Help end this war between my daughter and boys

Guys/Gals….other Dance Dads (we’re a unique group). I could really use some help for my daughters. The Great Debate in High School is “Are Dance Compititions a SPORT???”. Normally, I keep clear of the so called debates my daughters get engaged in and let them fight their own little wars. Until today. Some little punk text my cell phone by accident with a number of very inappropriate comments. So, I want to arm her and her teamates with a little extra ammo. Knowing sportsmen/women are the most creative gift to mankind, please contribute some reasons why Competitive Dancing is a Sport

I should clarify this. Its is not the one little boy that has triggered this. This is a bigger thing going on with many people at school. It was just the little jerk that got me involved. Otherwise, its just the typical high school petty stuff

According to an American Heritage Dictionary definition, “sport” is: “An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.” Using this definition, competitive dance is, indeed, a sport.

You need to find the kid who sent you the text. Have him go out and try to dance with the girls and see how hard it is or how good he is NOT. Then tell him where the Bear Goes.

‘Inappropriate comment” to my daughter? I’d text the punk back and tell him you will be at his house tonight to discuss the issue with him and his parents.

Let him sweat that out for the rest of the day.

As far as the question…….. no clue.

Dancers do indeed work hard. I put it is not a sport due to the fact that competitions are based soley and arbitrary measurements from judges. For this reason I do not feel dance, figure skating, gymnastics are true sports, even though they all take considerable skills, both physical and mental, to do them well.

Now give me a way to measure success (ie a goalline ) and we have a sport.

I do have to agree that if my daughter got a text similar to the one you describe would get a visit from me at their dinner table that evening. A quick chat with his parents, and possibly the police if has any sexual conotations, and the issue should resolve itself

Was Kooty the “punk”? I’ve heard an occasional inappropriate comment from him

Haha, what happens up north, never seems to stay up north. Now we got videos being published. I need to find some new friends.

Randy, as a father of 3 daughters, I can only guess how this would make a father feel. I hope I learn some patience before I have to start dealing with this stuff. I’ve already been practicing my Will Smith/Martin Lawrence(Bad Boys) impersonation for their 1st dates.

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I put it is not a sport due to the fact that competitions are based soley and arbitrary measurements from judges. For this reason I do not feel dance, figure skating, gymnastics are true sports, even though they all take considerable skills, both physical and mental, to do them well.
Now give me a way to measure success (ie a goalline ) and we have a sport.

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Hmmm. That would possibly mean football isnt a sport either? They just run around doing coreographed moves & end up getting tackled looking for a measurement from judges.

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‘Inappropriate comment” to my daughter? I’d text the punk back and tell him you will be at his house tonight to discuss the issue with him and his parents.

Let him sweat that out for the rest of the day.

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No need to worry about that one. I’ve already had a discussion with his mother….and she’s a Dance mom of two girls currently in High School.

For some reason, I can’t vote.

I wonder if I’m in the penalty box for posting the Chili/Farve spooning picture yesterday.

Kinda curious as to what was inappropriate?

If he was just mocking the dance line in might just be in bad taste or if he was using vulgar language or being threatening?

Al

It is a competition, there is a winner and a loser, it takes skill and talent, there is considerable practice and exercise to excel, it is absolutely a sport. I dont have a daughter in dance, so I am not biased. As for the competition being subjective to judging, so are many olympic sports such as skating,and gymnastics. How can you say it is not a sport?

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Randy, as a father of 3 daughters, I can only guess how this would make a father feel. I hope I learn some patience before I have to start dealing with this stuff. I’ve already been practicing my Will Smith/Martin Lawrence(Bad Boys) impersonation for their 1st dates.

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That in itself is another topic for a day when I am more at ease talking about finding out if your really willing to shoot an intruder. I found out how I would respond and it scared the hell out of me. Scary to know my FIRST reaction was to load a rifle….. Thank God no one died or got hurt (other than my heart). Anyways, more than what I want to talk about on here.

No doubt, dancing takes practice, uniforms, more practice, travelling to competitions….(wait a minute… competition ?) = SPORT. Kinda like the age old question, is NASCAR a sport ??? I say yes, they have coaches, teams (includes driver and pitcrew) so yeah, they are sports. I always looked at it this way, Baseball uses bat and balls, NASCAR uses a Car…..

big G

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Kinda curious as to what was inappropriate?

Al

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Language and demeaning to some of the girls

My daughter has been in Color Guard which some might not be considered a sport & also Cheerleading again not considered as a sport by some.I also have heard of the derogatory statements that can come from others. Most comments generally coming from other school mates who are not involved in anything.Which makes them? People who are busy trying to find faults or throw shots at others usually need to take a good look at themselves!Trying to cover up who they really might be.The kid is probably just a south end of a horse heading north who needs a bit of redirection.A follow up with his-her parents & generally ignoring any possible further statements from others can usually resolve itself.Tell her to try not to let it bother her & not show any emotion to what is said & the problem will generally go away. To me when there is physical involvement & its competitive it is a sport.Best of luck!

