Dance Moms - anyone still watching?

[nikkistevej]

I actually like Kilani(sp?) too, I think she would beat Maddie, that's why Abby won't put her up against her. I also think Chloe is as good as Maddie, and like her facial expressions better. Maddie's looks like she is in pain. And everyone on here is right, get Mackenzie out of that vocal studio, she cannot SING!!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

I actually like Kilani(sp?) too, I think she would beat Maddie, that's why Abby won't put her up against her. I also think Chloe is as good as Maddie, and like her facial expressions better. Maddie's looks like she is in pain. And everyone on here is right, get Mackenzie out of that vocal studio, she cannot SING!!!!

Amen to all of that!

I was so disgusted when Abby took Chloe out of solo competition at nationals last year. She's so transparent. Now with not wanting to put Kilani up against Madi, it's even more obvious. The world of professional dance won't treat her so gently!

 

[cabanafrau]

Consider that "Abby's team" that we see on the show isn't a genuine competitive team from ALDC, rather a team assembled for TV and the choreography, costumes, etc. are all made for TV. I think quite often we're not even hearing the legitimate music the dancers are dancing to, merely having a more affordable piece of music slapped on for TV. The competitions generally shown are either low level or entirely fake, as are the awards we see. The Nuvo competition Maddie & Kalani participated in is genuine and likely won't allow the show to film. Many of the faculty are familiar to those who watch SYTYCD.

The studio my daughters danced with "competed" against the ALDC Dance Moms girls at a comp here a couple years ago. My daughters had graduated and/or left dance at the time. The competition was not a regular competition, not held at the hotels or schools these things are generally held in here and was entirely fake and bake for TV, with 1/4 to a 1/3 of "competitors" usually found at dance competitions. Our studio went essentially to be extras on a TV show, background, atmosphere.

I don't think what's put out there for the TV audience are Abby's decisions, merely the constructs the show requires Abby to perform in. I think Abby was the ideal person for the job -- bankrupt, overweight, the kind of teacher who believes you break a lot of eggs to make an omelette and, voila, an ideal villain for a TV audience to love to hate. 99% of the things that frost the cookies of those who watch the show are engineered by the producers IMO and have no bearing in reality.

 

[lorimay]

Consider that "Abby's team" that we see on the show isn't a genuine competitive team from ALDC, rather a team assembled for TV and the choreography, costumes, etc. are all made for TV. I think quite often we're not even hearing the legitimate music the dancers are dancing to, merely having a more affordable piece of music slapped on for TV. The competitions generally shown are either low level or entirely fake, as are the awards we see. The Nuvo competition Maddie & Kalani participated in is genuine and likely won't allow the show to film. Many of the faculty are familiar to those who watch SYTYCD.

The studio my daughters danced with "competed" against the ALDC Dance Moms girls at a comp here a couple years ago. My daughters had graduated and/or left dance at the time. The competition was not a regular competition, not held at the hotels or schools these things are generally held in here and was entirely fake and bake for TV, with 1/4 to a 1/3 of "competitors" usually found at dance competitions. Our studio went essentially to be extras on a TV show, background, atmosphere.

I don't think what's put out there for the TV audience are Abby's decisions, merely the constructs the show requires Abby to perform in. I think Abby was the ideal person for the job -- bankrupt, overweight, the kind of teacher who believes you break a lot of eggs to make an omelette and, voila, an ideal villain for a TV audience to love to hate. 99% of the things that frost the cookies of those who watch the show are engineered by the producers IMO and have no bearing in reality.

WOW!
It makes sense thats for sure.
But as a mother of a daughter that danced as a child, I would put up with Abby for 10 minutes and then be out of there large paycheck or not. These girls are treated awful.

 

[bas71873]

Yeah, Maddie is a good dancer but her face just kills every dance for me.

OMG thank you. My DD and I always joke that she looks constipated ALL THE TIME! Her facial expression never changes.

 

[kelpricer]

I think there is a BIG difference between the "dance moms" Abby and the Abby Lee dance co. Abby. The studio is about 5 minutes from my house and my daughter had friends that danced there. It's a small studio in a "not so great" area so the idea that people would move their kids here for the competition team is laughable. I do believe they join "the team" for the exposure of the show. I think Abby is a mastermind at giving people what they want to watch but I don't believe she is the same person in real life.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

I love Dance Moms, but it's staged a lot of the time and isn't actually legitimate. The first season was the only one that truly had them at Dance Competitions (real ones), they were asked to not come back to I think Starpower? or whatever one that is where they did Electricity, due to the fact that Lifetime said that Chloe was beaten by Maddie, but that was not the case as they both were in different age categories and both of them actually got first. A lot of the competitions now aren't exactly "real" competitions, they invite people to come and compete against them and all that.

