Heather Pentecost

#2597
Topic: Dance is a sport.
General Purpose: To persuade
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that dance is a sport.
Thesis: While the art of dance may not outwardly appear to be a sport, it is in fact one
because of the athleticism of the dancers, its intense competitions, and its necessary
teamwork.
Introduction
I. Did you play any sports in high school?
A. Yeah! I did dance!
B. Oh...thats great. I did ballet when I was 5!
C. I have had this conversation countless times, where people nonverbally,
or occasionally very verbally, say that dance does not qualify as a sport.
II. As an elementary school student, you probably went on a field trip to see a
musical or a ballet.
A. While these are both impressive and beautiful productions, they
probably have distorted your view of dance as a sport.
B. Since dance does not have a season, or a spot in the Olympics, it is
often not considered as a sport.
III. Well take a look at why dance is very much a sport.
Body
I. First off, lets look at the physical capabilities of dancers, and other athletes.
A. Dancers are insanely strong.
1. BUT, they have to look graceful while dancing, and as if every
move is effortless.
2. The average male dancer lifts 1.5 tons worth of ballerina during
a performance. (Levy, 2011)
B. Also impressive is the cardiovascular health of dancers.
1. If you have taken Wellness, you will remember that max VO2 is
the measure for aerobic fitness.
2. According to Baldaris study in Rome, the max VO2 of elite
ballet dancers was 47.5 ml/kg/min, while the max VO2 of a
sedentary control group was 34.5 ml/kg/min. (Baldari, 2001)

a. Interestingly enough, this max VO2 is the same as the

sport of fencing! (Walters, 2008)
3. The actual playing time for a traditional sport is significantly
lower than a dancers performance.
a. Football: 12 minutes of action.
b. Soccer: about 30 minutes
c. A three hour ballet performance is equivalent physically
to running about 18 miles (Levy, 2011)
II. Another common reason that dance is not considered a sport is because it is not
considered competitive.
A. Ha! The competition between dance studios and individual dancers at
dance competitions is fierce!
1. With cash prizes and bragging rights, dancers want to win, and
they want to win badly.
2. The popular TV show Dance Moms is a great example of
how involved parents are in their childrens lives, and potential
careers.
3. There are about 200 dance competition companies in North
America
B. Competitions are different from typical games though.
1. There is not an objective means of determining winners!
a. No, but judges act similarly to referees. They both have a
set of strict guidelines, but ultimately are subjective,
and can and will dramatically affect the outcome of
the game/competition.
b. There is a standard for dancers and choreographers to
meet, and they will be defeated if they dont.
III. Finally, dances require an incredible amount of teamwork.
A. Dancers must be aware of where their fellow dancers are on stage at all
times.
B. If someone messes up, or is in the wrong spot, other dancers need to
compensate.
C. Many high-level moves require more than one body, so it is essential
that every dancer is aware and ready for the next trick, to avoid
injuries.

Conclusion
I. Steps in a dance are like plays; you can practice them and practice them, but
they will never turn out just like you had planned.
II. Dance has the blessing and curse to be considered an art, but please remember
that dancers work tirelessly to provide you this art, making dance itself a sport.
III. In conclusion, dancers are athletic, competitive, and good teammates, and
should be given the same respect as those in traditional sports.
References

Baldari, C. & Guidetti, L. (2001). VO2max, ventilatory and anaerobic thresholds in

rhythmic gymnasts and young female dancers. Int J Sports Med. 41(2). Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11447359
Finch, T. (2008). A cheat sheet for dancers: How judges score at dance competitions.
Suite 101. Retrieved fromL http://suite101.com/article/a-cheat-sheet-for-dancers-howjudges-score-at-dance-competitions-a310911#.UWzTUivwKpU
Levy, C. (2011) Study guide for teachers. Canada: Alberta Ballet. Retrieved from: http://
www.docstoc.com/docs/73316711/THE-NUTCRACKER
Mackenzie, B. (2001) VO2max. Retrieved from: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/vo2max.htm
Walters, P. & Byl, J. (2008). Christian paths to health and wellness. USA: Human
Kinetics Publishers.