Am I getting old or is this horribly wrong?

[CathrynRose]

There was no finger licking or oral sex simulation. Just some little girls dancing. I've seen worse in high school cheer routines. Much ado about nothing.

HandinPocket. Hmph.

If you YouTube search - The World of Dance Tour you see no other groups like this one.

I still find the whole thing icky, and also have no problems with nudity.

However - I also think Beauty Pageants (ala Toddlers & Tiaras) are disgusting.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

It's going to be discussed on Showbiz Tonight too. Set up my DVR to record the repeat of Joy Behar and they announced what's coming up on Showbiz Tonight. Which I will also record so I can fast forward through it, because just sitting here with my back to it, I cannot stand that show.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have a problem with the costumes, the movements and the fact that people seem to be teaching little girls that this is OK. The attention, the attention to their bodies moving this way on a dance floor is just all so wrong to me--why wouldn't any parent think this is OK? What are we teaching our daughters? I can't even see the talent, really. Play a sport, be smart, but dancing around in sparkly, skimpy costumes, wearing enough makeup to look like a streetwalker? Sorry, I'm no prude but I think sexing up little girls like in this video etc. is so darn wrong. That's just my opinion & I doubt it'll change.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I have a problem with the costumes, the movements and the fact that people seem to be teaching little girls that this is OK. The attention, the attention to their bodies moving this way on a dance floor is just all so wrong to me--why wouldn't any parent think this is OK? What are we teaching our daughters? I can't even see the talent, really. Play a sport, be smart, but dancing around in sparkly, skimpy costumes, wearing enough makeup to look like a streetwalker? Sorry, I'm no prude but I think sexing up little girls like in this video etc. is so darn wrong. That's just my opinion & I doubt it'll change.

Agree 100%.

 

[goofy!]

Of all the things in all the world for young girls to get involved in, why would you choose an activity that makes them look like "street walkers".

I can answer for my kids - cheer is one of the more athletic sports out there.

My girls are never wondering how sexy they look. That is the last thing on their minds.

They are mostly dripping in sweat (sooo sexy) working on next tumbling or stunting skill. Working on perfecting that tuck, full, layout and on and on.

You can count on both hands the number of times the makeup and uniform are worn at competitions. The rest of the 7 to 10 hours a week of grueling practices 11 months out of the year are in shorts and tanks or sports bras.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

This never would have flown at my dance studio. I think for me, the problem is just the total package. The moves were not appropriate, but one or two on their own would not have been as bad. The costumes were too much, but in a different dance would not have stood out as muc .
...
We also would not have been doing so much thrusting, shaking, butt dropping, etc. Way too inappropriate for that age. The girls have wonderful technical skills. I don't know many girls who could do a triple pirouette. But it's hidden in all the nonsense. It takes zero dance training to do some of those shimmies, anybody who has been to a school dance could tell you that. That routine have showcased their skills so much better. Instead, there were a few complicated moves hidden underneath a lot of silliness.

As for the comment about parents not knowing, in our dance school we had two way mirrors in every room. Parents could see what you were doing the whole time (which is how it should be imo). You were also given copies of your music and encouraged to practice for your family. I don't see how parents could not have known.

THIS

Any answer would be a guess. We didn't put this arrangement together.

No, we did not put the arrangement together. But someone who DID realize that this is a sexual song put it together with a skimpy outfit. That same person then choreographed what they know to be sexual moves into a children's dance routine.

It doesn't matter that the girls performing the moves did or did not know there meaning. The person who instructed them to do the moves DID know the meaning. That's what's despicable. These aren't little girls throwing together a routine for themselves. This is a (possibly) young, (probably) inexperienced, (definitely) award hungry (and inappropriate) "teacher" not thinking about his or her students.

In my dancing days I choreographed many technically difficult and showy routines, and I did it all without a single bump or grind. What's sad is that most people can see that these girls do have talent, but the precision of the dance was completely sacrificed for the unnecessary, non-technical moves. While some of the technique was impressive, much of the dancing was sloppy. All those shimmies and grinds are hard to synchronize and don't earn any judges points. Technique and difficulty earn points. Showmanship earns points too, but not when it sacrifices precision.

 

[goofy!]

True.



It isn't the outfits in them selves that are the problem. I am a pro-nudity person who agrees that we are way too hung up on body image in this country. I have also made the nudity doesn't equal sexuality argument on these boards many a time.

In this case, however, these girls are performing sexually suggestive dance moves, regardless of whether that is their intention or not, to a sexually suggestive song, in a public display, while wearing the costumes. And this I got in less then half of a minute of watching.

Had you been topless at the beach grinding on other people to Paradise by the Dashboard lights while an audience watched and they posted the clip on the public Internet for all to see then the correlation between you at the beach and this disaster would hold up. As it is there is no way the two are even close.

