Is Dance A Sport? Why Competitive Dance Should Be Your Child’s Next After-School Activity
Heads up! Synergy Dance Center will be holding Competition Team Auditions on April 27, 2025. Contact Miss Susan and Miss Liz for more details!
For years, people have debated whether dance is a sport. Some see it as an art form, while others insist that the athleticism and discipline required to dance make it a sport just like basketball or baseball. So, which is it?
The answer is simple: it’s both. Dance combines physical strength, endurance, and teamwork with creativity and expression. And competitive dance could be the perfect after-school activity to challenge your child, build their confidence, and develop lifelong skills that go way beyond the stage.
Why is Dance Considered a Sport?
At its core, dance is a way of telling stories and expressing emotions through movement. But spend five minutes watching a competitive dancer leap, spin, and perform with precision, and it’s clear: dance demands just as much athleticism as any traditional sport.
Competitive dance is also structured like many other sports. Dancers train for hours, practice routines, and compete in front of judges. Like gymnastics or figure skating, scoring is based on technique, difficulty, artistry, and performance.
The beauty of dance is that it develops both the body and the mind. It builds physical strength, flexibility, and endurance, but it also fosters creativity and emotional expression. If you’re looking for an after-school activity that challenges your child athletically, creatively, and competitively, there’s no better option than dance.
The Benefits of Competitive Dance for Kids
Fitness and Physical Strength
Dance is a full-body workout! From intense cardio during high-energy jazz routines to muscle control in ballet, dancers develop strength, flexibility, and balance. Unlike some sports that focus on a specific skill set, dance strengthens the entire body while improving posture and coordination.
Discipline, Focus, and Work Ethic
Competitive dancers practice consistently to keep their skills sharp. Having a structured schedule teaches them how to set goals, overcome challenges, and keep going — even when a routine gets tough. This discipline sticks with them, helping in school, other sports, and life beyond the stage.
Teamwork and Social Skills
Dance is often seen as a medium for individual expression, but on a competitive team, it’s all about working together. Dancers rely on each other to hit formations, stay on beat, and execute a cohesive performance. Plus, the friendships your child builds at the dance studio could last a lifetime. Eighty-eight percent of dancers say that dancing improved their social skills, and 89% believe it helped decrease nervousness in social situations.
Confidence and Resilience
There’s nothing like the thrill of performing on a stage. Dance teaches kids how to handle pressure, accept feedback, and bounce back stronger after a tough critique. Those skills build serious confidence that extends to every part of your child’s life.
Cognitive Growth and Memory
Learning choreography challenges the brain. In fact, dance has been shown to improve a variety of cognitive functions including concentration, problem-solving skills, and spatial reasoning. Because dancers are required to memorize complex routines, count beats, and adapt to music, they benefit from improved learning and memory performance outside of the dance studio too.
Dance vs. Traditional Sports: Why Dance Builds a Broader Skill Set
Unlike many traditional sports that focus on physical strength or strategy, dance develops a diverse range of skills, including:
Musicality and Rhythm: Dancers don’t just move — they move with the music, learning timing, rhythm, and musical interpretation. This can give your child a head start when it comes to other extracurricular activities, such as playing an instrument.
Artistic Expression: Dance is one of the few competitive activities that also allows kids to express emotion and creativity. Even while dancing as part of a competition team, your child’s time on stage is their chance to showcase their unique connection with the music.
Inclusivity: Dance welcomes kids of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, creating a supportive environment where everyone can thrive. When we say anyone can dance, we mean anyone! Whether your child is naturally athletic, new to movement, or simply looking for a place to belong, our studio offers a path for every kid to thrive.
Year-Round Engagement: While many traditional team sports are seasonal, there are opportunities for dancing year-round. This means your child will have ongoing chances to continue growing, learning, and building their confidence.
Why Choose Competitive Dance as an After-School Activity?
If your child loves the competitive nature and team camaraderie of traditional sports, competitive dance is a great option that will boost their confidence and creativity at the same time. Dance programs give kids the best of both worlds: the challenge and excitement of working toward a common goal, paired with personal growth and artistic expression.
With competitive dance, your child has all of the structure and supervision you’d expect from a great after-school activity. But unlike seasonal sports that start and stop, competitive dance offers a way for your child to continue learning, growing, and staying active year-round.
Dance also opens up a whole new social circle for your child. While school sports often involve playing with the same classmates they see every day, competitive teams bring together kids from a variety of different neighborhoods and backgrounds.
Ready to Enroll? Let’s Dance!
For kids who thrive on competition, love being part of a team, and are looking to be challenged both physically and creatively, few after-school activities are as well-rounded as dance. Competitive dance is a great option for kids ready to take their training seriously, but even regular dance classes offer many of these same benefits and will encourage your child to challenge themselves each time they step into the studio.
If you’re searching for an after-school activity that combines fitness, creativity, and valuable life skills, dance could be just what you’re looking for. Register for our dance competition team today, or explore the dance classes we offer to get your child’s foot in the door.
