I float across the stage with grace, even though I am out of breath and tired. I am performing this dance for what seems like the thousandth time, and I am required to make it look effortless even though it feels like I’ve just run a marathon. My arms stretch out to the end of my fingers and beyond as I prepare for my turn sequence. I land it perfectly, and a bead of sweat rolls down the side of my neck as I come to the conclusion of my dance. I strike a final grand pose, and get engulfed in a massive applause from the audience.

I started dancing about 4 years ago now, and let me tell you, it is not a walk in the park. Dance is challenging. It is physically taxing on the body, and you have to stay in shape to be able to execute all of the moves correctly. I have to be constantly working to improve my every move, even outside of dance.

What is the definition of a sport? According to Dictionary.com, the definition of “sport” is, “An athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature”. Based on this definition, dance should most definitely be considered a sport.

Like any sport, dance takes dedication and hard work. But unlike any other sport, it is an art form that goes way beyond just a “sport” title. In dance you must be strong and athletic, but also flexible and elegant.

Some people believe that dance should not be considered a sport. People say this because dance is not in the olympics, but then technically rugby, and golf aren’t sports either because they weren’t in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Nicole Gyolai, 9th grade student at San Ramon Valley High School, said that she doesn’t believe that dance should be considered a sport because “Most sports use activities such as running, or an extreme physical exertion that, as far as I’m aware, dance does not have.”

Ella Foster, a 9th grader at San Ramon Valley High School who dances 10.5 hours a week, said, “I strongly believe that dance should be considered a sport. Dancing is as aerobic as any other sport. However many do not recognize this because dancers work even harder to conceal the struggle and make it look effortless. The truth is that dance is much more than a sport, as it is also an art form. Dance is a unique combination of exercise and artistry, and it should not be underestimated.”

Ella is right. Dance should not be underestimated. It takes a special type of person to be able to walk in a dancer’s shoes. Dancer’s work extremely hard to push themselves and constantly be getting better.
What will it take for people to recognize how hard dance actually is, and that it is just as physically demanding as a sport like baseball?