For centuries, humans have been using dance as a form of cultural expression, entertainment, and exercise. However, for as long as we have been dancing, we as a society still have difficulty classifying what it means to be a dancer — are they athletes, artists, or a little bit of both? It is generally agreed that dance is an art form, but what about those who claim it is also a sport? There are many forms of competitive dance that would allow it to be placed in this category. But is dance an effective form of exercise compared to other activities? A systematic review and meta-analysis performed by the University of Sydney attempted to answer this interesting question.
The review, led by Dr. Alycia Fong Yan, compiled 28 studies — totaling 1,276 participants — that focused on the physical health benefits and effectiveness of dance as an exercise compared to other exercise programs. Each study they reviewed included a structured dance program of at least four weeks for the participants and focused on different types and styles of dance. The studies measured different outcomes, including body composition, musculoskeletal function, and cardiovascular function.
By compiling previous studies, the authors were able to conclude that dance as a form of exercise is comparable and in many ways more effective than alternative forms of exercise for improving health.
By compiling previous studies, the authors were able to conclude that dance as a form of exercise is comparable and in many ways more effective than alternative forms of exercise for improving health. Structured dance programs had a significant positive effect on body composition, blood biomarkers (molecules in the bloodstream that indicate susceptibility to a particular disease), and functional measures (exercise tests such as sit-and-reach and sit-up tests). This result indicates that for these particular health outcomes, dance is more effective than other types of exercise. For the other tested health outcomes, dance had a comparable effect to other types of exercise, as both improved values by a similar amount.
The work done by the researchers is interesting because it can be used to increase dance’s prevalence as an effective form of exercise. The authors mentioned that the findings of the study may be helpful for doctors who are looking to recommend types of exercise to people with health risks or to those who want to maximize their gains from exercise. In particular, dance can be useful for patients who are looking to reduce fat mass, lower triglyceride levels, and improve cardiovascular health and body functionality. Additionally, dance is a very accessible type of exercise, as it is something anyone can try because of its various styles and difficulties.
On the other side of the spectrum, dance is so effective at burning calories that professional dancers have been shown to have an energy deficit because of their intense schedules. In a study performed by researchers at Northumbria University and led by Meghan A. Brown, they tracked the energy obtained from food and the energy expended each day for a group of pre-professional dancers. They found that on average, the dancers had a negative energy balance as they were expending more energy than they were obtaining from their normal diet. However, the dancers still had overall healthy body compositions, likely because they were able to compensate for their energy deficiency in the off-season when they weren’t practicing as intensely. Still, the researchers expressed their concern for dancers with intense schedules since a negative energy balance can result in health risks.
But for dancers of all levels, it is important to be aware of how to balance exercise and healthy eating to maximize the positive benefits dance can offer.
The takeaway from these two studies is that dance can be an extremely effective exercise as it is associated with positive health effects and burns calories very efficiently. But for dancers of all levels, it is important to be aware of how to balance exercise and healthy eating to maximize the positive benefits dance can offer.
While it seems obvious that dance is an effective form of exercise, this still doesn’t answer the question if dance is a sport or not. It meets all the criteria; it can be competitive and requires athleticism. However, as a dancer myself, I hesitate to label dance as a sport. For me, dance is about self-expression through an art form, which makes it unique compared to conventional sports. As an incredibly effective form of exercise and a way for individuals of all backgrounds to creatively express themselves, I believe that dance is worthy of its own category.
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