Also, Maddie has competed against a lot of other people and has lost, so she is used to losing. She is just a perfectionist and likes to win. Kalani and Chloe are in the same age division, Maddie would have to be moved up into Chloe and Kalani's age category in order to compete against her. We all know Kalani is a stronger dancer than Maddie, Kalani has quite a few years on Maddie as well I believe.

The music we hear on Dance Moms is the actual music they use to compete, but in the first season for example... the first episode the songs that were played at the competition were not the ones we heard on television. Lifetime doesn't want to pay the royalties to actual artists so they use artists that are super cheap compared to big artists.

the ALDC dance team we see on TV only competes together during the show, Brooke for example was on the senior ALDC team when the show was not filming, and Mackenzie is with the Mini Dance Company and Nia, Kendall and Maddie are on the Junior Team. Chloe and Paige and Brooke don't compete with the ALDC anymore, but Chloe does take classes at ALDC still.

 

[nicolita3]

A few thoughts from the last episode:

If Chloe was my daughter and Abby said that maybe she was meeting guys out back instead of taking private lessons, I would be in jail and Abby would be needing medical attention...

I lol when Maddie told Kalani to use different facial expressions like she does, Maddie only has one look.

 

[jenny105]

OMG thank you. My DD and I always joke that she looks constipated ALL THE TIME! Her facial expression never changes.

I actually like Kilani(sp?) too, I think she would beat Maddie, that's why Abby won't put her up against her. I also think Chloe is as good as Maddie, and like her facial expressions better. Maddie's looks like she is in pain. And everyone on here is right, get Mackenzie out of that vocal studio, she cannot SING!!!!

I thought I was the only one who hated Maddie's faces Glad to see I'm not. I feel bad making fun of her cause she's a kid but seriously...what are those faces?? And why does Abby think it's a good thing??

 

[mom2rtk]

I thought I was the only one who hated Maddie's faces Glad to see I'm not. I feel bad making fun of her cause she's a kid but seriously...what are those faces?? And why does Abby think it's a good thing??

Sounds like there are a lot of us in the "Madi just looks constipated" club. My daughter says that at least once per episode!

 

[frostedpink]

the ALDC dance team we see on TV only competes together during the show, Brooke for example was on the senior ALDC team when the show was not filming, and Mackenzie is with the Mini Dance Company and Nia, Kendall and Maddie are on the Junior Team. Chloe and Paige and Brooke don't compete with the ALDC anymore, but Chloe does take classes at ALDC still.

So does that mean that by next season, Chloe and Christie will no longer be on the show? Sad - I like Chloe a lot!

 

[mom2rtk]

So does that mean that by next season, Chloe and Christie will no longer be on the show? Sad - I like Chloe a lot!

That would make me sad too. And we might have to stop watching at that point. But it does look like it's heading that direction, even without that additional piece of information.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

A few thoughts from the last episode:

If Chloe was my daughter and Abby said that maybe she was meeting guys out back instead of taking private lessons, I would be in jail and Abby would be needing medical attention...

I lol when Maddie told Kalani to use different facial expressions like she does, Maddie only has one look.

I agree! That comment to Chloe was so wrong and inapprporiate even for Abby!

 

[cabanafrau]

I feel the same way...I actually always root for Candy Apples even though she is a loon too




I wonder that too...if they were out there Abby would be blabbing about them. I highly doubt there are any...or are very few.

I don't think her girls besides a couple are all that great, my dd who is not a good dancer did take dance for a few years and that no name studio had girls just as great as the bulk of Abby's dancers featured on the show. Nia(sp?) is actually a really bad dancer. She knows the moves but is clunky and has no grace in her execution. I would be shocked if she was ever a professional dancer.

I doubt the plan for Nia is to be a professional dancer. I think Nia wants to dance, enjoys it and is working like mad to get better. The solo that she just performed on the show gives us a good idea of what Nia can do. That was a real solo that I'm sure Nia is competing this season in real competitions. That's why it's different and head and shoulders beyond most of the dances generally shown on TV from this group.

