Dance as a Sport: Building Strength, Rhythm, and Confidence

Some children seem as though they are born to dance. They light up at the merest hint of music and become absolutely engaged in situations where others get up to boogie down. Parents with these dancy children usually have enough foresight to enroll them in dance classes early, but some readers might be thinking to themselves “does dance count as a ‘sport’?” The answer is, absolutely! We here at Cultured Athlete celebrant any opportunities that we can give kids who want to engage in physical activity and fun!

Dance combines athleticism, artistry, and rhythm, helping kids to achieve a rare mix of physicality and creative expression. Like any sport, dance demands physical strength, precision, dedication, and teamwork. Children who practice dance can improve their coordination and build their self-confidence. There are many styles of dance that children can choose to learn: Ballet and tap usually make up bulk of what they learn in younger years, while hip hop, lyrical, and more advanced versions of the first two are disciplines they can learn as they get older. Each of these styles has comes with it’s own unique challenges and rewards, providing a fun way to stay active and learn new skills.

In this guide, we will explore how dance builds strength, rhythm, and confidence in children. We will look at different styles and tips for getting started, and help parents to make the right dance decisions along with their kids. So, if you’re thinking about introducing your kid to dance or if they already love it, this guide will help you make the most of your dance journey together!

Why Dance is Considered a Sport

Many people think of dance as art rather than a sport like say basketball or soccer. But while dancers do express creativity through movement, they’re also very talented athletes. Dancers are required to make a number of complex movements that need to be practiced and precise. Dance requires a surprising amount of strength, balance, endurance, and for group dances, even teamwork. Whether it’s ballet or breakdancing, dance challenges both the body and the mind, making it an exciting sport to explore. Read below to learn som clear and concise reasons why dance is a sport:

Physical Training: Dancers train hard to build muscle. Dance requires flexibility in order to perfect certain moves and stamina to keep up the precise, challenging movements and routines for an extended period of time. Dance classes often include warm-ups, strength exercises, and stretching, which are the same things that any athlete might engage in at practice.
Competitive Aspect: Dance isn’t all about expression, it’s also about competition. If you’ve ever seen Dancing with the Stars, you know what we’re talking about. That’s because many dance styles, like ballroom or hip-hop, have competitions where dancers can compete solo, with a partner, or as part of a team.
Teamwork and Coordination: In group performances, dancers work together to create art. Their teamwork must be in sync in order to create a unified performance. This aspect is essential to group dances and troupes, just as it is in any sport.
Mental Focus: Dance routines require mental focus to achieve success. Dancers need to focus on memorization, timing, and rhythm. When dancing, they need to maintain that focus and stay in the moment to perform well in front of an audience. This is not dissimilar from the way other athletes act while making plays in basketball, hockey, or baseball.

Building Physical Strength Through Dance

Dance has many physical benefits attached to it and one of the biggest of those benefits is how it builds strength. As with various conventional sports, different styles of dance work different muscle groups and offer unique physical challenges and physical advantages to young athletes. Dance training improves overall athleticism, which helps kids who play any other sports as well! Below are many ways in which dance can help kids get stronger.

Core Strength: Most dance moves require balance and stability, which helps to build core strength. Dancers engage their core muscles constantly as a means of controlling their movements. These muscles also help improve balance and posture. Proper posture is essential for many ballroom dances, in particular.
Leg and Arm Strength: The myriad jumps, leaps, and extensions that dancers use require powerful legs. Some dance classes include exercises like pliés, lunges, and jumps which work to strengthen these muscles. Arm movements add grace and strength to dance routines, so it’s important that arm exercises are incorporated into the routine.
Endurance and Cardiovascular Fitness: Dance routines involve continuous movement, helping young athletes to improve their endurance and heart health. They say practice makes perfect, and dancers build stamina by practicing their routines multiple times. Dance coaches often incorporate aerobic exercises in class to help build this stamina and improve cardiovascular health.
Flexibility and Balance: You gotta be flexible if you want to be a dancer, so stretching and working on flexibility are key aspects when it comes to dance practice. Stretching helps muscles stay flexible and reduces the risk of injury, while moves like spins and balances improve a young dancer’s coordination.

Developing Rhythm and Musicality

Rhythm and timing is essential if you want to be a good dancer. Some children already have an innate aptitude for these things, which is probably why parents are already considering them for dance classes, but others need to refine that instinct. Dancers are taught to learn to feel the beat and timing of a song, which helps them synchronize their movements. In addition, dancing to different types of music exposes dancers to a variety of rhythms and tempos, which gives them a newfound appreciation and understanding of different musical styles. There are many ways in which dance builds rhythm and musicality:

Counting Beats and Timing: Dancers are trained to count beats in music. This methodology helps them stay on rhythm. Many dance class instructors will count aloud to help young dancers stay in sync. Those counts might sound familiar to those readers who recognize musical timing, and usually come in counts of eight (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8).
Feeling the Music: Musicality is often described as an innate ability, but it’s essentially about feeling and interpreting the music through movement. Dancers who don’t already have musicality will eventually learn to express different emotions and energy levels based on the style and rhythm of the song. This newfound grasp of musicality is what makes each of a dancer’s performances unique.
Coordination with Group Routines: We have already touched on the idea of teamwork in group dances. Dancers need to learn to stay in sync with each other, matching the timing and energy of the performance. This coordination takes time to achieve, but helps in a few different ways. Firstly, it’s great practice for teaching children to work alongside their peers, and secondly, it helps kids develop a sense of rhythm.

