DANCE: AN ART FORM OR A SPORT?

The age-old dilemma is the debate between dance being an art form or a sport. There are many reasons supporting both opinions but the question has never fully been answered. Through great analysis we hope to finally answer this question. Part 1 of this debate we will prove why Dance is an art form.

Dance Is An Art Form:

Dance is an Art Form:

As taken from dictionary.com the definition of art is "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance" or "the creation of works of beauty or other special significance". This definition is vague enough to describe any art form from visual arts to music.

Below are some of the strongest reasons why dance should be considered an art form:

1. Dancers use music to express their emotions and can even use it to change their moods.

The process of articulating ones emotions has been seen with other art forms such as how a painter expresses their emotions through pictures and uses it as an outlet to relaxation. The reason dancers expression of emotion is different from other sports and activities is because when a dancer or an artist expresses their emotions through their craft they create something beautiful and appealing to our senses.

2. Dance can be used to entertain others such as how music is used to entertain listeners.

Dance has been known as part of the performing arts category which also includes things like theater, drama and music. Dancers like other artists are extremely talented and provide entertainment by performing in front of crowds and through choreographed or free-styled routines.

3. There are common skills among all art forms these include creativity, articulation of emotions, originality and ambition.

In order to dance you need to be highly creativity in order to create unique popular routines. Dancers also contain a special skill which is seen in art forms such as music this skill is called rhythm, Rhythm allows a person to keep the tempo and beat of music and then allows the person interpret the music their own way.

4. Although art is used to entertain people it is also used to tell a story.

Dance is often used to tell a story that the choreographer or dancer has experienced or wants to be told. You will find that a dance routine will interpret the music that is being danced to by using the lyrics and beats. These stories are usually easy to understand if the choreographer has created a themed routine. As a painter would tell a story with a picture, a dancer will tell a story through a routine or a choreographed piece. The following video is a competition routine created by the “Rockwell family”. This routine clearly has a story that has been clearly depicted by their choreographed dance routine.

5. Like music different types of dance have been established in different cultures.

Different cultures are distinguished by different types of music such as how Jamaica is distinguished by their dominance in the Reggae and Soca music industry. As music dance is similar because different cultures are known for different types of dance styles such as how the Tango is paired with south American cultures.

6. Is dance just considered an art form because they dance to music and interpret this music by creating movements?

If this is a reason why dance is considered an art form then this argument should be re-configured because gymnastics is an Olympic sport and the athletes interpret music in their own way in order to entertain the crowd compete against others. If this argument is concrete then gymnastics would be considered an art form.

Dance is an Art Form:

The following video is a clip from “Step up: Revolution” and is a great example of why dance should be considered an art form, there are no words to describe the beauty that can be created by talented dancers.

7.

Stay tuned for the rest of the debate on whether dance is an art form or a sport. The "Dance is a Sport" analysis will be released soon.