"Ice dancing is kind of like the bastard cousin of figure skating and
ribbon dancing - it's done on ice, there aren't any big jumps - the
choreography and performance are the most important aspects.
The
corollary to professional wrestling is easy to see. Pro wrestling is
the bastard cousin of amateur wrestling and performance art wherein
jacked-up men and women in tiny, often spangled pants athletically
play-fight for the entertainment of millions.
The main
theoretical difference between pro wrestling and ice dancing is the
presence of a regulatory body and an official judging committee that
legitimizes ice dancing.
It's a sport because someone judges it
and decides there is a legitimate winner. The same thing happens in pro
wrestling, it's just that the judge picks the winner before and rewards
the best performer with future success afterward.
Sporting Legitimacy A Class Issue
A writer tries to figure out why ice dancing is respected as an Olympic sport, yet pro wrestling is ridiculed. The only meaningful difference is the social class of the fans.
