Their endurance is high, and they can spend long periods of time working out.

Why dancing is a sport?

Is Dance A Sport The debate about whether dancing is a sport or art has been going on for a long time. There are many people on both sides of the argument, and each has its fair share of valid points. So, is dancing a sport? Dancing is definitely a sport because it requires a high level of coordination and physical exertion.

Dancing, like any other sport, rewards those who are willing to put in the time to perfect their craft.
The sport is also mentally intensive, which often gets overlooked.
Once you take a closer look at what dancing is and everything it involves, it becomes clear that it fits the general definition of a sport.

In the following sections, I’ll go into some of the reasons why dancing is a sport.

Is dance an art or a sport?

What is Dance: an Art, a Sport, or both? – There have been many questions surrounding the nature of dance as a sport or an art. Well, it can be both. As a sport, dance is physically exerting and requires skill from the participants. Dancers even compete for entertainment and prizes.

As an art, dance is a form of expression.
It is beautiful and alluring and communicates a message.
Dance moves require skill, creativity, and imagination, just like any other art.
Two truths can exist.
So, dance can be art and sport at the same time.
But depending on your approach and the kind of dance you do, the context of dance may be different to you.

As a professional dancer competing regularly and choreographing a sequence of moves against other dancers, dance is a sport. But if you dance to address a social issue or entertain an audience, then dance is an art.

Why isn’t dance considered a sport?

Is dance a sport? Opposing perspectives from dancer and football player Every year as I sit and watch the fall sports assembly, I am surprised by a couple of the groups that get included into the preview video. Among these are Marching Band, De La Cru, and Poms (and the concession stands, but I don’t think I need to get into that).

Personally, I am thankful that these videos are included because I enjoy sitting in the padded chairs of the auditorium and watching the fine productions of our TV department; however, I would like to take the time to remind people that these activities, particularly dancing, are not sports. To me, there are three characteristics that every sport possesses.

By explaining these three characteristics I think I can clear up why dancing and some other disputable activities just don’t fit my definition of a sport. First off, a sport inherently involves athletic ability. This is where I declare that marching band is not a sport (despite that they receive a PE exemption, which I know you all love).

Walking around for two hours does indeed burn calories; I know this because just like everyone else in the world, I do it everyday (though admittedly I probably could not do it in as organized a fashion as you). Dancing, however, passes this one. Every time I see Poms or De La Cru perform, I am extremely impressed by their flexibility and coordination.

Dancers clearly have to go through strenuous practices to be able to pull off those performances. But that’s just what dancing is, a performance, not a sport. Dancing does not fit the second requirement of all sports, which is that a sport involves two or more teams/individuals competing against each other.

Now, I know dance competitions exist, but these competitions do not qualify dance as a sport. These competitions involve multiple teams taking their turns performing their dance; one team does their rendition of a high-tempo mash up of the currently most played pop songs, and then the next team does theirs.

Never are two teams performing directly against each other (unless there is an improvisational dance-off part of the competition that I am unaware of, in which case dancing would be a sport and a really cool one, too).

Because two teams are never competing directly against each other, there are no variables except yourself, your teammates, and maybe the ground.Although dancing may require more athletic ability than badminton, something that badminton players understand that dancers will never understand is what it feels like to be in direct competition with someone else, to have someone else’s performance affect your own.The final quality of every sport is an objective grading system; when people play a sport, everyone watching knows who won.

Now, I am sure dancing does have some complex grading system, but in the absence of direct competition, some opinions of the judges must seep into the grading process. This is where it moves away from sport and into the realm of a performing art. So, from reviewing my list of three rules, I can say that dancing passes only one of three characteristics and therefore can be considered an athletic activity, an art, even a competition, but not a sport.

Is dancing a hobby or a sport?

Is dancing a sport? – Sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill, with an individual or team competing against others for entertainment. In all senses of this definition, yes – dance can be considered a sport. Whatever dance style you prefer, it’s a fantastic workout which will have you perspiring from the effort, both physical and mental.

