By Khay Burrage,
The one question that has dancers shaking their head in frustration: Is dance a sport?
Dance has evolved throughout the years with different styles such as ballet, B-boying, locking, krumping, salsa, housing etc. There’s no doubt that dance is indeed a physical activity involving continuous practice.
Orlando Florida-based dancer Antonio Jackson has toured around the country to pursue his passion as a professional dancer for 5 years. Jackson is currently staying in Spokane for a month, playing the role of Iron Man in the Marvel Universe LIVE at the Spokane Arena. His style consists of many styles of dance such as popping, breaking, tricking and choreography. He stands strong in the idea that dance is not a sport but an art form that expresses creativity.
“Music is an art because you are painting a portrait of expression,” Jackson said. “You can’t express yourself running down in a straight line in a certain amount of time; your identity is to create. You get props for the foundation of the style but also creating your own style that’s how you create your mark.”
The strenuous workouts and intensive conditioning have stirred the idea of seeing dance being a sport due to the amount of movement. Just like athletes on a football team or a basketball team. In dance the purpose of a dancer is to show the audience a story, their story.
Naomi Tamayo, originated from Manila Philippines and is also touring beside Jackson in the Marvel Universe. Tamayo has been dancing for 10 years, winning twice as a world hip-hop champion for the international competition in Las Vegas as well as being a member Filipino All stars touring worldwide.
Tamayo believes that the technique is different between athlete and dancer.
“If you see there’s a lot of dancers in the world … some dancers are all about the technique, technique, technique but cannot feel what they are doing,” Tamayo said. “It’s sad to see people try to compare that dance is a sport; it’s really where your heart is.”
A dancer uses their skills and is judged in competitions by their emotion to add to their performance. Although art consists of physical and mental challenges, dance has the creativity in an individual that makes dance what it is.
“The music moved me,” Jackson said. “You can do it by yourself, no team, no competition; you don’t have to train for it. You can naturally move side to side when you hear music and start creating a portrait with your body.”
The amount of flexibility, stamina, endurance and strength is critical to both athlete and dancer. Both have multiple components that are considered as a sport.
“If you want to grow more with it you have to condition and be healthy,” Jackson said. “That’s why I think people get confused with it sometimes.”