Dance Moms - anyone still watching?

[cabanafrau]

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.

My daughters danced from the time they were 3. Older DD continued through until she graduated, even danced competitively for several years. She had some things in spades, but overall wasn't naturally proficient at dance and had to work her tail off. Ballet was her true passion and her most common dance critique in the other genres was it's not ballet. Before she backed off dancing so intensively she had actually begun to master hip hop -- I assure you, no one saw that coming, no one.

I see a drive and an intensity in Nia, along with some capability and body changes. My only dance background is shuttling my girls around to class, workshops, competitions and the like for 13 years so I'm not equipped in the least to evaluate technique strongly, but what little glimpses they give to really evaluate some actual dance on the show I do see real progress with Nia.

Maybe it's just my bias, but seeing Nia do that solo gave me a feeling she's very like my DD, not dancing to become a professional, but still determined to master it because she loves it and it's challenging. It wasn't even as if Nia's style was at all like my DD's, simply the way she approached her dance and the way she emoted when it was down to her and only her to get the job done.

We don't really see how these girls dance at all on this show. The routines are all one note or designed to serve as a plot device. Sorry, I don't care if the story is that Brooke and Paige haven't actually been training for some time, that can can or whatever solo that Paige did just before they "left the show" was nothing but an attempt to show that girl in a demeaning light. She can do better, we've seen her do better in the paint by the numbers group dances and duets/trios over the years. That was an obvious shake your bum cutie pie number that was probably an oldie of Mackenzie's that was recycled.
Bravo to Paige for gritting her teeth and not letting it show. I've never seen anybody even mention it, but my dance mom posse called that out right away. That's one of the sickest, most abusive things I've seen on this show -- which is saying a lot since the bar is set so low.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Kelly's Lawsuit:

http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp.../Dance-Moms-Assault-Suit-WM__140215022006.pdf

 

[cabanafrau]

Kelly's Lawsuit:

http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp.../Dance-Moms-Assault-Suit-WM__140215022006.pdf

Interesting. Kind of fits with my suspicions about the producers. I hope they get hit in the wallets hard. Abby is liable to find out when it's all said and done that what bailed her out of bankruptcy in the end destroyed her. She & the moms should have banded together long ago. A few years back they had something on the show where Kathy from Candy Apples went after Abby & Abby of course made a big deal out of it. I'm sure they realized then that if they just stoked the flame for a while they could engineer something with the moms.

Christie has to realize that what she said about "getting rid of me next" is dead on.

What I want to know is, was Abby grabbing Nia's arm & the bestowing of the iPads the next day accompanied by a backdoor deal w/ Holly? Looking at what's happened, I suspect so. This all is going to end ugly, very ugly.

 

[Disneychix]

Wow! That is so interesting.

A few things confuse me: Kelly didn't like Abby as a child and then sent her own kids there? Also, Kelly's family had a dance studio/ were in the business and she continued to re-up the contracts knowing this studio was horrible (or turned horrible after the show started)?

I like that they get paid a 'babysitting' fee. I also like the $3000 for clothing per season. Kendall's mom surely spends that on her makeup alone! ha!

 

[Simba's Mom]

One thing I wonder about, and I was hoping that someone in the "dance world" can tell me. Is Abby really that popular as a teacher? She seems to take credit for being such a big thing in the world of dance teachers for serious children. Almost every season now, you see one or two kids who've been on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition show up at her studio. And she does win a lot of dance competitions. Is that just how the producers want to portray it, or is she THE place to go to for kids hoping for a career in dance. Is she all THAT competitive-having try outs all over the US? I'm seriously wondering about this.

 

[KaLyn]

One thing I wonder about, and I was hoping that someone in the "dance world" can tell me. Is Abby really that popular as a teacher? She seems to take credit for being such a big thing in the world of dance teachers for serious children. Almost every season now, you see one or two kids who've been on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition show up at her studio. And she does win a lot of dance competitions. Is that just how the producers want to portray it, or is she THE place to go to for kids hoping for a career in dance. Is she all THAT competitive-having try outs all over the US? I'm seriously wondering about this.

I'm not in the dance world, but I am just about 30-40 min north of the studio. I had never heard of the woman or studio until the show. I know that doesn't mean a whole lot, but if something was popular it should get around.

I think the producers have a lot to do with making things look certain ways. Which is one of the reason why I think people want to audition. And if you audition and make it then you're on TV and all they see is $$$$$.

 

[Cherbear013]

One thing I wonder about, and I was hoping that someone in the "dance world" can tell me. Is Abby really that popular as a teacher? She seems to take credit for being such a big thing in the world of dance teachers for serious children. Almost every season now, you see one or two kids who've been on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition show up at her studio. And she does win a lot of dance competitions. Is that just how the producers want to portray it, or is she THE place to go to for kids hoping for a career in dance. Is she all THAT competitive-having try outs all over the US? I'm seriously wondering about this.

I have been in competitive dance all my life. I have never heard of her or the studio until her show aired. I've been all over the country at competitions and conventions and know what the 'top' studios are. I don't think her choreography is all that great either. I've seen plenty of other studios, including my studio, have better choreography. As far as the dancing, I think her kids have potential but her teaching isn't effective. I look at competition results regularly and see that her kids do get scholarships so she does have some good ones, but a lot of studios are like that where they have kids that win everything. Her shows are definitely giving her hype and making her bigger than she is.