While sometimes you need a lot of stamina to complete a routine, such as the high-energy, less frenetic styles, such as the Cuban motion of the can still happily exhaust your body through concentration over their complexity. Just like sport, you can train to perfect individual dance moves between classes or events on your own, with a partner or in a group.

Just like sport of course, there are competitive circuits at every level of dancing if you want to get serious.

Is dance a sport right?

Why dance should be considered a sport – 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.

Is dance a hard sport?

Dance is one of the hardest sports in the world When you think of difficult sports, basketball, football, soccer, or track are probably some of the things that come to mind. I am here to explain to you that dance is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world.

According to “data found that the profession of dance scoured a 97 out of 100 for the overall level of physicality on the job.
Dancers were placed above athletes and sport competitors who ranked at number three on the chart scoring a 90.4.” To be clear, I am not saying that other sports are not physically taxing because they most definitely are, but I’m explaining a sport that is commonly underestimated.

Reasons why dance might not be considered difficult to people is because it’s underestimated. The first assumption that people make about dancers is that they are ballerinas who dance on their “tip toes” and “spin.” This is honestly insulting because it’s mockery at the true skill that dancers have.

The memorization and knowledge that it takes to acquire all the terms in the dance world is insane, starting off with the fact that everything is in french. It’s highly impressive to be able to know an entire combination of moves in a completely different language. Anyone could understand other sports terms like “go long” for football, but no one in the room could even begin to understand what tombé-padeburé-jeté-means.

If other sports are in English and are difficult, imagine the intelligence it takes to remember and understand directions in a different language. Not only is dance a sport, but it is a performing art. I don’t believe that there is any other sport in the world that involves the precision and perfection that dance does.

While a dancer is performing, they are thinking about their lines, technique, facials, choreography, timing, stage presence, and team.
Every single one of these things is being looked at by the audience and judges.
For example if someone shoots for a basket in a basketball game and misses, it’s just a missed shot, you always have another chance to redeem yourself and win the game.

Is ballet a sport yes or no?

Is Ballet A Sport? – Ballet Arizona Blog We have all heard the argument, whether or not ballet is a sport? Ballet is an art form and sport, which may be shocking to many. In this form of physical activity, similar to other sports, it requires the participants to go through physical exertion, difficult skills, and the long practice of discipline.

Ballet has strict rules to follow, many of these rules have to deal with posture and form.
With this, it helps prevent injury in these artists/athletes.
While taking a step back, and forgetting our preconceptions about sports and art, we can see that they are extremely similar.
The two require practice and discipline, rehearsals to improve their skills, and mastering their technique through years of dedication.

A sport is an activity, that helps improves endurance, muscular strength, and power. Some sports, like ballet and gymnastics, also increase flexibility and agility. Sometimes dancers will additionally take extra physical conditioning classes, not only to strengthen their bodies, but to correct their form and technique as well.

How some sports are played on a team or individual, ballet has solo and core group opportunities for preforming as well. Everything is rehearsed, as if they are going over a game plan. Being a team evert, their performance is only as good as everyone else’s performance. Everyone has to be in sync when turning or another movement, if not it can throw everyone off or create an injury.

Depending what you are looking for, you can treat ballet how some artists may, with reverence and discipline. Or you can practice ballet, and other forms of dance, as a physical fitness activity. If you or someone you know, are interested in ballet classes, click the button below! : Is Ballet A Sport? – Ballet Arizona Blog

How much people think dance is a sport?

A recent online poll from debate.org showed that 86% of people call dance a sport and 14% say it’s an art form.

Is dancing a female sport?

Leaping into new respect: Why dance should be considered a sport At every family gathering, a distant relative will ask me “So, what’s your sport?” “I’m a competitive dancer,” I answer. They proceed to give me a look which indicates they don’t think that counts as a sport at all.

“How nice,” they’ll say. Dance has long been thought of as an art and not a sport, however it is in fact a sport and people continue to overlook how challenging it is. According to dictionary.com, the definition of a sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” Dance meets all of this criteria.

