I actually caught an episode with that brunette girl-what a diva!
I might have to watch this one-for the sheer cat-fighting of the two divas!
I find this attitude insulting. At DD's studio, no midriffs are allowed and little girls dance like little girls. No one "tarts up" thier child. You are sterotyping based on what you have seen. GOOD studios don't play into that kind of thing. Are there studios out there that go way too far? Of course there are, but not all competition dancers are like the 7 year old Single Ladies video that have gotten so much press. There is that element out there, but there are also those of us for whom it is not about looking trashy, but about dance as an art form. My DD has learned discipline, the value or hard work, good sportsmanship, and that she is NOT the center of the universe through her years of dance. Dance brought me out of my shell and contrbuted so many positive things to what was an otherwise very difficult adolescence. It was the one place I knew I could go and be accepted. Believe me, a GOOD dance program is so NOT aobut glitz, glamour, or looking trashy, but about teaching young women not only the art of dance, but how to be good people. We have several students with downs syndrome at our studio, and they are just as universally accepted as everyone else. It is NOT about looks for us.A diva is a diva, whether in a group or alone. There's no difference to me whether you are sparkling and tartin' your kid up in a group for a show, or as the single star of the show. It's still short skirts, bellies showing, glamour and glitz. None are better or worse than the other.
If the kid is having a good time, great. It's the ones who drag the kids around thru these things that are sad.
PS: I LOVE MacKenzie, and am glad she's not mine.
I don't see a whole lot of difference with this and with Competition Cheerleaders, Competition Dancers, Competition Gymnasts.
All full of divas, momma divas, money, glitz, and being in the limelight.
Perhaps you don't see a difference because you haven't seen it all
It is NOT true for every group or every studio, though it is true of some. You cannot tar and feather everyone with the brush you are using on a few. You are the one that put a negative connotation on the girls liking to dress up by saying they are "tarted up". We use our share or sequins, glitter, and rhinestones, and it is fun for the girls to get dressed up and perfrom. There is NOTHING wrong with that, but it is NOT the main focus, but a once in a while thing. It can absolutely be done without the trashy factor. THAT is what I find offensive. The idea that every dancer in a costume is trashy. It is NOT a universal truth just because some in your area choose to do that. Most of the time our girls are anything but glamorus. More like so sweaty they look like drowned rats becuase thery are working hard. There times a year they get dressed up in their costumes to perform are a well earned reward for months of hard work. Why can you not accept that ALL dance progrtams are not tart parades?? In vact, in my experience of 30 years in the dance world i would go so far as to say that most aren't. The ones that are, sadly, are the ones that get the press so folks like you, who don't know any different, assume that are all that way. THEY ARE NOT!
I don't think you have ot be somber and serious to not be dressing little girls like tarts in skimpy outfits, or to be teaching character right along with dance. You cna be lighthearted and have fun while still teaching and art from and encouraging gilrs to grow into ourstanding young women. And yes, you can even have a few rhinestones and some glitter thrown in for good measure. I thin kthis is a case of throwing outthe baby with the bathwater. I am sorry you have such a negative view of dance, but it really seems to be founded on pretty limited exposure to a few bad programs. Cheer programs work just as hard, sometimes harder. In order to be safe, those girls must be serious althelets who take the safety of thier teammates seriously. One person not putting everything in can lead to someone getinig badly hurt. The potential for ijury is huge, and believe me, the good programs take that liability serously or they are forced out of business becuase they are uninsurable.Oh, I'd hazard a guess that I haven't seen it all. Keeping in mind what I HAVE seen tho, my statement stands. I'm sure there are more somber, serious dance studios. I'm not sure about more somber, serious cheer studios tho.
The pageant girls aren't glamorous unless they are on the stage either. They also work and sweat for their moment in the sun. Many of them take dance lessons (if not all?) I don't care what you call it, if the kid is dressed up with makeup, shortie skirts, hair done, sparkles...the look pretty much the same. I don't knock anyone's hard work, but the pageant kids work hard too. They don't just throw the dress on and go.
Frankly, their outfits aren't anymore outrageous than many cheer, dance and gymnast outfits. Again, I'm sorry if this bothers you, but it's still the truth.
I honestly don't see why it's okay to dress kids up in sparkly outfits, makeup and hairdos and call them "dancers", "cheerleaders" or "gymnasts", yet the "pageant kids" outfits are deemed less reputable and less acceptable.
Either it's too much for ALL little girls or it's okay for ALL little girls.
David, is that you? 
We don't just dress them up and call them dancers. That statement alone tells me you are pretty much completyely ignorant of what goes into any of this.The pageant girls aren't glamorous unless they are on the stage either. They also work and sweat for their moment in the sun. Many of them take dance lessons (if not all?) I don't care what you call it, if the kid is dressed up with makeup, shortie skirts, hair done, sparkles...the look pretty much the same. I don't knock anyone's hard work, but the pageant kids work hard too. They don't just throw the dress on and go.
Frankly, their outfits aren't anymore outrageous than many cheer, dance and gymnast outfits. Again, I'm sorry if this bothers you, but it's still the truth.
I honestly don't see why it's okay to dress kids up in sparkly outfits, makeup and hairdos and call them "dancers", "cheerleaders" or "gymnasts", yet the "pageant kids" outfits are deemed less reputable and less acceptable.
Either it's too much for ALL little girls or it's okay for ALL little girls.
Back then, DD was a little ham and could charm the birds out of the trees, so I'm sure she would have done well in that regard. And with an experienced pageant family coaching her, she'd have had an advantage. 
Yes, DD was outgoing, would charm the judges, could dance like a dream and was a pretty little thing. But that is exactly what bugged me. It's interesting how ideas of beauty are embodied within us at such a young age.
Are you Ava's daddy?
