Friday, February 18, 2011
DanceSport
My presentation on American DanceSport really got me thinking about the stereotypes that go along with dance. And even more so after some of the conversations we had this week. I found it extremely interesting to learn that DanceSport Professionals are not what the average person would think of a ballroom dancer. Most people think of ballroom dancers as professionals, glamorous, wealthy and smart. However, that is really just the Amateurs, people who do DanceSport as a hobby. Are there any other sports like this? Or anything in general? I was trying to think of some but was unable to, any ideas?
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I think any sport that has an 'amateur' status will create this concept. For example, minor league baseball players give the illusion of wealthy and athletic because they are able make playing baseball a professional living. But like ballroom dancers, most of them have a second job and are just making enough money to get by in order to continue their pursuit of a career in baseball. Most minor league players stay at amateur status their entire lives and never get moved into the major leagues. The unfortunate part of ballroom dancing, is there is no major league for it. The closest the dance culture has to 'major leagues' is a show like Dancing with the Stars, where dancers are given the money and glamour that most people see them as.
ReplyDeleteBeing a former figure skater, I can see some comparisions. I started "late", so was competing in smaller groups at "open" levels because of my age when I was landing double rotation jumps. Skating is all about the performance, and skaters receive both presentation scores and scores based on the execution of the various moves. Musicality and costumes are emphasized. Many males are accused of being gay because figure skating is viewed as a feminine sport. However male skaters need to be extremely strong and powerful to perform the moves, especially now that they are landing quadruple rotation jumps and triple-triple combinations. And skating is expensive and the winners of national competitions do not receive a lot of money. Some people do skate recreationally, but unlike DanceSport, people associate skating with those competing professionally at national and world competitions.
ReplyDeleteGood points - I think it is very hard to make a decent living as a ballroom dancer, since very few will have the opportunity to do something like DWS. Figure skating is similar in many ways, also in terms of associated stereotypes, but there are more options for going pro.
ReplyDeleteWho thinks that DanceSport will finally appear in the Olympics?
Can anyone think of other ways ballroom dancers could advance their profession/sport?