Dancers are often disregarded as athletes even though their craft is arguably harder to develop and more physically demanding than other sports. While dance obviously doesn’t entail frequent games as many other sports do, dancers compete at competitions against other individuals or studios, similar to gymnastics competitions.

Dance also doesn’t have a specific season; dancers are year-round athletes and professional dancers go to competitions on a regular basis. Dancers work extremely long hours to perfect their skills. Personally, I dance about 15 hours in an average week, and professional dancers spend up to six full days a week training.

In most professional ballet companies, rehearsal could start at 10 a.m. and go until 6 p.m., with breaks, according to channel4.com, And although it is a dancer’s job to make everything look effortless, dance is physically grueling. Because of the high stress dancers put on their bodies, most professional dancers retire around their mid-30s, according to dancefacts.net.

Dancers also struggle with many injuries.
In a survey about injuries in modern/contemporary dance, it was found that 82 percent of dancers who completed the questionnaire had between one and seven injuries in their career, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Dance is clearly challenging and requires an equal if not greater amount of athleticism to other sports, however it is often not considered a sport because it is not included in the NCAA and rarely included in high school sports.

Part of this is an issue with female representation in sports, as 67.1 percent of dancers are women, according to zippia.com. Although many women compete in high school and college level sports, dance is female-dominated and would introduce a whole new group of female athletes to these higher levels of competition.

Is dance a sport in the Olympics?

One of the important qualifiers of all Olympians is that you need to be ‘amateur’ status. That means you can’t have been paid to dance. Once you’ve been paid to dance, you’re considered a professional, and wouldn’t be able to compete in the Olympics.

Why isn’t ballet a sport?

Are ballet dancers athletes? What is an athlete? With a quick look at the internet, I find that an athlete is a person who competes in one or more sports that involves endurance, physical strength and speed. Steph Curry, Tom Brady and Buster Posey come to mind. Each of these athletes excels in their sport because they combine their unbelievable talent with endurance, strength and speed. Is a ballet dancer an athlete? To many people, even asking the question is laughable. Of course, not many would bluster. A ballerina is a girl who floats around a stage wearing a white tutu looking pretty. How can that effort possibly be compared to an athlete? Well, I beg to differ. Let’s see if I can break this down. A ballerina must have endurance. In the “Waltz of the Flowers” the dancers must perform, en pointe (on their tippy toes for the ballet-challenged), for eight full minutes with constant movement and vigorous dance techniques. There is no stopping to rest. The audience is treated to the spectacle of constant movement and grace at an incredible pace. The endurance needed to make this look effortless is tremendous — especially at a relatively high altitude like that in Reno. A ballerina must have strength. In A.V.A. Ballet Theatre’s last performance of “Swan Lake,” guest principal dancer Kathleen Martin did 64 fouettés. A fouetté is a quick spinning movement of a raised leg usually accompanying a pirouette. A pirouette is a turn on one leg with the dancer starting on one or two legs in a plié and moving into a relevé (rising onto the balls of one’s foot for a man and en pointe for a woman) with a rotation. Katie can do 64 fouettés without stopping. Most dancers can barely do 32. Just standing still, try holding your leg up for five minutes. The strength (and of course the endurance) needed to do this is unbelievable. I wonder if Steph Curry could do even half of Katie’s 64 fouettés. He most certainly wouldn’t look as graceful and poised. A ballerina must have speed.A.V.A. Ballet Theatre’s corps de ballet moves across the stage at the Pioneer Center at an incredible speed. This speed is required to give the dancers the momentum it takes to make the continuous turns and jetés. A jeté is a leap where the dancer’s one leg looks to be thrown in the direction of the movement. If the dancer does not have enough speed, they will end up flat on their face. In a short race I wonder if Buster Posey could beat Katie across a stage. He probably couldn’t do a jeté (and I’ll grant you she is unlikely to hit a home run at a Major League Baseball game), but both need incredible speed to succeed. The physical stresses placed on the body make diet and self-discipline crucial to both dance and athletics. The length of a career for both athletes and dancers is threatened by the risk of injury, and therefore the care and conditioning for the body are similar. In addition, a career in either athletics or dance is likely to begin at a young age and end by the time they’re 40 due to the punishing physical conditions they must withstand in their sport. At 41, Tom Brady is pushing the limits of his body — yet he keeps winning. Amazing, but I digress. Ballet isn’t a sport — it’s an art form. It’s obvious that the physical attributes of a dancer are similar to those of an athlete, but there is much more to the art than physical virtuosity and skill. Musicality, creativity and expression are also included in the criteria of what makes a good dancer. “In many ways dancers are athletes but they are also artists,” said Alexander Van Alstyne, the artistic director of A.V.A. Ballet Theatre. “It’s this combination that makes for a stunning physical and emotional performance.” I’m telling you that the art of ballet is one of the most physically grueling endeavors a human can withstand. You have to see it to believe it.A.V.A. Ballet Theatre will be performing the rock ballet “Vortex” during Artown in the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater at the Bartley Ranch Regional Park. Come see for yourself how these dancers are truly athletic but with artistry that makes is all the more spectacular. Steve Trounday is a board member at A.V.A. Ballet Theatre, the resident ballet company of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. Their next performance is the rock ballet “Vortex” July 19 and 20 at the Bartley Ranch Regional Park. : Are ballet dancers athletes?

