DanceSport’s definition
Dancesport is commonly used for ballroom competition level dancing. In addition, the word “DanceSport” was created to help validate ballroom dancing as a real sport in hopes that the Olympic Board would one day adopt Dancesport into the World Olympics.
The term Dancesport applies to mainly these categories: International Standard, Latin American, American Smooth and American Rhythm. Some people use Dancesport when referring to just the International Standard and the Latin American styles of dance which have one syllabus for the entire globe.
Recently, however, the International Dance Organization had these dances included in their Dancesport Rule Section: Jazz Dance, Tap Dance, Acrobatics / Gymnastics, Ballet, Character / Folk / Ethnic, Modern, Belly Dance, FLAMENCO, Street Dance / Pop Disciplines, Break Dance, Electric Boogie, Hip-Hop / Funk, Disco Dance Traditional (DANCE Floor, Disco Dance Free Style (DANCE Floor FREESTYLE, TECHNO, Argentine Tango (Tango, Milonga, Tango Vals and Tango Fantasia), Mambo, Street Mambo, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Caribbean Dances, Jitterbug-SHOW, Bugg, Double Bugg, Mixing Blues ,Couple Dance Formation, Salsa Rueda de Casino Teams and formations, Street Latino. The IDO had more listed but you get the picture.
It seems as though the term, “Dancesport” is being used for all dance competitions that requires training a athletic ability. This concludes that the term Dancesport is starting to be referenced for a wide variety of dances and it will continue to evolve as time goes on.
DanceSport Events mainly focuses on International Standard and Latin as well as the American styles called Rhythm and American Smooth. Both International and American styles are closely related and have both of these styles at most competition in the US. That said, when competing outside of the US, you mostly will see categories in International Standard and Latin American exclusively.
The Masters Bercy Latin Ballroom Dancesport Championship 2007 validates that you need to be great shape to compete in these sporting events. We can only hope that one day Dancesport will be a recognized sport in the next Olympics.
Dancesport is the same as a ballroom competition
