Am I getting old or is this horribly wrong?

[Rora]

First of all, they are INCREDIBLE dancers.. but, OMG..the choreography and the costumes are entirely inappropriate.

I got to 31 seconds on the video and had to stop because I left awkward.. they are amazing though!

EDIT: I just had to add that I am a former dancer (almost didn't go to college so I could dance for a company in CA) and I know that my parents would never have been okay with this type of routine even if I was capable of doing it OR if it would "further my career". I think my dad would've stormed on stage and dragged me off. Where are their parents?

 

[OceanAnnie]

When a pedophile is looking for his next victim, are you then saying that you think he goes to a dance competition and picks her/him out from the dancers. Not knowing where this kid comes from or anything? I can't say there aren't ANY cases that could possibly have happened that way, but if anyone goes around believing that they have protected their child simply by making sure they don't wear a swimsuit or dance--they may be very tragically mistaken.

Any time we allow our kids to preform or just to go out in the world, we are taking the slim chance that they will be seen by a pedophile. We cannot read minds and you can't tell one by looking at them. I wish we could. I wish that every time someone looked at a child with those thoughts, someone was there to beat those thoughts out of his head; but its not that way. We protect our children by arming them with the knowledge and the skills they need to stay away from someone like that and to not be a victim; not by keeping them from doing the things they love (and by their talent, these girls love to dance)

Personally, I think this is just one of those reasons why YouTube is not a good thing. Without it these girls would have done their routine, gone home and it would have been over; the whole country would not have been talking about it. I mean seriously, does everyone think this is the ONLY time a dance like this has been done?

DD's first hip hop dance routine was to Soiljah Boy's Superman and Apple Bottom Jeans (that may not the name of the song??). Last year the older girls danced to one of Brittany Spear's songs (one of the ones that there was a thread on the dis about in fact, but I don't remember the name) There just aren't a lot of song choices in that genre.

I'm saying you don't know. I have watched a lot of crime TV, FWIW, and stranger things have happened. Routinely.

I'm not knocking people that think the dance is A-OK. I'm just not one of them. I think it's interesting to read the perspectives of those that think it's okay. I would probably not have that opportunity. I wouldn't want to get into a conversation about it IRL, unless it was someone that said, "Oh my gosh! Can you believe that!?". So it's interesting to see another side.

My children do wear more conservative swimsuits than the girls in the video.

 

[luvsJack]

She swims in a swim suit- which does not include the knee high bow socks- she does not shimmy, gyrate, hip thrust or drop her bottom like the girls in that dance routine.

For me, the whole package is what put this over the top. Everything from the red and black color of the "lingerie" to the creepy knee high bow socks- then coupled with the highly suggestive dance moves. I really don't understand how anyone could defend what was on that video. There are even dance teachers on this thread who said "No way" I have agreed with people on this thread that I NEVER agree with- Joy Behar even said the parents should be "arrested" and I NEVER agree with her. These girls should be playing dolls and making mud pies- not dancing like The PussyCat Dolls.

I don't see it as lingerie. I see it as a dance costume.

These girls have a HUGE talent and should be dancing as long as they want to. And how do you know they didn't go home after performing and play with dolls and make mud pies??

 

[luvsJack]

I'm saying you don't know. I have watched a lot of crime TV, FWIW, and stranger things have happened. Routinely.

I'm not knocking people that think the dance is A-OK. I'm just not one of them. I think it's interesting to read the perspectives of those that think it's okay. I would probably not have that opportunity. I wouldn't want to get into a conversation about it IRL, unless it was someone that said, "Oh my gosh! Can you believe that!?". So it's interesting to see another side.

My children do wear more conservative swimsuits than the girls in the video.

I said that I couldn't say that is has never happened.


But that is why the important thing, IMHO, is to arm our children with the skills they need to not be a victim. I know that it still won't always keep it from happening but neither will keeping them from ever being seen in public.

 

[DeniseinNS]

disgusting Kids that young should not be dressed like little hoochies. These little girls have alot talent but they should be dancing/dress more age appropriatly.

 

[Mermaid02]

I don't see it as lingerie. I see it as a dance costume.

These girls have a HUGE talent and should be dancing as long as they want to. And how do you know they didn't go home after performing and play with dolls and make mud pies??

Of course they should dance- they're talented. However, they should dance age appropriately. Why do you think the vast majority of posters here and on the YouTube video think this is so inappropriate?

 

[OceanAnnie]

I said that I couldn't say that is has never happened.


But that is why the important thing, IMHO, is to arm our children with the skills they need to not be a victim. I know that it still won't always keep it from happening but neither will keeping them from ever being seen in public.

See, that's where the difference in opinion lies. It's not a matter of keeping them from ever being seen in public. It's not as simple as that. I see it as the children on stage, dancing provocatively in skimpy clothes. It appears you just see the kids on the stage dancing.

Perception is everything.

 

[jen0610]

The new Dis-approved dance outfits:

As a dance mom, I find you very insuting and UNEDUCATED as to what dance costumes can look like - and it's not all the HOOCHIE WEAR that they put on those LITTLE GIRLS!!!!

12 and 11 years old - And look they are covered.

Nine years old - And Holy Cow - She's covered.

Covered - front and back - 10 years old.

11 years old - And She covered- YET AGAIN!!!

 

[TinklednPants]

I thought they looked cute

 

[hucifer]

My problem with that was definitely the choreography and the really suggestive facial expressions and gyrations of the little girls. They didn't have cute little innocent 7-year-old expressions with big smiling faces like you see kids that age in a dance recital. Yes, they're very talented, and I'll make no judgments or speculations about how they'll "turn out," but I would be extremely uncomfortable watching that performance and I would not allow my child to be in a dance program with that choreography at really any age, I don't think. There are plenty of other ways to showcase that talent.

