Tor Constantino makes a case that ballet is not only a sport, but it might be more of a sport than other forms of competition.
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I don’t know about you but this country offers a lot of latitude when it comes to sports coverage. First let’s get a definition of the term “sports”—according to the Oxford Dictionary …
An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.
Ironically, based on that definition, some of the most widely accepted sports activities wouldn’t make the cut. Is there a great deal of physical exertion demonstrated in billiards, poker or bass fishing? Does competitive eating require a high-degree of skill?
It could be argued that none of those activities qualify as sports; however one activity that suits the aforementioned definition to a tee is ballet.
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The competition to be accepted by a ballet school or company is just as fierce as any Division I athletic program. The male and female performers practice, train and eat to develop peak physiques. The effortless grace of the dance requires the highest level of skill.
Yet you would never think of seeing a ballet televised on any channel other than PBS, while the annual hot dog eating championship is televised nationally every July 4th.
You can disagree that ballet is a sport and classify it as an “art form”—but you’d be wrong.
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Perhaps the best rationale as to why ballet is absolutely a sport can be seen in the video below, produced by the folks at Under Armor who showcase the sports physical exertion, demonstration of skill, competition to make it to the stage and purpose of entertainment.
Question: Is ballet a sport?
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The quick twitch strength and grace of movement — those are the aspects of football that will remain when we’re done with all this concussion business…Think the athletic grace of Barry Sanders on a jump cut. Similar.
I don’t see how anyone could go to the ballet and think that what the dancers are doing is easy. Is this really a problem in our society, that people don’t think ballet is a sport because they thing it’s easy? Ironically, there’s kind of a Catch-22 going on here. The REALLY GOOD performers make it look totally effortless. They do these incredibly difficult moves with smiles on their faces and never let the audience know that when it’s over they feel like puking. Sit in the front row, see how hard they’re breathing, and hear their feet land, and… Read more »
Ballet is a sport in an art form – as it is not easy to be a ballet dancer, as they have to have a strong leg strength of a soccer player, a good balance of a hockey player, a strong core strength of a muscular person, and at the same time be graceful as a equestrian. Not to mention, the flexibility required and also the mental strength too. If you say a sport requires a tool – like how footballer has his football, a hockey player has his stick and skate, then for ballerina their tool is their body… Read more »
Most “floor ex” routines in gymnastics incorporate some ballet moves now. So, in a way ballet is already part of the Olympics.
I’m with wellokaythen that with ballet it’s simply that you are not (usually) competing against another team. But there obviously are dance competitions, and I do think of those competitions as sports. Have you ever seen a Hip Hop Dance Competition? There is no way you would think of it less of a sport than you would gymnastics or figure skating. However — I am also the person who, when I watch football, I watch it for the choreography as much as anything. There is nothing I like better than seeing the teams line up and then trying to figure… Read more »
Absolutely no question that ballet is athletic and demands incredible physical strength and skill. It’s certainly competitive to GET the role. And you’re right, there’s no reason that an activity cannot be both an art form and a sport. I don’t quite see the “competition” side of the performance, though.
Poker isn’t a sport, because although it’s competitive it’s not athletic. Ballet isn’t a sport, because although it’s highly athletic, it’s not competitive.
No one thinks Olympic-level gymnastics aren’t a sport. That’s artistic performance, athletic skill, and competition all in one place, so that is a sport.
Hm, so for you the crucial thing about sports is competition? Then mountain climbing is not a sport either, because they don’t compete as such, only in terms of prestige and fame, and dancers do the same.
I would argue that, yes, mountain climbing is not a sport; it’s a leisure activity. Neither is ballet; it’s an art form. But that doesn’t diminish the rigor and importance of either activity. I’ve always wondered why some people are so gung ho about recognizing their activity as a sport, and I can’t help but think it’s insecurity in a sports-obsessed culture. Of course your activity is physically demanding and competitive, but it’s not a sport. And you know what, who cares if it isn’t? Why is it so important for it to be recognized as such?
Yeah, I see your point. I guess I’m questioning the idea that if something is physically demanding that makes it a sport. I would define sport (arbitrarily, I admit) as something physically strenuous or requiring great physical skill and something done competitively. If it has one but not both I’d call it something else. Not sure what to do with individual pursuits. If I run by myself and compete against my own previous times, then I’m competing against myself, so I guess that would be a sport, too? I don’t know where figure skating would fit, then. When amateurs do… Read more »