Dictionary.com defines a “sport” as an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another team or others for entertainment. Ever since I started dancing, people have attacked my beloved passion, claiming that it isn’t a sport, but rather a “hobby,” “activity,” or “art.” Being a competition dancer who spends eight or more hours in a studio after school, I cannot help but feel angered by people’s refusal to agree that dance is, in fact, a sport.

“I mean, c’mon, it’s dancing,” freshman Scott Polek said. “Dancing isn’t a sport. I don’t know why; it just isn’t.”

Dancing is physically and mentally tiring. From the moment a dancer sets foot into a studio, he or she is constantly moving. To make dance even more complex, the movements being performed are difficult to achieve. The execution of each step alone is draining. In order to perfect each step, dancers need two important things: flexibility and muscle.

In addition to the work it takes to conduct each movement, dancers also have to be disciplined and alert, and also possess stage presence. This means that dancers need to act while they’re dancing. Someone may be a beautiful dancer, but that person is nothing if they aren’t performing while on stage. While dancing, dancers need to have expressive facial expressions, energy, and perform passionately. It may sound critical, but it is noticeable when dancers aren’t passionate about their piece.

Dancing is even more difficult when it is done with multiple other people. Spacing is extremely important, because no one wants to kick someone else in the head.

“You have to perform choreography with a bunch of others girls,” junior Lauren Wolfe said. “It takes talent.”

A common argument I hear about dance not being a sport is that it’s easy. This makes me cringe. Of course dancing looks easy, but that is because it is the job of the dancer to make what they’re doing look effortless. Who wants to watch a dancer panting on stage? No one enjoys watching dancers slouch over and quiver when their feet start to hurt. Dancing is one of the toughest sports, because unlike other sports, dancers cannot show when something is painful, if something went wrong, or if they don’t want to perform.

“Dance requires an immense amount of physical effort,” freshman Sidnee Moyer said. “I really admire dancers for their hard work. They have to have a lot of control and gracefulness.”

Preparing to be a dancer is more demanding than most may think. For example, in every class I take, we start off our session with pushups, situps, squats, supermans, lunges, and tricep dips. We also do burpees and jumping jacks. These activities are necessary in order to be a dancer. Dancers must have incredible core, arm, leg, ankle, and back strength. Core strength is the most important, because this allows balance.

Over years of controversy, I have found that people with experience dancing agree that it is a sport, while people who have never danced before argue that it is not. If a person has never danced and personally experienced the physical exertion that dance requires, how can that person argue dance isn’t a sport? Obviously, that person has no experience with dance, and therefore their judgement is faulted.

Dancers work rigorously to accomplish muscle, flexibility, discipline, endurance, stage presence, and responsibility. If you don’t believe me, go to a dance store, find a pair of pointe shoes, try them on, and then tell me what you think. I promise you’ll change your mind.