Is dancer an athlete?

Are Dancers Considered Athletes? Yes! Dancers Are Athletes Too! — SHOWMAKERS OF AMERICA By: Susan Angell-Gonzalez(President/CEO ShowMakers of America / Former Texas State University Strutters Director/Choreographer) There is controversy that exists as to whether dancers are “athletes”.

As a professional who has coached thousands of skilled dancers in a span of 40-years, I believe that all dancers are athletes, but not all athletes are dancers. The skills performed with their bodies’ demand strength, agility and balance. Dancers play like a team, and when they perform as a group, they work as a collective.

Some typical qualities of an athlete include speed, flexibility, strength, endurance, balance, agility, and coordination. ALL of these same qualities are seen in skilled dancers. When watching and analyzing the movements along with the physical ability that it takes for a dancer to perform technical skills, there is no question that highly skilled dancers are athletes.

Is dancing considered a sport? According to, a “Sport is all forms of which, through casual or organized participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide to participants.
Sports are generally recognized as activities which are based in physical or physical,” In argument, dance has the same amount of requirements that any sport does.

For a dance team, dancing is tougher as their season is year-round. In sports, the downtime is greater because the season is usually only a few months long. Several learning institutions around the United States are beginning to acknowledge dance as a sport and dancers as “elite” athletes and artists.

During my time as Director/Choreographer of the Texas State University Strutters, my students were recognized as student athletes and were given many of the same perks that sport athletes received. In addition, the Strutters were granted credit in Health and Human Performance each semester. Components to consider: Athletes & Artists Dancers are “elite” athletes as well as artists.

They are “finely-tuned” athletes! Dancers must look perfect, showing off clean lines, muscular backs and legs. As we all know, dancers have an extraordinary range of flexibility and muscular strength. They move on a level far beyond athleticism. Dancers have speed, agility, power, precision, balance, and endurance (all of the things that define an athlete).

Additionally, there is grace, beauty, form, emotion, and the power of communication that is expressed through dance movement.
What separates dancers from sport athletes is artistry (there can also be artistry in athleticism to a point).
Dance Teams perform as a group with precision, energy and style.
Basketball players do not think about their arm extension in relation to their shoulder.

Dancers think about placement and take everything to the next level! To dance is to move on a level far beyond athleticism. Yes, there is speed, power, balance, and endurance (all the things that define an athlete). But again, there is grace, beauty, form, emotion, and the power of communication (it is an art form).

A dancer must be able to react more quickly with more balance and control (and be able to demonstrate explosive strength). A dancer must also be able to turn without throwing oneself into it and stop cleanly without losing balance. Dancers DO have the strength, endurance, muscularity, devotion, and skill of any sports player.

