That would depend on how you define and weight the general physical fitness skills each sport requires and at what levels. Then there's longevity to consider. That being said... The funniest thing I ever saw was a professional Latin dancer's bare legs; he didn't have any. I swear my calves were bigger than his thighs. So if I ever feel over-powered by sharing the floor with the pros I just pull that little image back up and smile. I do met-cons with weights that would pin them to the floor.
Thanks for that, Wolfgang. Don't want to start a nineteen-page tangent *hint hint* but this current conversation reminds me of the time a professional power lifter started lessons at the ballroom studio I attended at the time. Leaving aside, for a moment, the fact that all the women loved him and more than a few signed up for personal training. (Yep. Really legit personal training. Get your mind out of the gutter. :wink: :lol: ) The power lifter guy got winded easily compared to the more experienced/aerobically fit dancers, was super stiff, and had major problems with both frame and gentle/flexible leads. Every sport is different and may require a different skill set. Different skill sets != more or less athleticism, IMHO. And all righty then ... BOT, anyone?
well, it's one thing to run around a pitch looking like a gorgeous, sweaty brute, but quite another to run around a ballroom with an air of blissful non-disturbance. i think the nature of these two different kinds of athleticism is different, and elite ballroom athletes are no "less" than soccer players just because their excellence is of another type. IMHO...
Indeed. That's primarily what I disagree with. Soccer and dancing have very different types of athleticism, but when you get right down to it, professional athletes are well-trained in their field and no less "athletic" than any other professional. For the record, I want to see him try ballroom.
Frankly, I think the argument about which sport is more athletic is a silly one. What's the point? They all have different purposes.
Seriously. I mean, define "fitness." Even different STYLES of ballroom require different types of energy. Of course, the fittest people I know gallop racehorses (exercise them) for a living. *shrug* I don't get into contests with them about who has the harder sport. I've galloped on a track with an old slow horse where I know the brakes (if not the steering) work. I'd rather skate for two hours. A race-fit two-year-old could probably rip my arms off.
In the same vein from the same young man, "I bet I could beat you all in a dance-off!" Ah college, where the testosterone rages and the students try to slay their inner laziness.
My response *might* be "Go for it!" Then let him try. I suspect that *might* shut his rather large mouth. :lol:
TTIA. Anyway, maybe not so much silly as well-intended misconceptions: "That’s good exercise/keeps you in shape." I’m a nitpicker, but I personally differentiate between "physical activity" (ballroom, taking a walk) and "exercise" (Zumba or any other workout that leaves you drenched and exhausted and wondering if you’re actually capable of safely operating a motor vechicle afterwards). If I relied solely on dance to keep me fit, I would weigh a lot more than I do. Not so say I never sweat or get my heart rate up at dance (I do get asked where I get my energy - I like to get a little crazy sometimes), but it’s definitely not at the level of true cardio workouts. "Do you compete?" Not so much the question, but the look I get to my response of "No, we’re social dancers". As in, so you must not be very good, or what is the point of dancing then. They don’t usually come out and say it, but I can sense it. "I can’t dance/I have two left feet." Again, not so much the statement itself, but these are often the same folks who, ten minutes later, are saying to me, "Oh my gosh, you’ve never done [X]? You’ve *got* to try it!"
interesting how that all varies depending upon perspective...I teach fitness and I frequently find my lessons to be of equal or greater workout...I take several shirts to m lessons and almost cannot walk after the two hour drive home...granted, I take three hours of lessons at a time, but, I do find a good deal of it to be demanding...my sense of it is that most folks think dance will be far easier than it is...at least really good dancing and even though I do compete, I am never asked if I compete....I am always asked if I teach...
Outside of dance, people who don't dance ask me if I compete. At dance, new folks at parties often ask me if I'm an instructor... I am actually flattered they would ask, since it indicates that at least I've made some progress in the time I've been training.
yea...still different...outside of dance most people aren't even aware of competing in general, let alone asking with reference specific to me...at least, not IME...inside of dance, they all know I compete and don't teach...shrug...interesting to see how unique each experience is ....one thing they do all ask-- if they know I have competed-- is; "did you win?" which as always interesting to have to try to answer because I rarely dance less than 70 events...I have danced twice that....it isn't a yes or no answer