Just my opinion of course, I am not these kids parents and won't be the ones paying the therapy bill down the road so ultimately I don't care but I do find it disturbing.

I think the worst thing about the whole ordeal isn't even so much the performance itself, but that someone posted it online. Had it not been posted online I imagine the only people who would have seen it would be other parents or judges at the competition. Posting it online gives it a whole different creepy factor. Using the criteria I use for posting anything online, would I want my boss, potential boss, or future children to see it or would I put it on a billboard next to the highway, I'm afraid this wouldn't make the cut.

I was responding to the poster that said that the parents of the dancing children must be the same types as those that find it cute to dress their children in tiny bikinis. Parents that dress their kids in bikinis are not scandalous. Children playing on the beach topless are not perverted.

As for the routine, I am on the fence with it. I didn't find it as ridiculously scandalous as some and not as innocent as others found it. I agree with most that each part on its own would not have caused me a raised eyebrow. Just the costume - no problem. Just the music - no problem. Just the dance - no problem. But combine all three and it does cause one to wonder exactly what the thinking was behind it all.

And just to show that I also have my judgmental pet peeves - I think dancing and cheering are wonderful sports using many different muscle groups, but I think pageants are disgusting for the younger set such as in Toddlers and Tiaras.

 

[FireDancer]

I was responding to the poster that said that the parents of the dancing children must be the same types as those that find it cute to dress their children in tiny bikinis. Parents that dress their kids in bikinis are not scandalous. Children playing on the beach topless are not perverted.

Ok, I misunderstood. I agree with the above but thought you were making the correlation between this video and what you described on the beach.

As for the routine, I am on the fence with it. I didn't find it as ridiculously scandalous as some and not as innocent as others found it. I agree with most that each part on its own would not have caused me a raised eyebrow. Just the costume - no problem. Just the music - no problem. Just the dance - no problem. But combine all three and it does cause one to wonder exactly what the thinking was behind it all.

Exactly. Of course add to that the posting of it for all of the public, pedophiles or not, to see and it adds one more level to the thought process.

 

[phragmipedium]

It isn't the outfits in them selves that are the problem.

I agree with this - I think the outfits themselves are typical for a dance competition and cover more than most bikinis, which most people don't think twice about letting their kids wear. I could even handle the song, though it's a little mature for 7-year-olds and I think they could have come up with something mainstream and popular that's a little less sexual.

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.

Jeez louise. I kind of feel like someone'll come drag me off to jail for having watched that on my computer. I can only imagine the people who might be watching that video over and over who enjoy fantasizing about highly sexualized young children - it makes me feel sick and I'd be very disturbed if those videos were posted of my child.

 

[goofy!]

EWWWWWW! There are no words... poor kids. It's a kiddie burlesque show not much different from Moulin Rouge, blech

Ahhhh...the Moulin Rouge. Saw my first show there at 12. Had my first champagne then too.

How did I ever become a productive member of society?

 

[PaulaSB12]

From one report I read, these girls are seven.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjehii-jjHE

I may not be a parent but anyone wanting a daughter of mine to dance like that would be walking with 2 broken legs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tantor]

even my 14 year old DD said that is wrong!! Very inappropriate

 

[OceanAnnie]

EXACTLY. This is what people refuse to understand. Pedophiles aren't looking for kids in skimpy clothes, they are looking for kids that are vulnerable. What the child is wearing has nothing to do with it.

I don't know what pedophiles are looking for, but I would hazard a guess they are looking for something that set kids apart. Something they like. Skimpy clothes, suggestive dance moves would probably do something for a pedophile as it sexualizes kids. It fits the very definition doesn't it? How else would they choose a victim? All kids are vulnerable to an extent.

 

[luvsJack]

I don't know what pedophiles are looking for, but I would hazard a guess they are looking for something that set kids apart. Something they like. Skimpy clothes, suggestive dance moves would probably do something for a pedophile as it sexualizes kids. It fits the very definition doesn't it? How else would they choose a victim? All kids are vulnerable to an extent.

Well, I have never actually met one or talked to one; but anything that can be read about how to protect children talks about keeping your eyes on them, staying close, warning them about the ways pedophiles can lure them; not once have I ever read "don't allow your daughter to wear a swim suit" or "don't allow your kid to dance". When we did an inservice at the center with our parents, the person speaking talked about a lot of things and a lot of ways to protect your child and to keep an eye out for other children and NEVER did she mention the way they dressed or the way they moved. Only that predators were looking for kids they could easily lure away and get alone and ones that didn't seem to have an adult they could turn to. These girls probably would not fit either of those categories.

These "skimpy" costumes are not that skimpy when compared to a lot of swim suits.

