Is dancing comparable as physical activity to other sports?

Abstract

Dance is often perceived primarily as an artistic expression, yet its physical demands align closely with those of traditional sports. This study explores whether dance can be considered a comparable physical activity to conventional sports by analyzing the physical condition of young dancers, athletes, and inactive students. A total of 96 participants (32 dancers, 32 athletes, 32 inactive students) underwent a series of physical tests measuring speed, endurance, agility, and coordination, including the 20m sprint, long jump, shuttle run, rope jumping, and 800m endurance run.

Results indicate that male dancers consistently achieved top performances, particularly in the 20m sprint (3.59±0.29s), long jump (2.17±0.30m), and 800m run (3.24±0.56s), often surpassing male athletes. Female dancers demonstrated superior results in endurance-based and coordination-intensive tests, excelling in rope jumping (107.76±19.25) and the 800m run (3.68±0.50). The findings highlight dance as a highly effective physical activity that develops strength, agility, and endurance at levels comparable to, or even exceeding, traditional sports.

These results support the growing recognition of dance within sports science and its potential as a structured physical training method. This study contributes to the discussion on integrating dance into physical education and competitive sports frameworks, advocating for its broader acceptance as both an artistic and athletic discipline.