Eyes across the nation were naturally pulled into the University of Minnesota dance team’s impressive and passionate performance of “Dream On” at this year’s Universal Dance Association (UDA) college nationals. Not soon after, the routine began to quickly gain traction on social media, even capturing the attention of rock band Aerosmith itself. 

While competitive dancing is still not considered a sport by the NCAA, the virality of the two-minute routine brought to light exactly how much time and effort these athletes invest — reopening the debate on whether collegiate dance should be considered an NCAA sport.

The University’s dance team holds a legacy as one of the most successful teams in the country as well as one of the most decorated, claiming 22 national titles for both jazz and pom. 

With such a respected reputation, you would think these dancers are acknowledged by the University and given the proper support to continue this winning streak, but you would be wrong. 

Because competitive dance does not fall under the guidelines of what the NCAA or the University deems to be a sport, dancers do not receive the same benefits as other collegiate athletes, according to Matthew Greco, a University dance team dancer.

“I’m an athlete, but I don’t get access to the athlete dining hall, massages with athletic trainers, a facility that’s set for me,” Greco said. “I don’t get access to a scholarship.” 

According to Greco, the dance team’s rehearsal settings and available practice times are not consistent, switching between five to six different facilities — going off a schedule created in conjunction with the facilities management. 

According to head coach Amanda Gaines, the team also receives minimal funding from the University, leading them to fundraise for competitive efforts that make up for the expenses of traveling and competing. 

The NCAA defines a sport as “an institutionalized activity involving physical exertion with the primary purpose being competition versus other teams or individuals within a collegiate competition structure.” 

According to this definition, competitive dance is a sport. Then why is it still up for debate? 

“If I’m on a college dance team, or even a high school dance team, and I’m competing against other teams, I am being judged by a set of qualified judges and having scores given out,” Gaines said. “That is a sport.”

Some argue that dance is more of an art than a sport and dancers are primarily artists rather than athletes. Why can they not be both?

“Yes, dance does have artistry involved in it, the same way that gymnastics also has artistry or synchronized swimming,” Gaines said. “Those are still considered a sport.”

Competitive dance complies with all the terms of a collegiate competition structure except attending a minimum of five competitions per year. This, however, can be attributed to the lack of funding given to dance teams. Because of this, the dance team can only afford state and national attendance every year. 

Nonetheless, even though dance technically matches the definition of what a sport is, the NCAA as well as the Office for Civil Rights view dance primarily as a support to other sports, blocking its recognition and benefits to the dancers. 

Dance has always fallen under the spirit squad umbrella in which boosting morale for fans and players alike has always been the goal. Ever since competitive dancing began to pick up in the 70s, dance teams have had two separate lives: one on the field and one on the floor. 

“People see us on the sidelines at games,” Gaines said. “General Gopher fans aren’t always aware of what we actually do for competition. They may be like, ‘Oh, they won nationals,’ but they don’t necessarily have visibility to what our routines looked like or what that training looked like to get to that point.”

One of the biggest implications of dance becoming an NCAA-sanctioned sport is Title IX regulations. 

Title IX protects people in the United States from “discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.”

Due to this, universities must comply by treating men’s and women’s sports teams with equity in terms of providing equipment, practice times, game scheduling, medical and training facilities, housing and dining, and facilities for practice and competition. 

There also needs to be an even proportion of men’s and women’s teams and players in co-ed sports. 

Because the dance team is a co-ed sport, there would need to be an increase in male dancers to meet these regulations, which should not be difficult. Men are not completely scarce in dance, but achieving an equal number of men and women dancers may take some time as more women audition. 

As of today, dance and cheer are not under Title IX protection, leaving them without proper support for possible injuries, mental illness or even harassment. 

Whether or not dance eventually captures the NCAA’s heart in the future, the University should not overlook them in the present. 

These dancers proudly perform with the Minnesota “M” on their chests, pulling in eyes from the multiple corners of not just the state, but the nation as well. The lack of benefits and opportunities by the University is unfair and the recognition for their hard work is long overdue. 

“I mean we are back-to-back pom national champions now, took home a double last year. So I mean, we’re thriving, and we make the most of what we have,” Greco said. “It would be nice to see that kind of shift and get appreciated and get the things that other sports do have access to.” 

Dance may function differently from other sports, but that should not stand in the way of equal opportunities.