These same dance moves are done by any kid in any hip hop dance class. Maybe not all together, maybe not in this same routine but Beyonce did not exactly come up with brand new moves or anything like that. These same moves are done by other dancers in other routines.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Well, I have never actually met one or talked to one; but anything that can be read about how to protect children talks about keeping your eyes on them, staying close, warning them about the ways pedophiles can lure them; not once have I ever read "don't allow your daughter to wear a swim suit" or "don't allow your kid to dance". When we did an inservice at the center with our parents, the person speaking talked about a lot of things and a lot of ways to protect your child and to keep an eye out for other children and NEVER did she mention the way they dressed or the way they moved. Only that predators were looking for kids they could easily lure away and get alone and ones that didn't seem to have an adult they could turn to. These girls probably would not fit either of those categories.

These "skimpy" costumes are not that skimpy when compared to a lot of swim suits.

These same dance moves are done by any kid in any hip hop dance class. Maybe not all together, maybe not in this same routine but Beyonce did not exactly come up with brand new moves or anything like that. These same moves are done by other dancers in other routines.

Well, my point was a counter to yours. You said, pedophiles aren't looking for kids in skimpy clothes. It's not out of the realm of possibility that they are.

The degree of skimpy is debatable, same with the degree of inappropriateness of the dance in this case. But IMO, you can't say that pedophiles aren't looking for that kind of thing. If they sexualize children, it stands to reason it could turn them on. I wouldn't put my kids out there like that.

Just my .02.

 

[luvsJack]

Exactly. Remember the good ol' days when mothers said "I don't care what the other kids are doing!"? Good for her! I'm going to hear that line in my head in my sleep tonight. So pedophiles don't look at child porn? I don't know...you seem to know more about pedophiles than I do apparently. Uh oh...I agree with FireDancer. Hell must've frozen over. It probably reminded them of last Friday night out with the boys.

So now these little girls are child porn?

I have learned what I felt was necessary to protect my child and any child that may be around me, thank you very much. I certainly don't sit around going into a panic over something that isn't going to happen. I chose to find out the REAL facts and what could protect my child, not some mass hysteria bs.

A predator of children no more picks his victims by the way they are dressed than a rapist picks his victims by the way they are dressed.

I will ask again: If you have a daughter, what does she swim in? The shorts on this outfit were larger than the bottoms on any two piece swimsuit.

 

[luvsJack]

Well, my point was a counter to yours. You said, pedophiles aren't looking for kids in skimpy clothes. It's not out of the realm of possibility that they are.

The degree of skimpy is debatable, same with the degree of inappropriateness of the dance in this case. But IMO, you can't say that pedophiles aren't looking for that kind of thing. If they sexualize children, it stands to reason it could turn them on. I wouldn't put my kids out there like that.

Just my .02.

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.

 

[Mermaid02]

Me either. I don't find a whole lot wrong with either of them as you will see most of it at any dance recital or competition. But the costume thing really gets me and I ask again: what do some poster's girls wear to swim in? And exactly what are you all expecting them to wear on stage? Someone mentioned gymnasts--their leos can be WAY more revealing than these costumes. Those are little boy shorts and a little top that shows the child's belly--they are not "revealing" as THERE IS NOTHING TO REVEAL!

Do any of ya'll have cheerleaders? What do they wear??

So now these little girls are child porn?

I have learned what I felt was necessary to protect my child and any child that may be around me, thank you very much. I certainly don't sit around going into a panic over something that isn't going to happen. I chose to find out the REAL facts and what could protect my child, not some mass hysteria bs.

A predator of children no more picks his victims by the way they are dressed than a rapist picks his victims by the way they are dressed.

I will ask again: If you have a daughter, what does she swim in? The shorts on this outfit were larger than the bottoms on any two piece swimsuit.

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.

 

[luvmy3]

It's going to be discussed on Showbiz Tonight too. Set up my DVR to record the repeat of Joy Behar and they announced what's coming up on Showbiz Tonight. Which I will also record so I can fast forward through it, because just sitting here with my back to it, I cannot stand that show.

Wonder just how many hits that video will get now? You know if Joy was as repulsed by it as she claims then why would they even talk about it. If she thinks its wrong then why draw even more attention to it by mentioning it in the media so it can go viral?

 

[luvsJack]

So IS there nothing inappropriate that a child can wear? Is there a line where something becomes uncomfortable to see a child wear or do, even if you don't happen to be a pedophile? I realize the line is markedly different for everyone, but IS there a line somewhere?

IMHO, for a normal person, it depends on what YOU feel comfortable in YOUR child wearing.

IRL, when she is not performing or cheering, dd does not wear shirts that show her stomach and she does not wear short shorts. Other girls wear really skimpy shorts and that is ok with me if it is ok with their parents, DD just doesn't like short shorts. And she doesn't wear shorts with words on the butt. We made this choice, not because of a fear of predators but 11 year old boys.

She does wear a two piece swim suit.

When dancing or cheering, she wore the short costumes and with some costumes her belly showed. And she sparkles from head to toe. And wears more make up than I would allow on a 20 year old! But that is for the stage, not for every day.