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According to an American Heritage Dictionary definition, “sport” is: “An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.” Using this definition, competitive dance is, indeed, a sport.

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By this Definition so is Chess

Don’t strain yourself, removing the Queen….

Exertion is a concept describing the use of physical or perceived energy. It normally connotates a strenuous or costly effort related to physical, muscular, philosophical actions and work

big G

I don’t think it is my place to argue if it is a sport or not, but if you have ever watched them work out (no I’m not a perve)? Their practices are just as tough as any “sport” out there. And have you ever noticed the bruises, sprains, broken fingers, hyper extended joints, floor burns, etc.. And not everybody makes the team, emotional let downs, winning and losing in competition. Everything are reqular sport has.

Jeff – good point. I have worked the practice room prior to compt time. I’ve watched kids get kicked in the head, arms, legs during kick routines = busted nose, fingers, foot, anckles…My oldest has broken a few bones in her foot. To say they don’t get physical and bust heads is a joke. Some of these kids are almost as die hard to their routines as I am to the out doors

I have two daughters in competitive dance and I don’t call it a sport. I don’t think that’s an insult to the kids. I know they work hard at it and it takes great skill, coordination, and teamwork.

It’s dance, not a sport!

Eric

My daughter is not in competitive dance but does competitive showchoir. Although it is not listed as a sport at her school the time that they put in practicing, the rivalries with other schools, and the size of the competitions that they go to makes a parent wonder.

My daughter was in Dance 1995-2000. I at first thoiought it was goofy and just a activity to appease the girls.

At least I only thought that until I watched the practices and help with other things in competition praparations and then watching 4-years of High School High Kick Dance Competitions.

They work awfully hard and train train train. How else could my little 105# skinney little girl out eat me at 5-7, 190#?

They are very strong and I feared their kicks more than any guy with Karate training. Then to practice and do a show with a Dads & Daughters Dance. The most fun and us Dad’s all felt like wimps compared to our girls.

I would say any boy making stupid comments ought to be put in a room with a dancer and see if he can get out without a broken bones and doubled over never able to have children.

Go Girls, Dannce is a great Sport and I applaud all Dancers and there commitment and endurance.

I am a dance dad. My daughter, in 8th grade, made the high school Jr Varsity team. Between the high-kick and jazz… and 1 1/2 hrs every day training… AND competitions… it is sport. I pick up my daughter some days with her complaining about the 2-3 miles they ran AFTER practice. Stamina, strength, and skill… doesn’t come easy. Baseball is NOTHING compared to dance. Not sure about football.

My sister was on a Nationals winning dance squad. My brother and I were in pretty much every sport or activity between the two of us(with the exception of trsck) Our sports seasons were 10-12 weeks each breaks, then on to the next sport etc… My sisters group basically practiced, performed, or competed almost the entire school year. First off the dedication and the committment of these girls was unequalled. At one point for a Christmas performance the teamed up with some of the “jocks” to do a routine. It was a pretty cool routine, and in the end, the guys, football, basketball, and baseball players all admitted they had to work just as hard or harder than they did for their own sports. There was never an issue of the whole war thing you have going on. Have the girls challenge the boys to come practice with them, to completely learn a full routine, and then perform in front of an audience. It is a complete different experience when you are dealing with another team, focused on beating them, fairly oblivious to the crowds, try having to focus on all the things that dancers have to do during a performance while being completely aware of that same crowd focusing on you. I will bet that those same boys will decline with their tail between their legs.

While I don’t doubt dance is a lot of work, comparing them to football might not be all that wise, send a team of dancers out to try and run the ball against the local football team isn’t going to be pretty, different types of endeavors I think, hard to compare.

fwiw sport? imho no, its dance, that’s not to mean any less strenuous in the least, just different.

Making comments on somebody’s kids is almost as bad as telling a 25 year old male he can’t drive…

Al

We’re back from compititions…(2) first place and (1) second place. Five more weekends to go

As a kid coming straight from high school, the least i can say is “us” high school guys had to agree with the chicks that it was a sport just so they’d quit whining about how much they work…. I guess to say the least it is competition but its not really a “sport” in my thoughts. the only reason i would agree with the dancers is because they’re the hotties….

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I’ve already been practicing my Will Smith/Martin Lawrence(Bad Boys) impersonation for their 1st dates.

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I love that movie, can’t wait to try out some of those lines Kooty if you want some real practice you can come over and play the drunk uncle convict.

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I am a dance dad. My daughter, in 8th grade, made the high school Jr Varsity team. Between the high-kick and jazz… and 1 1/2 hrs every day training… AND competitions… it is sport. I pick up my daughter some days with her complaining about the 2-3 miles they ran AFTER practice. Stamina, strength, and skill… doesn’t come easy. Baseball is NOTHING compared to dance. Not sure about football.

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Psssht?!?!

Baseball is nothing compared to dance? Shoot, only 2-3 miles after practice? Try running 10 miles after pitching a game. High school baseball was as much as we wanted it to be, but in college, we had workouts in the morning from 5am-8am, and then after class for a minimum of four hours, and were only allowed to play if our gpa was above 3.0-