They are considered “athletic artists” and not “artistic athletes”. Training Athleticism has to be developed through training. In addition to sport athletes, dancers follow a rigorous training regime and must stay in peak condition. For the most part, dancers have extraordinary flexibility/joint mobility, muscular strength, and both dancers and sport athletes have physical and mental endurance.

Many high school and college dance teams train and rehearse every day.
They incorporate into their workout cross-training with cardio, weightlifting, Yoga/Pilates to improve their physical fitness and technique.
While aesthetic goals are of the utmost importance, dancers remain subject to the same unyielding physical laws as sport athletes.

Because most dance team workout regimens tend to concentrate on core conditioning and increasing flexibility, they overlook the need for strength and cardiovascular training exercises that are essential to preventing injury. During my tenure at Texas State University, twice a week the Strutters were required to workout at the Student Rec Center where they focused on core work and upper body strength, finishing with 30 minutes of an aerobic activity.

Signature cards were distributed the first class of the month, and collected on the last class of the month (that included documentation of their time at the Rec Center). In addition, the Texas State University Strutters spent 9 days together in Training Camp before the start of football season/Fall semester.

The team was engaged in a daily core, muscle-strengthening and flexibility training program along with cardio-respiratory activities. During Strutters Training Camp, the team worked out each day from 8:30 am. until 6:00 pm. with 1 ½ hours for lunch. Their activities also included various dance technique drills and combinations across the floor, skill development and routine instruction.

Training Camp activities were tailored to suit the needs of Strutters, with the ultimate goal being improvement in muscular strength, flexibility, joint mobility, agility, balance, physical/mental endurance, and injury prevention. Consistency helped Strutters maintain their bodies throughout slow periods (like summer).

Alternating days with strength training and cardiovascular workouts or balancing both activities in one day helped the team maintain energy and muscle tone. During my time at Texas State, the goal for Strutters was developing core/muscular strength and remaining physically fit.

Why do I feel so happy when I dance?

Why dancing makes us happy? – When we dance our brain releases endorphins, hormones which can trigger neurotransmitters that create a feeling of comfort, relaxation, fun and power. Music and dance do not only activate the sensory and motor circuits of our brain, but also the pleasure centers.

Indeed, neuroscientists at Columbia University say that when we move in tune with the rhythm, the positive effects of music are amplified. Therefore, a little secret to make the most of the music is to synchronize our movements with the beat, so we will be doubling the pleasure. However, the magic of dancing can not simply be reduced to brain chemistry.

Dancing is also a social activity that allows us connect with the others, share experiences and meet new people, which has a very positive effect on our mental health. What’s more, as we move, our muscles relax to the music, which allows us to free ourselves of the tension built up during the day, especially the one accumulated in the deepest part of the musculature.

Sources:Duberg, A. et. Al. (2013) Influencing Self-rated Health Among Adolescent Girls With Dance Intervention A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.; 167(1): 27-31.Zentner, M. & Eerola, T. (2010) Rhythmic engagement with music in infancy. PNAS; 107(13): 5768-5773.Birks, M. et. Al. (2007) The benefits of salsa classes for people with depression.

Nursing Times; 103(10): 32-33. Lesté, A. & Rust, J. (1984) Effects of dance on anxiety. Percept Mot Skills; 58(3): 767-772. Credit: : Science Confirms that Dancing Makes You Happy! | Townsville Academy of Performing Arts

When did dance become a sport?

Dance became a genuine sport at the beginning of the twentieth century when ballrooms were converted into venues for competition. In 1907, the first Tango competition took place in Nice, France. Paris, Berlin and London later followed with international ballroom competitions and continue today.

What sport is most like dance?

Rhythmic Gymnastics – The sport that shares the most in common with dance is likely rhythmic gymnastics. Any dancer or dance enthusiast can understand the insane level of talent it takes for rhythmic gymnasts to perform their leaps and turns while also handling their apparatus.

What is the hardest dance skill?