I suspect it is either her first real competitive solo -- real world, or it is a step up from solos she may have competed in the past. Nia struggles with her timing and she does not possess a natural spring. Training and lots of leaps and turns classes can correct those things. Her body is lengthening and her limbs look longer which will make her lines more impressive. What she's got in spades is willingness to work hard and a sincerity in her performances. I think Miss Nia will surprise you in a few years.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I doubt the plan for Nia is to be a professional dancer. I think Nia wants to dance, enjoys it and is working like mad to get better. The solo that she just performed on the show gives us a good idea of what Nia can do. That was a real solo that I'm sure Nia is competing this season in real competitions. That's why it's different and head and shoulders beyond most of the dances generally shown on TV from this group. I suspect it is either her first real competitive solo -- real world, or it is a step up from solos she may have competed in the past. Nia struggles with her timing and she does not possess a natural spring. Training and lots of leaps and turns classes can correct those things. Her body is lengthening and her limbs look longer which will make her lines more impressive. What she's got in spades is willingness to work hard and a sincerity in her performances. I think Miss Nia will surprise you in a few years.

I enjoy Nia. I think she is a sweet, smart, and grounded little girl.

I think she could be great too. She has a lot of physical strength that the other girls don't have.

 

[jenny105]

And Nia has the best mom out of that group. Hands down.

 

[DMRick]

And Nia has the best mom out of that group. Hands down.

But she is still a mom that lets her child be verbally abused. Shame on her!

 

[jenny105]

But she is still a mom that lets her child be verbally abused. Shame on her!

They all do. At least Holly can stick up for her child without resorting to name calling and cursing. The 'monstrosity of evil' line was pretty classic though.

 

[DMRick]

They all do. At least Holly can stick up for her child without resorting to name calling and cursing. The 'monstrosity of evil' line was pretty classic though.

Yes they all do.. Shame on them all. And since it's up to the producers what we see we'll have to assume Holly is one of the nicer moms .
But again, why are people not up in arms over these child "actors".

 

[nugov2]

I doubt the plan for Nia is to be a professional dancer. I think Nia wants to dance, enjoys it and is working like mad to get better. The solo that she just performed on the show gives us a good idea of what Nia can do. That was a real solo that I'm sure Nia is competing this season in real competitions. That's why it's different and head and shoulders beyond most of the dances generally shown on TV from this group.

I suspect it is either her first real competitive solo -- real world, or it is a step up from solos she may have competed in the past. Nia struggles with her timing and she does not possess a natural spring. Training and lots of leaps and turns classes can correct those things. Her body is lengthening and her limbs look longer which will make her lines more impressive. What she's got in spades is willingness to work hard and a sincerity in her performances. I think Miss Nia will surprise you in a few years.

It would be a big surprise. I think she has heart and dedication, but in a lot of things it has to be a part of you and I don't see it for her. I don't know how to explain it...but the other girls just have a grace and ease of movement that she does not have(IMO) and that is something that is in you and can only be taught to a certain point. Some people spend their whole lives training to play baseball, football, soccer..whatever and never achieve that top level b/c no matter how much they want it they don't have that something built in naturally and for Nia that is dance.

She is a beautiful and sweet girl, but it doesn't change that fact...again just in my view. She will be a good dancer, but nothing that stands out. For lack of a better comparison...she is a bull in a china shop. She is only capable of staccato moves when she needs to be legato...if that makes sense. I hope I am wrong for her sake b/c you can see how badly she wants it. I just think these girls are basically giving up their childhood and wonder if that is something they will regret down the line. I am not against a child who really wants something to devote everything they have to it...but under the circumstances that they are living in..unstable studio, unstable parents(besides maybe holly) what does the future holds for them?
They have all experienced some wonderful things, but they have also been involved in some horror...criticized harshly and that is out there for them to read and reread the rest of their lives. Chloe and Maddie/Mackenzie are who I worry most for(even Kendall) b/c their moms want it so bad for them and they lack perspective. They do not see the damage they are also causing them. They are living vicariously through their children and cannot recognize that they are not good at some things..ie singing. I see bad things for Chloe most of all. Her mother is nasty and has a temper that is just abusive. I wonder what it is like for that little girl when the cameras are off.