Creepily Impressive but too Young?

Contributor: sarahbear sarahbear
My daughter is 3 1/2 and has been dancing since she could toddle around. If there was a beat, she was bouncing her bottom. No one showed her how to swivel her hips or gyrate, but she figured out how to do it and she does it to a lot of different types of music.

As a former dancer/performer I can say that those types of dancing and outfits are common. They're worn by figure skaters, dancers, cheerleaders, in the olympics, ballet and gymnastics programs. The outfits are nothing different than you would find girls those age wearing to a beach or pool. The midriffs could have been covered by that sheer, nude material that some outfits have, but it wouldn't have made much of a difference as far as the illusion goes. There are certain outfits that are worn for certain types of dancing, to show off clean lines and dance moves and to allow for ease of movement. While the combination of those outfits and the dance movements was a bit grown up for 8 and 9 year old girls, I really think people are over-reacting. Our society shames anything sexual, especially when it comes to children (coming up with nicknames for body parts, giving vague or made up explanations when kids ask about sex or where babies come from, freaking out about kids masturbating...). Our society also, for some reason, has begun living in fear of the pedophile lurking around every corner.

I wish I had a local dance studio with someone with as much talent as those girls choreographer obviously has. I would put my daughter in that program as soon as she was old enough to join. I watched that video and was in awe at the pure talent all of those girls have. They were amazing! I felt that the dance moves that had the potential to be considered vulgar were quickly transitioned into beautiful ballet moves.
05/17/2010
Contributor: J's Alley J's Alley
Quote:
Originally posted by sarahbear
My daughter is 3 1/2 and has been dancing since she could toddle around. If there was a beat, she was bouncing her bottom. No one showed her how to swivel her hips or gyrate, but she figured out how to do it and she does it to a lot of different ... more
Let me know when you get one Sarah. I would love to get my daughter in to a great dance school. I have one that does gymnastics, and your right she wears either a leo or shorts and a sports bra. And in cheer, they have worn some f*&*ed up outfits locally. But it's a sport. That's it, a sport.
05/17/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Quote:
Originally posted by Angel deSanguine
I saw this Friday and my first thought was 'seriously?!' I'm no prude by any stretch of the imagination but I do think that parading your kids- boys or girls- and having them dance so suggestively in front of what is obviously a large ... more
I second this. I don't feel it is age appropriate.

They ARE mimicking moves that ARE meant to be sexual in the video with Beyonce.

So whether or not the kids think so doesn't matter. And its not the kid's faults either. They didn't choreograph this routine.

Why if there are people saying this is okay and let them dance etc., has no one voted "I find nothing wrong with this?"
05/17/2010
Contributor: kck kck
The first thing I thought of when I saw the video was the routine from Little Miss Sunshine. Y'know, the one that the Grandpa taught Olive? That dreadful strip tease routine complete with tiger scratching motions? What makes that movie scene so hilarious is that it is obviously SO WRONG. We laugh at that scene because it's so outrageous.

And yet, here we are, on a thread about something similar--only real.

Shame on those adults who taught them that piece. And shame on their parents for not standing up for their little girls!
05/17/2010
Contributor: J's Alley J's Alley
Quote:
Originally posted by kck
The first thing I thought of when I saw the video was the routine from Little Miss Sunshine. Y'know, the one that the Grandpa taught Olive? That dreadful strip tease routine complete with tiger scratching motions? What makes that movie scene so ... more
Actually, if you look it up on google and watch the news releases you would realize parents DID pull their kids from the team when they saw the dance routine.

The only parts that bother me are the fact that they are 7 and someone taught that routine to 7 year olds...but as Rayne pointed out, for hip hop (that what it is) these moves are par for the course. I don't care for the costumes as they are similar to burlesque outfits and that isn't appropriate for kids. But my kids both learned to dance on their own and they taught themselves moves similar to these, so I just don't think it is our place to call people out on it. If you don't like it, then don't put your kids in. Period.

They aren't our kids and that is it. I saw a thread a while back on buying toys for teens, to me that is far worse than this. Especially since some people were ok with buying toys for other people's kids. How is that any different?

J and I have rules for our kids that include no competing in risque costumes, but not all parents do that, and it is ok.

I just wish they had a choreographer who could come up with an original routine and better costumes. But they don't and there is nothing we can do about it.
05/17/2010
Contributor: sarahbear sarahbear
Quote:
Originally posted by ~LaUr3n~
I second this. I don't feel it is age appropriate.

They ARE mimicking moves that ARE meant to be sexual in the video with Beyonce.