En Pointe – The “en Pointe” technique in classical ballet is one of the most challenging to execute. In this move, a dancer has to support their entire bodyweight on their feet, which are fully extended. This move is usually done while wearing pointe shoes that allow structural reinforcement to distribute the weight of the body into the entire foot, rather than the toes alone.

Is dance hard mentally?

Dance and Mental Health Dance is not just a physically demanding career; it also wreaks havoc on the mind and mental health. Dancers are perfectionists who spend long hours in front of floor-to-ceiling mirrors, criticising every aspect of their body and of their performance.

Our training is replete with teachers who yell, ridicule, demand and pressure us to breaking point. We need to be thinner, better-looking, jump higher and rehearse longer. The arts attracts creative, competitive and hard-working people who often work long hours and experience great stress coupled with eating disorders, substance and alcohol abuse, insomnia and sleep disorders.

Sadly, despite all of this, 87% of performing artists earn less than the average Australian weekly earnings. The results of a nationwide study of people in the entertainment industry conducted by Entertainment Assist revealed that one in four Australians in the arts have attempted or considered suicide and have a higher incidence of mental health issues than the general population.

While the prevalence of mental illness in Australian adults is one in five, in the arts, one in three people are affected.
For independent dancers particularly, it can be impossible to source and afford professional help.
Fortunately, the newly founded organisation, Entertainment Assist, recognises these difficulties and has established a place where performing artists can go for support that is tailored to their unique needs.

In 2015, the Australian entertainment industry responded to Entertainment Assist’s study and put together an evening of performances that drew stars from all facets of the arts ( Out From Under ). The event was held at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne on 21 September, hosted by Julia Zemiro, directed by Kelley Abbey and featured performances from the Australian Ballet, as well as some of the country’s most talented artists.

Out From Under not only provided entertainment but also education and awareness about mental health issues. Psychologists Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg and Lucinda Sharp (Student Health and Welfare Director, The Australian Ballet School) took part in a round table conversation and noted that while it is important to raise awareness, more needs to be done.

Carr-Gregg explained, “You cannot change what you don’t acknowledge. We must educate people that it is ok to talk about it.” “It’s about starting a conversation,” added Zemiro. People experiencing mental health issues, such as depression, often live in fear of being found out and judged for what is regularly perceived as being weak, Carr-Gregg suggested.

That’s where drugs and alcohol might come in because one of the key characteristics of most depressed people is that they try to self-medicate and drink themselves into a stupor because they can’t sleep at night, or they take drugs and that exacerbates the problem,” he said.
Approaching someone who you think needs help or reaching out for help yourself can be incredibly daunting.

Simply asking someone if they are okay is a great first step and can open doors of communication. The contains a guide on how to approach a friend or colleague who might be struggling with mental health issues, what further steps to take, and also provides details on where to find help for yourself.

For more information, visit,, or, Australian Bureau of Statistics 6723.0 Employment in Culture, 2011 Pride, Passion & Pitfalls: Working in the Australian Entertainment Industry; Dr J van den Eynde, Prof A Fisher, Assoc Prof C Sonn; Victoria University; Dec 2014 By Rebecca Martin of

: Dance and Mental Health

Is dance a skill or not?

Getting Started with Dance – Dance is accessible to most fitness levels, making it an inclusive activity. You don’t have to be fit, athletic, graceful, or young to begin dance classes. Beginners’ classes are designed for all levels of fitness and allow each dancer to advance at their own pace.

Dance is also an activity that builds on what you already know; moving, walking, waving, turning, and even listening to music.
You can also choose the style of dance that fits your preferences and your personality.
If you love the classics, you may want to try ballet.
If you’re looking for face-paced fun, tap may be your dance.

In dance classes, you may find that you can dance in a group, with a partner, or on your own. Dance can be a competitive activity or simply a great social outlet. It’s a recreational and sporting choice that works for all age groups, at all skill levels.

And dance is not seasonal, and classes are indoors. That means it’s an activity that you can participate in all year long. Dance is also a skill and activity that can serve you throughout your life. Learning to dance will not only increase your social confidence, but it will also improve your fitness, your posture, and your coordination.

