While dancers create and express emotions through their performances, much like many other art forms, they also put a significant amount of physical effort into their dances, whether it’s for a performance or competition. There are also many different types of dances including ballet, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, breakdancing and countless others found in almost every culture. 

While some dance styles, such as ballet, jazz and contemporary, lean more toward the artistic side, dancers in these forms still work incredibly hard. They follow rigorous workout routines and train in a way similar to most athletes in other sports. Not only do these dancers train their bodies, but they also focus on what they are doing mentally, putting emotions and intent into every movement, just like creating a piece of art. 

Other forms of dance, such as hip hop and breakdancing, are more like traditional sports, such as football, soccer and baseball, in many ways. These styles require a great deal of strength and years of training, sometimes taking up to three years to master just one specific move. Additionally, these dances often feature battles or competitions between individuals or teams, much like traditional sports. 

According to rockstaracademy.com, “In reality, dance encompasses both athleticism and artistry, blending the rigor of sports with the expressiveness of art.” 

This explanation perfectly sums up the unique nature of dance. It combines the physical demands, strength and discipline of a sport with the creativity and emotion found in art. While dance is a blend of both, whether it leans more toward sport or art often depends on the specific dance style. However, most forms of dance share more similarities with sports than art.