Many articles have debated whether dancers are athletes (spoiler alert: they are). However, they rarely explore the pay disparity between dancers and athletes, despite their similar abilities.
This article takes a closer look at these two forms of physical exercise, from their parallels to factors that contribute to the difference in financial support and demand. And with the introduction of Breaking in the 2024 Summer Olympics next month, we look at what this global platform can potentially bring to Breaking and the future of dance.
Checking all boxes by definition
We start this investigation by comparing dance with the core attributes of sports and exploring whether dance is a sport itself.
Are dancers athletes?
Yes! According to Oxford, an athlete is “a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise.” Other dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, Cambridge, and Wikipedia have similar wording, incorporating people who perform some form of physical exercise in organized events. By these definitions, dancers fit the bill.
Dance is a physical display of human strength, agility, endurance, and/or flexibility. Picture the last Bboy or Bgirl you watched. You may have marvelled at how effortlessly they can spin on their head or how they can balance upside down, on one hand, for seemingly minutes. That is power, momentum, balance, and control. The degree of physical intensity varies depending on the genre of dance and style within those genres, but dance is physical exercise.
Now think of any sport, like basketball. A player can conserve energy by jogging up and down the court, increasing their intensity and speed as they get closer to the hoop, occasionally resulting in a superhuman leap toward the basket and scoring with a ferocious slam dunk.
By this comparison, dancers are undoubtedly athletes. 2021’s Red Bull BC One Champion, Sasha Fox, adds:
“[Dance is] just a subcategory of athleticism like running or rock climbing. We do the same thing that athletes do. We prepare the same way with Breaking and competition battles.”
To see other benefits of dance beyond exercise, check out the article, “Benefits Your Child Experiences in the Right Dance Environment.”
Is dance a competition?
Yes, but not always. While competition is a major component to a style like Breaking (called Battling), all dance genres prioritize artistry over winning and losing.
Quick history lesson: The earliest forms of dance date back to 8,000 BC (via cave paintings in India). Since then, dance has been mainly used for physical expression or social activity. It wasn’t until 1892 in New York City did we saw one of the first cakewalk competitions, and the first advertised international dance competition was a Tango tournament in Nice, France, in 1907.
Fast forward to 2024 with the internet and social media. Dance competitions can be found in almost all dance genres. Shows like “So You Think You Can Dance” have been able to highlight the athleticism and technical skill that defines dancers as athletes, while storytelling with artistry in a competition format. International competitions like “Red Bull BC One” and the “World Hip Hop Championships” showcase some of the best individual and group dancers in Street Dance and Hip Hop across the globe.
But despite this focus on competition in dance, it is not necessary. Dance is first and foremost an art form and there is much debate about the criteria by which we judge winners and losers. Comparing different pieces of performing arts is like comparing apples to oranges.
So, is dance a sport?
Arguably, yes. Dance fulfills many of the requirements placed in sports. Becoming a professional dancer requires many hours and intense commitment. It's the same as for any athlete. Hard work and consistency can be found in both. Even injury threatens the careers of both dancers and athletes.
Despite these similarities, it only recently began to gain Olympic-level recognition as a sport, with the introduction of Breaking in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics (more on that later).
The disparity between dancers and sports athletes
So why do pro sports athletes get tens of millions of dollars a year, while pro dancers are seen as "starving artists"? A deeper look reveals several factors that go beyond the athletic feats of dance.
Demand and popularity lead to more revenue
Historically, sports have a broad appeal and draw large audiences. This leads to a higher demand for athletes compared to dancers. Many appreciate the artistry in dance, but far more value the competition in sports.
This demand generates lots of revenue from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, merchandise, and endorsements. It leads to higher salaries for athletes in these sports.
Sponsorship and media exposure
Sports benefit from lucrative sponsorships with major corporations. This provides extra income for athletes. Unlike dance, they lack this financial support. Dancers have fewer sponsorships and rely more on grants or public funding.
Also, the performance sectors have limited budgets. So, dancers typically work as freelancers. They often prepare and perform for many gigs in short periods.
Finally, sports get lots of media coverage. This happens through TV, radio, and online platforms. It makes sports popular and marketable. Dancers may get some media exposure, but it’s not enough to attract sponsors or negotiate higher salaries.
The perception from society
Many people view sports as essential cultural activities. This has placed more value and recognition from society than the dance. This perception adds another hurdle for dancers and the pay gap.
The Olympic Hope
For the first time in its 128-year tradition, the Olympics will introduce dance as a sport with Breaking in Paris this summer. And while the success and staying power of this event is yet to be seen, the curiousity and exposure will definitely peak as the best Bboys and BGirls showcase a level of athleticism, gymnastics, and human potential never before seen on this global platform.
If you were around for the 1992 Summer Olympics, it was the first time Team U.S.A. could use NBA players. The team was made up of all Hall of Famers, led by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. This team changed the entire landscape of basketball, with some of the greatest international players today citing that Olympic team as their spark of inspiration to take the game seriously.
Like the 1992 Summer Olympics, the exposure and showcase of Breaking could boost support and popularity. This could be the push dance needs to start seeing the societal value, funding, and support sports currently receive.
“I hope to see Breakers being supported. There is a stigma going around that people don't understand Breaking, mainly from people on the outside of dance. So with Breaking being in the Olympics, I think it's going to prove how hard, physically demanding, and impressive it is. With that, I hope to see more dancers getting supported financially as a result of the exposure from the Olympics,” says PULSE’s very own, Bboy Frescy.
To read more about his story, check out “Frescy’s Breaking Journey to Self-Discovery.”
Sasha Fox and PULSE performing at Major Jyoti Gondek’s Celebration of Women and Girls in Sport
In closing, dance exists in duality, both in art and in sport, making dancers both artists and athletes. While the physical capabilities are comparable, dance leans more into artistry and expression of movement, while sports’ win-or-lose format draws more crowds and more money.
Despite the similarities, the pay gap between professional dancers and sports athletes is far apart. This is due to non-athletic factors, such as societal demand, sponsorships, and media coverage. Thankfully, the introduction of Breaking in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics carries a hope to bring more exposure and demand to dance and can change the financial fortunes of the industry as a whole.
For Canada, Phillip Kim aka 'Bboy Phil Wizard' will become our lone representative at this upcoming Olympic Games. Based in Vancouver, BC, Phil won a slew of competitions to become the first-ever Canadian Breaking athlete, including the 2019 Undisputed V Masters in Morrocco, Canada's first World DanceSport Federation Championships in 2022, and the gold medal in the Pan American Games in Santiago last year. Phil founded "The Wizards Crew," where fellow Bboy and PULSE MVP, Josiah Go is also a member. Let's root for Phil on August 9th and 10th, where the entire world will be watching - not just him, but the success of the Breaking event as a whole.
Get the physical exercise your body needs by taking one of our high-energy, super fun classes at PULSE!
