Dance is both a sport and an artform

Dancers often compete against each other individually as well as in teams, it requires lots of skill and athleticism, and there is a high risk of injury among dancers.

The debate of whether dance is a sport or not has been ongoing for many years. Based on a recent Herald survey, 29 of 38 students say dance is a sport. When asked why dance qualifies as a sport, one high school football coach in Iowa  said, “Dance is a sport because they’re competing against other teams and working together.” 
But what actually classifies something as a sport versus an art? Well, according to the Oxford Dictionary a sport is defined as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment” and an art form can be “any activity regarded as a medium of imaginative or creative self-expression.” Meanwhile, an art form is “any activity regarded as a medium of imaginative or creative self-expression.” Given the physical exertion and skill needed to become even an amateur dancer, one might assume dance is naturally recognized as a sport. 
However, this is not the case. Some believe that dance is purely an art form and should not be considered a sport due to the lack of competition in many of the different styles of dance. Others oppose this claim acknowledging the physical exertion and strength needed to excel in dance. 
Dance should be recognized as both a sport and an art form due to the physical demands and skill required to be a proficient dancer.

Dancing has been around for thousands of years with some of the earliest human civilizations using dance as a way to express themselves. Modern forms of dance such as ballet and jazz have only  been around for the past couple of centuries. Ballet was invented in the 15th century during the Renaissance era and it was first only available to the rich nobles who would have private instruction from ballet masters. More recent evolutions of dance include the establishment of jazz, tap, hiphop, and modern styles of dance. The earliest of these examples would be tap dancing as it was invented in the 18th century and it was a fusion of British and West African dance styles. Both jazz and modern dance were invented in the early 20th century and they both heavily contrasted the restrictive nature of ballet, almost protesting the strict rules of ballet. Lastly, the earliest example of modern dance would be hiphop as it was invented in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City. Hip hop was highly influenced by the streetwear, fashion style, music, and artwork that engulfed the city and it took elements of the city's culture to create the style of dance it is today. Along with that, each century of human culture and history has been reflected through new styles of dance that correlate to the societal changes of that time period.

Many of these examples wouldn’t be considered sports as they serve a different purpose. For example the cultural dances of early human civilizations really don’t require a large amount of athleticism and they do not meet the requirements of a sport as there is no competition between individuals. Though more modern styles of dance such as ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and more meet the set expectations of a sport. 

Unlike many sports, dance is often an individual pursuit. Dancers train extensively in class, improve their skills at home, and showcase their abilities on stage. While dance studios function like sports teams, they differ in one key aspect: dancers often compete against each other for the lead role in performances or the coveted solo spot at national competitions. Ultimately, dance cannot be confined to a single category. It embodies the creativity of an art form and the physicality of a sport. While some may argue otherwise, the discipline, endurance, and competitive nature of dance prove that it deserves recognition as both.

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