There always seems to be a debate on where the world of athletics integrates with the world of performing arts. While activities such as football and baseball are considered sports by the vast majority, other activities including dance and marching band are often up for an argument. The question is: What do you consider a sport?
“To me, a sport is a physical activity,” sophomore Emma Blythe said. “If it’s physically engaging and it’s something that you can’t just pick up and do right away, then it’s a sport.”
Blythe, a member of the marching band, considers marching band a sport with exception.
“I don’t necessarily consider band a sport, but the marching aspect of it and then competition on top of that would make it a sport,” Blythe said.
Of students surveyed, 37 percent said they consider marching band a sport. Marching band director Brett Cox explained why he disagrees.
“I think sports should have some kind of conflict between two sides; the gray area is whenever there is some kind of physicality to it,” Cox said. “[Marching band is] not a sport in the way that it’s not head-to-head competition. There aren’t two opposing forces trying to battle one another; it’s more of a physical activity where you’re just trying to better yourself.”
Of surveyed students, 46 percent responded that dance should be considered a sport.
Sophomore Connor Lewis, a Dance I student, classifies dance as a sport.
“Dance is a sport; it takes a lot of dexterity,” Lewis said. “Sporting is usually very masculine, and people see dance as not masculine because it touches into [emotions and] feelings.”
Dance instructor Kristen Oakes agreed that sports require competition.
“Sport to me has the idea behind it that there’s a competition, and at the end of the day, there’s a winner and a loser,” Oakes said. “I definitely think that dancers are athletes, so athlete is the better way to say it.”
Approximately 57 percent of survey participants said they consider cheerleading a sport. Sophomore Kaelyn Oakes has been cheering since the seventh grade and discussed why some people would disagree.
“Some people don’t think cheerleading is a sport unless you’re competing against others,” Kaelyn said. “Some people argue that competitive cheerleading is [a sport], but high school cheerleading isn’t, but it’s exerting just as much energy, and you’re working just as hard. It’s just not competing.”
Junior cheerleader Rachel Shore disagreed.
“[I do not consider] high school cheerleading [a sport], but competition cheer, yes,” Shore said. “There’s not as much stunting or tumbling; it’s really just more cheering and dancing, so it’s not really a sport.”
There are many activities that bear the traits of what is defined as a sport, but does that make it a sport?
“It definitely depends on the person’s idea of a sport and the way that they perceive it,” Shore said. “I think that if there is any kind of trait of a sport, then it could be classified as a sport.”
P.E. teacher Jason Novak explained the bias between the worlds of sports and arts and what defines a sport.
“It depends on what definitions you look at,” Novak said. “If you look at some definitions, then band is for entertainment purposes, for halftime shows, to entertain the crowds, [and] to perform at the local Christmas parades for entertainment purposes, and same thing with dance. You could ask some of the athletes here and they would say, ‘No, band’s not a sport; we do this everyday.’ Band’s out there every day just as long as the other sports. I think it’s just up in the air.”
– By Rania Kazmi