Is Dancing Samba a Sport?

​By: T. Giannella

Every year, people take a break from their daily lives to celebrate Carnaval in Brazil. Though some might think the Carnaval is just about dance and samba, it's not; it is a mix of culture, art, and tradition. Samba also has a common misconception that it doesn’t require physical effort. However, samba dancers share many similarities with athletes, such as needing stamina, strength, and endurance. They train for months to perform perfectly, just like athletes.
Have you ever watched your favourite athlete win a game or a championship and celebrate? Well, if so, you must know that Carnaval is also a celebration. In Carnaval, we celebrate the pleasures people will give up during Lent. Samba dancers have quick and agile footwork, just like in football, you need to have agility and strength in order to score. They also need body control in order to stay synchronised with one another. Similar to figure skating, where having synchronised movements is key.
Samba is not only a dance but also a competition. Samba schools compete and give it their all during Carnaval. Most spectators only see the fun and exciting part, but behind all that samba dancers and schools go through harsh and tiring training. Dancers train all year round just for Carnaval, and it is way more competitive than it seems.
In the Winter Olympics 2026, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history by winning Brazil’s first medal in the Winter Olympics. Lucas wrote “vamos dançar” on the back of his helmet, which is another example of sports and celebration coming together. Now it has become a tradition, after every championship won, Lucas shows his charm by dancing to Brazilian songs. Lucas doesn’t believe in sports being serious all the time; he even said, “Let's just keep dancing and let's put on a show”.