So whether or not the kids think so doesn't matter. And its not the kid's faults either. ... more
I can't speak for anyone else, but I answered other. I don't find anything wrong with the dance or the clothing, but I believe the reactions to it have the potential to be very damaging to those girls. The media uproar, the negative comments and all the controversy surrounding it may cause a lot of shaming of sexuality and their bodies for these girls. The dancing and costumes aren't going to affect the girls negatively.
05/17/2010
Contributor: Heather Heather
Quote:
Originally posted by J's Alley
I agree with Rayne. We have to consider who their idols are today. My daughter does this dancing on her own, so I would likely be "whatever" about it. I don't care for it, but they aren't hurting anyone, and to say that kids will ... more
I agree with you they won't become sluts for playing in their room in their own home. But when adults promote and reward this, there is bound to be a problem. It’s up to the adults to set the limits and boundaries.
05/17/2010
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by sarahbear
I can't speak for anyone else, but I answered other. I don't find anything wrong with the dance or the clothing, but I believe the reactions to it have the potential to be very damaging to those girls. The media uproar, the negative comments ... more
I agree with that.
05/17/2010
Contributor: KBToys24 KBToys24
I think it's inappropriate but not because of what they are doing to be honest. It's simply inappropriate in the context of our culture. Things that are sexual like the music video which reaches out through mass media being repeated in any fashion by children isn't something I want to put out there.

I've been a dancer most of my life and I'll admit that this kind of thing is very common place. Choreographers want to use pieces of material which an audience can identify with and get excited about. And I've seen girls in far less clothing than that for dance routines.

Nothing about the dance itself really bothered me. For their age group they displayed good talent. The dance will have absolutely no ill effect on them, it's only the responses they get to the situation that will have an effect. And to be quite honest, if parents don't parent this type of exposure CAN have bad side effects on growing girls. I've known plenty who translated the attention they got through these avenues into the only way to get attention is by showing off my body. And that's when it comes to the parents and choreographers to make sure they understand.
05/17/2010
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
Totally inappropriate, IMO. The costumes, the music, the moves.. the entire combination leaves me feeling ill. No doubt they worked hard and I don't doubt that most of these girls (who are 8-9) are having fun and don't realize the sexual nature of their act (but I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are already sexually active) but it is there and not just because I say it is. It's there and it's exactly what pedophiles are looking for and that scares me. Really, a few tweaks and this would have been a great performance.

furthermore, I do believe this is apart of a nationally known dance competition (I saw a news article/blog post about this and it had more info) Yea, that's the sort of thing that's going to wind up on the internet. Yea, it's the sort of thing pervs are going to be attracted to. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Can't little girls just be little girls anymore?
05/17/2010
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
I have to admit I am conflicted about this video. When I watched it I saw nothing wrong with the costumes or the moves. They were carefully crafted to showcase the girl's talents without making them over sexualized...and the message is "If you like it then do the right thing and marry it". Most people would agree with this sentiment (not me personally but that another topic). The moves are ones I did at their age in recitals and our music choices were just as risque.

These are very talented young ladies, they obviously worked very hard and perhaps the dance was a bit edgy but I've actually done worse. It wasn't completely sexualized and there was no sexual simulations like I have seen with other recitals even in our small town where a boy and girl are dancing. To me these were just talented little girls who were properly covered...but then I do understand the concerns of other adults. I would be heartsick for people to look at my daughter's lovely bodies and not see them as works of art but as sexual gratification.

That;s why I'm conflicted, to be naieve to assume no one will see your baby as anything other than what you see her as is dangerous and stupid. This was a beautifully executed routine with a high degree of difficulty, it was also a dance that would have been better suited to an older group.

I'm on the fence big time here...
05/18/2010
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by J's Alley
As a dancer I am 100% impressed by these girls. These girls have some serious talent, those moves are hard as hell. I am really disappointed in the coaches. The routine was not only totally inappropriate for a 7 year old (as was the clothing...it ... more
My thoughts as well. These young ladies are too talented to be used in this fashion. Still I actually DID burlesque when I was in grade school. My mother helped me craft a dance routine that showcased my talents without it being overly sexual and I was in a full body black uni-tard. (Was a fan dance and the highlight of my dance years!) The unitard was her only requirement and the "recital" was not public it was a showcase as we explored all the areas of dance. So again I'm still conflicted....
05/18/2010
Contributor: xsapphirexangelx xsapphirexangelx
i see that the girls are having plenty of fun,which is good, but i also find the performance inappropriate and with the coach at fault. the costumes were burlesque styled and way too skimpy. The routines was repetitive and clearly not best for theses girls skill level. and i think the chest thrusting was particularly inappropriate(although comical given their lack of chest). Their dance is defiantly over the line for me, although the girls themselves are amazing.
05/18/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Here is another article that I just saw on AOL news this morning.

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05/19/2010
Contributor: kck kck
Quote:
Originally posted by ~LaUr3n~
Here is another article that I just saw on AOL news this morning.

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Yeah, I saw that last night, too. It doesn't surprise me. Shame, shame, shame.

How could the parents have been clueless about this? It doesn't make sense. From buying the outfits to dress rehearsals, etc. The parents have to have been more involved; the nationals performance was *not* their first time seeing the routine--or something like it, as this new article shows.

