Athletes and Dancers: Are they really so different?

We've all heard people say that dance isn't a sport, but why? Many studies have been done to test the similarities  between traditional athletes and dancers. One study took dancers and athletes and ran them through a series of different competitions, including hurdles, the long-jump, and sprints. Three out of four times the dancers won the competition. Another studied the physiological similarities of the two groups. The results showed that dance is "similar to sports such as soccer and tennis, in which explosive bursts of exercise are followed by moments requiring precision and skill”. 

In addition to these similarities, both can benefit from the other's principles. Lynn Swann of the NFL took dance classes for years and found it helpful to his coordination, balance, and agility. We also see many football players on shows like "Dancing with the Stars". Dancers can also benefit from sports training, like aerobics and weight-lifting.

With all of this in mind, what really makes dancers so different from athletes? Not only are we athletic, we are also artistic. it takes a lot to have a good balance of both thus making dance "the most beautiful sport in the world".