Last week on "Hey Dancer," I explored why dance might be considered a sport. This week, I'm turning the tables with Part II of my deep dive: "Why Dance Is Not a Sport."

I dive into the essence of dance beyond competition, highlighting its ancient origins, the subjectivity of competitions, and its core in artistic expression. Discover why trophies don't define dance, how it differs fundamentally from traditional sports, and why its value lies in the emotions and stories it conveys!

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Studies Cited (In Order of Appearance)

1. UNESCO: "Prehistoric Dance Evidence," 2005 – Notes cave drawings from 3300 BC showing dancers, highlighting dance's ancient, non-competitive roots.
2. Dance Data Project: "U.S. Dance Landscape," 2022 – Reports 15% of U.S. dance is competitive, 85% is not.
3. NCAA: "Sports Sponsorship and Participation Research," 2015 – Finds in areas with less pro basketball exposure, high school-to-college basketball participation drops 40% over years.
4. British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM): "Dancer Endurance Study," 2018 – Shows dancers match marathon runners' stamina.
5. New Yorker: Atul Gawande, "Surgeons as Athletes," 2011 – Compares surgeons' endurance and skill to athletes.
6. Stuntmen's Association: "Stunt Training Report," 2020 – Reports some stunt doubles out-train Olympians.
7. Journal of Sports Science (JSS): "Gymnast Training Goals," 2020 – Finds 90% of gymnasts train for competition by age 10.
8. Dance Educators of America (DEA): "Global Dance Student Survey," 2023 – Shows most kids worldwide start dance for fun/expression, not trophies.