Boosting Confidence and Self-Expression

Performing in front of a crowd can be difficult for children. Even the most outgoing kids might struggle with self confidence, which is essential for dancers. Taking dance helps kids with this issue and builds self-assurance, allowing them to express themselves in unique ways; ways they may not even know they are capable of. This boost in confidence isn’t limited to the dance floor, either; kids can carry it into school, friendships, and other activities in their lives. The section below lists some ways in which dance builds confidence:

Learning New Skills: Each new dance move or routine that they learn gives kids a newfound sense of accomplishment. They gain confidence as they dance and master new steps, learning to take pride in their abilities and trust in their training.
Performing in Front of Others: As we mentioned earlier, performing on stage or even in a classroom setting can be intimidating, but this necessity of performance helps dancers overcome any extent shyness. Each successful performance becomes a stepping stone to more confidence.
Embracing Self-Expression: No matter the style, dance puts emotion into motion. Dance allows children to express their feelings and stories through movement. This is especially true in contemporary or lyrical styles, but even ballet and hip hop can be vehicles for children to express their happiness, excitement, or even sadness.
Receiving Positive Feedback: Dance teachers and audiences are proud of their young dancers and often give positive feedback, even when there are minor missteps. This positivity reinforces a dancer’s belief in themselves and their abilities.

Popular Dance Styles for Kids to Try

There are many styles of dance that children can learn from a young age, each with its own set of movements, techniques, and cultural roots. These styles offer a variety of ways to move and groove, so kids can explore different types to find the ones that speak to them. The most popular styles are listed below:

Ballet

Ballet is known for its elegance and grace and is the foundation of many other dance styles. Ballet focuses on precise movements, posture, and strength. Ballet routines often utilize classical music, introducing children to a genre they may not have already experienced.
Kids learn basic positions, like pliés and relevés, and as they advance, learn to work on jumps, turns, and other moves. Older dancers eventually learn pointe work.

Hip-Hop

Hip-hop is a bit more energetic than ballet, and has been around for a lot less time, but it’s an exciting, upbeat style that kids love. Hip-hop music focuses on rhythm, footwork, and freestyle movement.
Hip-hop classes include a number urban dance moves including isolations, popping, locking, and breakdancing, allowing children to get creative with their moves.

Jazz

Jazz dance is mostly performed in live shows and musicals. It is a lively and expressive style, mixing ballet technique with energetic, rhythmic movements. Jazz dancers often perform leaps, turns, and high-energy combinations.
This style is perfect for energetic kids who love fast-paced routines and upbeat, jazzy tunes!

Contemporary/Lyrical

Contemporary is a blend of ballet, jazz, and modern dance. Also known as lyrical in some circles, this expressive style focuses on storytelling and deep emotion through movement. Dancers use fluid, flowing movements to express emotions and connect with the music.
Contemporary classes often encourage dancers to improvise, which allows children to explore their own unique movements.

Tap

Tap dancing is well-known for the rhythmic tapping noises made by dancers’ special shoes. The shoes tap dancers use have metal taps on the toes and heels to create those distinctive sounds. Kids learn timing, coordination, and rhythm as they discover how to create beats with their feet.
Tap is perfect for young children and is great if your kid enjoys rhythm or making music with their steps.

Ballroom

Ballroom dance is a bit more advanced than the others and includes a partner. The most famous of these dances include the waltz, tango, samba, jive, and cha-cha. In terms of teamwork, ballroom dancing is a great way to teach kids coordination, rhythm, and cooperation with a partner.
Many kids enjoy the elegance and technique required in ballroom dancing. The style usually includes a number of steps, turns, and fancy footwork.

Getting Started in Dance: Tips for Kids and Parents

If you and your kid are ready to give dance a try, here are some tips to help you get started:

Choose a Dance Style: Start by introducing your kid to a variety of styles to see which they enjoy most. Many dance studios offer trial classes, so your child can sample different styles before committing to one.
Find a Good Studio or Instructor: Look for a dance studio that has experienced instructors who specialize in teaching children.
Wear Comfortable Clothing: Make sure that your child wears clothes that allow for free movement, like leggings, leotards, or t-shirts. Some styles, like ballet, may require specific shoes or attire but that can all come later.
Have Fun!: Dance should be fun and enjoyable, not stuffy, especially when your kids are young. Remind them not to worry too much about getting every step perfect. Instead, teach them to focus on enjoying the music and expressing yourself.

Cultured Athlete Says…

Dance is a unique sport that offers so much more than simply physical fitness! Dance combines everything from strength and agility training to teaching children about musicality, rhythm, and self-expression, In short, dance can help kids to grow both physically and emotionally, all while giving them a great way to have fun and feel great! No matter the style, dance can be a fun and rewarding way to stay active, make friends, and build your child’s confidence!