I did dance for 6 years when I was younger and then cheer for 4 years. I am familiar with the whole rehearsal/competition process. No way these parents "didn't know." They were simply reacting to the controversy, trying to defend themselves. Too bad they didn't act that way and stand up for their daughters before those little girls ever walked on stage.
05/19/2010
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Awesome post on this on Eden Cafe today!
06/03/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
I found the song choice, the routine and the outfits to be inappropriate for children. All of it was too mature for 7 year old girls - but that's just my preference. I have a 12 year old daughter, she takes dance classes, Latin Ballroom at the moments actually, and has competed and performed. Never once have any of the kids in her class or the competing teams worn anything inappropriate or revealing...and this is Latin Ballroom! Often considered "sexy" dancing, right? But they do it tastefully - they work on the precision of moves, on synchronicity, on posture and they primarily choose traditional songs.

Sorry, but it's up to me to make sure that no one sexualizes my children. I feel like that's what this controversial 'Single Ladies' dance routine did to those kids. Sure, the girls had fun and got to wear makeup and grown up outfits - of course they were excited about that. Don't you remember how badly you wanted to grow up and do grown up things as a kid? It doesn't mean that the parents should have said "yes".

And the lyrics to that song are really awful, to me, and objectify the singer.

"Cause if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don't be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it"

Sorry, but that's not the kind of message I want my daughter hearing, nonetheless parroting on a stage.
06/03/2010
Contributor: CaitScott CaitScott
The dance moves are impressive, given their age, but yes, especially near the end, they were just a bit to saucy for their age too! They should really be using those kind of moves (the twirls and legs in the air stuff) in a more elegant dance routine. Great choreography though.
06/07/2010
Contributor: Ciao. Ciao.
Yeah when I saw this I was pretty much appalled. Yeah they're well practiced and pretty talented, but whoever was coaching them clearly gave no thought to the implications of having seriously underaged girls doing pretty explicitly sexual dance moves. I don't consider myself to be to prudish about most things...but this crossed my line.
06/08/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
Oh God. That's disgusting. It's the sexualization of children, pure and simple. It needs to stop, but it's only getting worse. And besides, they may be doing this for a competition, but anyone can show up to those things. It's gross.
06/23/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
Awesome post on this on Eden Cafe today!
I totally missed that! Thanks for the link!
06/24/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Quote:
Originally posted by Victoria
I found the song choice, the routine and the outfits to be inappropriate for children. All of it was too mature for 7 year old girls - but that's just my preference. I have a 12 year old daughter, she takes dance classes, Latin Ballroom at the ... more
I did dance for 14 years as well. A bunch of different types, and we some times wore small costumes but it was the song choice and dance moves that made it so that the costumes were not sexualized. So, I totally agree with you.

another good point about how badly we wanted to grow up faster when we were kids. It's often the acting older that gets kids in trouble. SERIOUS trouble.
06/24/2010
Contributor: usmcwife99 usmcwife99
Its not for me to say wether or not they should do that because thats up to there parents, and the law if it goes to far.

However I can say that my kids wont do it. Its sorta funny you post that because one of my sisters is just starting highschool and she got a little mad when I told her she needs to cover a little more skin up. Ime not a fan of some of the low cut shirts on teens or really any girl who wants to be respected by a guy and doesnt want him looking at her boobs its like use common sense people. Ime not saying girls have to wear a full lengh dress but dont have half your boobs hanging out and shorts that are so shorts so short its discusting. Oh and my other big one is bra straps showing or when you bend down you see a string of a thong or something. For teen girls ime sorry theres to many people out there that would......
06/25/2010
Contributor: fatesrelease fatesrelease
They are amazing dancers and very talented. Some parts of the dance were fine, like the pirouettes but the thrusting, gyrating, and grabbing of their non existent breasts was wrong in my opinion. It just seems like they were forced to grow up to fast and didn't have enough time to be a kid.
07/08/2010
Contributor: kck kck
Quote:
Originally posted by Victoria
I found the song choice, the routine and the outfits to be inappropriate for children. All of it was too mature for 7 year old girls - but that's just my preference. I have a 12 year old daughter, she takes dance classes, Latin Ballroom at the ... more
I agree 100%.

And I only wish I'd taken Latin Ballroom as a kid! How awesome!!
07/29/2010
Contributor: sexysweetieshan sexysweetieshan
This may be a little inappropriate for their age group. Mainly the outfits, is what gets me. BUT I think they are amazing dancers. I would love to be able to do something like that. So I'm kind of on the fence. I kind of find it wrong, but then again I don't. I don't know.
08/05/2010
Contributor: PassionQT PassionQT
They are great dancers, obviously coordinated enough to do those moves, but I think the costumes are more inappropriate than anything.
08/05/2010
Contributor: Midway through Midway through
The link wont work for me for some reason...
08/07/2010
Contributor: Evoluchun Evoluchun
I'm up in the air about it
08/08/2010
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Like Lauren, I took a lot of dance as a kid, starting at a young age. Jazz, tap.. and then switched to Latin. Some things were frilly, with a slit up the thigh but.. I was a teen by then.. There's way to show sass, without losing your class!
08/09/2010