If dance is your first love, you might think it’s the only sport you’ll ever enjoy. But the truth is, dancers already have so many athletic skills that transfer to other activities. Balance, flexibility, coordination, musicality, body awareness, endurance, and determination can give dancers a head start in all kinds of sports. Whether you’re looking for cross-training, a fun hobby during the off-season, or just want to challenge yourself in a new way, here are some sports that pair especially well with dance and why.
Figure Skating
If you’ve ever watched a figure skater and thought, “That kind of looks like dancing on ice,” you’re not wrong. Figure skating combines artistry with athleticism, just like dance. Dancers often pick up choreography quickly because they’re already used to performing with music and expressing emotion through movement. Skills like posture, balance, flexibility, and turns also transfer surprisingly well. And not to mention you already know how to do turns and leaps, so you wouldn’t be starting from scratch. Competition season can vary by level, but many recreational skaters are able to balance skating with dance classes throughout the year.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is one of the most common crossover sports for dancers and for good reason. Many of the flexibility and acrobatic skills used in dance, like back walkovers, aerials, and handsprings, come directly from gymnastics. Gymnastics can also help dancers develop stronger core muscles, better body control, explosive power, and confidence upside down. You can learn some fun new tricks for your next solo.
Cheerleading
Competitive cheer combines dance, stunts, tumbling, jumps, and performance all in one sport. Dancers often excel in cheer because they already have rhythm, flexibility, sharp motions, and performance quality. Cheer can also improve endurance, teamwork, and confidence while introducing exciting new skills like stunting and tumbling. Many school cheer seasons happen during the fall and winter, making it possible for some dancers to participate in both depending on their studio schedule.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is becoming increasingly popular, and it offers benefits dancers don’t always expect. Climbing develops grip strength, upper-body strength, core stability, flexibility, and problem-solving skills. It also requires focus, patience, and body awareness—all things dancers practice in the studio. Since climbing is usually done recreationally, it’s easy to fit around dance schedules.
Martial Arts
Sports like taekwondo, karate, or Brazilian jiu-jitsu may seem completely different from dance, but they have more in common than you might think. Both require discipline, balance, flexibility, precision, and body control. Martial arts can also improve confidence, coordination, and mental focus while teaching valuable self-defense skills. It can also just be a fun way to get stronger while using your flexibility.
Cross-training helps prevent overuse injuries by working your body in different ways, builds strength that transfers back into the studio, and gives you the opportunity to challenge yourself in a completely new environment. You may even discover new friendships, interests, and skills that make you a more well-rounded athlete.