It’s also a skill that comes in handy at social events like parties and weddings, where dancing is often a central part of the celebration. The gear and clothing required will depend on the style of dance you focus on. Tap class requires tap shoes, and ballet requires slippers and ballet clothing.

When did dance become a sport?

Why a dancer is an athlete?

As a professional who has coached thousands of skilled dancers in a span of 40-years, I believe that all dancers are athletes, but not all athletes are dancers. The skills performed with their bodies’ demand strength, agility and balance. Dancers play like a team, and when they perform as a group, they work as a collective.

Is dancing considered a sport? According to, a “Sport is all forms of which, through casual or organized participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide to participants. Sports are generally recognized as activities which are based in physical or physical,” In argument, dance has the same amount of requirements that any sport does.

During my time as Director/Choreographer of the Texas State University Strutters, my students were recognized as student athletes and were given many of the same perks that sport athletes received. In addition, the Strutters were granted credit in Health and Human Performance each semester. Components to consider: Athletes & Artists Dancers are “elite” athletes as well as artists.

Additionally, there is grace, beauty, form, emotion, and the power of communication that is expressed through dance movement.
What separates dancers from sport athletes is artistry (there can also be artistry in athleticism to a point).
Dance Teams perform as a group with precision, energy and style.
Basketball players do not think about their arm extension in relation to their shoulder.

Many high school and college dance teams train and rehearse every day.
They incorporate into their workout cross-training with cardio, weightlifting, Yoga/Pilates to improve their physical fitness and technique.
While aesthetic goals are of the utmost importance, dancers remain subject to the same unyielding physical laws as sport athletes.

Signature cards were distributed the first class of the month, and collected on the last class of the month (that included documentation of their time at the Rec Center). In addition, the Texas State University Strutters spent 9 days together in Training Camp before the start of football season/Fall semester.

Training Camp activities were tailored to suit the needs of Strutters, with the ultimate goal being improvement in muscular strength, flexibility, joint mobility, agility, balance, physical/mental endurance, and injury prevention.
Consistency helped Strutters maintain their bodies throughout slow periods (like summer).

Why is dance a sport essay?

Is Dance a Sport or an Art? Some people think dance is not a sport. They think it’s an art because it is nothing but remembering dance moves. However, I believe dance is a sport. It requires a lot of endurance. Dance requires a lot of practice and can sometimes take up 2 or 3 days a week.

Dance is a sport because it requires strength, practice and flexibility.
Dance is a sport because it requires a lot of strength.
The word athlete is defined as “a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength.” Dancers need a lot of strength to jump high, turn without falling over and keep up with the dance overall.

Daily training is needed to keep a dancer’s strength up. Sit-ups, running, push-ups, and show more content If athletes do not stretch before they play they might get injured right? Well the same thing goes for dancers. If a dancer does not stretch before she dances she or he has a high risk for injuries which can keep you out of dance for a long time which no dancers wants.

Us dancers need to be able to do splits, high kicks, jumps, leaps, etc.
Which all require flexibility.
During a practice dancers stretch sometimes for 25 minutes alone sometimes longer.
Most dancers have a class just for stretching.
As a dancer of 10 years I understand how important it is to be flexible and how hard one has to work to achieve maximum flexibility.

“You could paralyze yourself if you fall when you are on pointe shoes. Dancers suffer from knee hyper extensions, which means your knees get pulled backwards. Back injuries are common in dance.” These are some of the many injuries a dancer can get. They are at high risk of getting these injuries if they do not stretch properly and daily.

Dance is a sport because it requires strength, practice and flexibility.
All three of these things are just a few of the reasons why dance is considered a sport.
Strength, practice and flexibility is required in all sports.
An example is gymnastics.
Why is gymnastics considered a sport but dance is not? Gymnastics is similar to dance in a way.

So why does one get to be called a sport and one isn’t. Dancers are strong mentally and physically. Next time you’re about to