Why do we feel the need to call dance a sport? To somehow justify it?
If anyone questions our wish to commit to a childhood steeped in dance training, with a dream of becoming professional, here are some thoughts we can bring to the table.
Roughly 90 or 100% of dancers who attend ‘company’ affiliated pre-professional dance schools will likely become professional dancers.
Roughly 10% of dancers at regular dance studios will likely become professional. Roughly 10% of all professional dancers have an Arts Degree.
Now let’s compare these statistics to sport. Which people have no problem investing in.
Youth ice hockey players have roughly less than a 0.11% chance to play in the National Hockey League
Roughly 0.6% high school baseball players will get drafted by a Major League Baseball team.
Roughly 0.04% high school basketball players will get drafted by a National Basketball Association team
Also, we have a habit of claiming that a dancers career is short, yet the average NHL player plays on average 4.5 years. The average NBA career, also 4.5 years.
The average professional dancer can perform for 25 years. As a career: teaching, coaching, mentoring; directing; choreographing til our chosen retirement age, we can continue for a lifetime.
I truly believe investing in any childhood Sport is worthy.
It is hugely valuable for children, regardless if they will go pro or not.
I just think could we be taking dance just as seriously.
Interesting ..what are your thoughts?
- STATS sourced from-
- hockeyanswered.com
- dunkorthree.com.
- hometeamsonline.co
- stickhandlingpro.com
- danceparent101.com
'Curioser and Curioser' {Alice} 