This nailed my issue with the video. I couldn't get past the sexual expressions on their faces (along with the adult moves). It made me sick to watch it. Marry that with the lingerie-looking outfits and you've got yourself an entire package. These were moves (and expressions) never intended for a 7yo. I saw nothing innocent in this dance routine.

 

[MushyMushy]

Jen, those costumes are adorable.

When my daughter was in dance, theirs were a bit more revealing than those, but not sleazy. When she was 7 or 8, the girls wore a Tinkerbell costume. Cute, cute! I will just never get the mentality of allowing little girls to do adult moves.

And, you know, I'll go so far as to say I didn't see a whole lot of talent in that video. It was all smoke and mirrors -- high energy with a lot of shimmy, shake, and flash.

 

[PaulaSue]

Okay as a late 30s mom with the similiar age kids who have been in dance this is not bad, IMO. I can't get over that all the girls have the same haircut.

 

[Darsa]

Honestly, the costumes weren't what bothered me NEARLY as much as the provocative way that they were dancing; I really feel that that was inappropriate to the extreme. My daughter's costumes this year are amazingly covering, with the exception of her tap costume which is a little bit , but then, she's 14, not 7 or 8 or whatever... All I have currently is her professional pic in her ballet costume, since recital is this weekend and I've already got everything packed up and ready and I refuse to allow her to touch any of it 'til then

Sorry it's so big:

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

As a mom of a 14 yr old dd, I wouldn't let her dance like that on stage!! Nor would she want to... Those little girls are talented to be sure but this dance, song, and costumes are inappropriate on so many levels. I couldn't keep watching it.

 

[Wall-E1]

Words cannot even express my feelings on how wrong that video is on all levels. Therefore, I have decided to express my shock and disgust using a picture...

 

[OceanAnnie]

Words cannot even express my feelings on how wrong that video is on all levels. Therefore, I have decided to express my shock and disgust using a picture...

That's funny!

I was thinking Dana Carvey's, "Church Lady" would be a good one too.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

As a child who grew up in the competitive dance world, and now a mother of 2 daugters, all I have to say is

Seriously.... there are more appropriate dance costumes....and yes, bathing suits cover less, but I don't allow my daughters (even at ages 6 and 4) to wear bikinis....the closest they get is a full-coverage tankini.... and they certainly wouldn't be allowed to gyrate on stage making sexual facial expressions either. It doesn't matter whether the girls understand what they're are doing or not. Adults need to have a higher standard. The sexual facial expressions and costumes take away from the fact that these girls are incredible dancers...unfortunately, its hard to see their talents beyond the sex....

 

[goofy!]

When a pedophile is looking for his next victim, are you then saying that you think he goes to a dance competition and picks her/him out from the dancers. Not knowing where this kid comes from or anything? I can't say there aren't ANY cases that could possibly have happened that way, but if anyone goes around believing that they have protected their child simply by making sure they don't wear a swimsuit or dance--they may be very tragically mistaken.

Any time we allow our kids to preform or just to go out in the world, we are taking the slim chance that they will be seen by a pedophile. We cannot read minds and you can't tell one by looking at them. I wish we could. I wish that every time someone looked at a child with those thoughts, someone was there to beat those thoughts out of his head; but its not that way. We protect our children by arming them with the knowledge and the skills they need to stay away from someone like that and to not be a victim; not by keeping them from doing the things they love (and by their talent, these girls love to dance)

Personally, I think this is just one of those reasons why YouTube is not a good thing. Without it these girls would have done their routine, gone home and it would have been over; the whole country would not have been talking about it. I mean seriously, does everyone think this is the ONLY time a dance like this has been done?

DD's first hip hop dance routine was to Soiljah Boy's Superman and Apple Bottom Jeans (that may not the name of the song??). Last year the older girls danced to one of Brittany Spear's songs (one of the ones that there was a thread on the dis about in fact, but I don't remember the name) There just aren't a lot of song choices in that genre.

I can tell you that my kids swim competitively. I am on the board of directors of our little summer swim league, so hear more than most parents.

In the past 10 years, we have had 3 instances of a pedophile approaching a young child in a bathing suit.

We think it was the same guy the first two times and a second person the second time. Unfortunately, parents found out what he was doing and chased him off before the police got there so he was never arrested.

The first guy sat down next to an 8 year old boy at a meet for just 8 and unders - about 300 8 and under children, put his arm around him and said he was a friend of the family. Thank goodness those parents, who were at the pool deck watching their other child swim, not more than 20 feet away, had taught their son well about stranger danger. The boy jumped up, said very loudly "I don't know you" and called over to his parents. Other parents, who knew the boy chased the guy. Unfortunately, they should have let him wander the grounds, keeping an eye on him, till the police got there.

So, yes, even though I am on the fence about the dance, the danger of pedophiles at children's events where there are large groups of children milling around (no matter how they are dressed) is very, very real.

 

[SeaShelley]

In response to the OP's original question.....

You are not old; the dance/costume/song combination is HORRIBLY wrong! This was a competition? Does anyone have any idea what the outcome was?

I've read many of the posts here and am shocked with the number of people who don't see anything wrong with it. I find it hard to believe that their opinion would be the same if it were their daughter up on stage!

I do have a question for Bama.....would you feel differently if you had a 10 year old daughter who danced the naked can-can in front of you, but not your wife?

 

[goofy!]

These girls should be playing dolls and making mud pie

Now there is a way to stereotype little girls.

Don't go out and do anything athletic or talented (most dancing) - just go play with your dolls and pretend cook.