Should Dance be an Olympic Sport?

According to a poll taken by the Gazette, 77% of people consider dance a sport but why is it that 23% don’t?

Dance is defined as, “a series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music,” but it is so much more than that! Some of the most famous dancers, such as Martha Graham, Gregory Hines, and Misty Copeland have shown our world just how brilliant the art of dance is. Each of them have proven that dance is a hidden language of the soul, and I think everyone has this hidden language and we just don’t know it yet.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved the idea of dancing on a stage and performing. I was always excited to dance whether that was in the kitchen by myself, me and my best friend dancing together to our new favorite song, or in a group dance I had truly learned in my dance classes.

With this being said, I am almost certain that once in your life you have started to tap your feet under the kitchen table or maybe in the shower. These moments that you don’t even know you are doing is this hidden language each of our souls are lucky to have. 

Many people argue that dance is not a sport and argue that it is less competitive, not aggressive, etc. As everyone is entitled to their own opinion, this is not accurate at all and this is why many other people want to see dances start competing in the Olympics.

Dancers are artists and athletes which is so remarkable because many other sports just tend to be seen as great athletes. In 1997 the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) was granted full recognition by the Olympic committee and ever since many people are looking forward to when it is finally going to be seen in the Olympics.

Martin Jahns writes, “At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, break dancing will achieve what no other dance sport has ever done before it: for the first time, B-boys and B-girls will be breaking for Olympic medals.” How amazing is that? Many articles are starting to fill the news about this excitement with headlines such as “You can now win an Olympic gold medal for break dancing!” 

It may not be exactly what dancers around the world are hoping for right now, but it is most definitely a start! Just like Vivian Greene always said, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain” and us dancers all across the world will continue to dance in the rain for as long as it takes!