 

[jenny105]

. Her shows are definitely giving her hype and making her bigger than she is.

And it's definitely gone to her head. But she needs to do something with that hair. Does anyone remember that episode of Seinfeld when Elaine wants Kramer to tell her friend to style her hair differently? That's what it reminds me of.

 

[SMD]

All reality shows overhype the qualifications of their cast members. Not nearly as many people would watch the show if it were just about a struggling dance studio owner going about her business and also going to weekly competitions to fit the show format. They have to make everything high stakes every week or why are they making the show? That's the reality of reality shows. I don't see how comments about her hair are relevant to the choices and compromises that these people are putting themselves and these kids through in order to be on TV.

I bet the babysitting stipend is for Kelly's son. If she's spending 6+ hours at the studio beginning in the afternoon and then going out of town 2 nights per week, I doubt her husband can be with her other kid all of that time.

 

[quigs3]

Kelly's Lawsuit: http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Dance-Moms-Assault-Suit-WM__140215022006.pdf

I hope Abby gets exactly what she deserves with this lawsuit! She has been mentally abusing these girls, and she's going to have trouble denying it considering there is countless film to substantiate it. I'm glad at least one of the mothers decided that enough was enough. They have been allowing it to continue far too long - shame on them!!!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

The Dance Studio does have graduates that dance in NYC on Broadway, have careers, etc.

My daughter danced at a small ballet school. The teacher was very strict, but not abusive. I would assume Abby Lee was like this prior to the show. Dance requires discipline if you want to use is for a career.

My daughter did benefit from this type of dance studio and many of her friends are on Broadway and or working in the business. My daughter did a lot during her High School years. She chose a different college path but keeps up her dance since if she has children she would like to teach as a side job so she can be home with her children.

Dance Moms came to our city to perform. While the taping was closed, the actual competition was real. When you see the results they look to be in the same age group (Chloe - Maddie) but in reality they were in different age groups. This happens a lot with the results on the show.

While here my daughter knew girls dancing and they stated that the girls do have talent, but it is not anymore than the top students at any good studio. They did not take first while here, but I will have to see how the show "portrays" it and or if they will not show it since they did not win.

 

[cabanafrau]

I hope Abby gets exactly what she deserves with this lawsuit! She has been mentally abusing these girls, and she's going to have trouble denying it considering there is countless film to substantiate it. I'm glad at least one of the mothers decided that enough was enough. They have been allowing it to continue far too long - shame on them!!!

Don't forget the producers. That's who's really making the $, calling the shots and at the end of the day can pretty walk away anonymously. Abby's not going to have that luxury. As nasty as Abby is, I think it's the producers who are engineering this mess & won't let people walk away. Really explains why the lunch w/ Kelly included everyone, because the producers demanded it or else.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

I am really interested to see how all these lawsuits go down, I don't know if Kelly will win or Abby will win or the producers. I mean I think personally that Kelly needs to take responsibility for her actions of putting her child in an environment like that, it was her choice to have Paige at that studio, and her choice to put Paige on the show. So in reality I blame Abby partially for Abby's behavior but I blame Kelly for putting Paige in this situation.

 

[Dee77]

But if the bad treatment started as a result of the show and the scripted stuff the producers wanted and Kelly was under a contract and threatened to have everything taken from her then I believe she really was stuck in a no win situation.

 

[Disneychix]

But if the bad treatment started as a result of the show and the scripted stuff the producers wanted and Kelly was under a contract and threatened to have everything taken from her then I believe she really was stuck in a no win situation.

But then how can she sue Abby if Abby was just one of the 'actors' too?

And I don't believe for 1 minute that she needs 5 million dollars in damages because she was threatened that Abby was going to bite her. And I also don't believe that smacking someone and then grabbing her hair and twisting it was self-defense. But I also don't believe Abby was at all 'hurt' except her ego.

I am interested to read what the producers feel about the wages and work conditions for the minors. Something tells me their story is a lot different.

 

[Dee77]

But then how can she sue Abby if Abby was just one of the 'actors' too? And I don't believe for 1 minute that she needs 5 million dollars in damages because she was threatened that Abby was going to bite her. And I also don't believe that smacking someone and then grabbing her hair and twisting it was self-defense. But I also don't believe Abby was at all 'hurt' except her ego. I am interested to read what the producers feel about the wages and work conditions for the minors. Something tells me their story is a lot different.

Abby is a principal player in line with the producers plus the harassment, defamation and physical threat was all by Abby herself so that is why she is listed in the lawsuit..

 

[SMD]

But then how can she sue Abby if Abby was just one of the 'actors' too?

And I don't believe for 1 minute that she needs 5 million dollars in damages because she was threatened that Abby was going to bite her. And I also don't believe that smacking someone and then grabbing her hair and twisting it was self-defense. But I also don't believe Abby was at all 'hurt' except her ego.

I am interested to read what the producers feel about the wages and work conditions for the minors. Something tells me their story is a lot different.

It's not worth the lawyer's time if they don't at least try for punitive damages. What's there to settle for if they low ball the number?

 

[kelpricer]

Wow! That is so interesting.

A few things confuse me: Kelly didn't like Abby as a child and then sent her own kids there? Also, Kelly's family had a dance studio/ were in the business and she continued to re-up the contracts knowing this studio was horrible (or turned horrible after the show started)?

I like that they get paid a 'babysitting' fee. I also like the $3000 for clothing per season. Kendall's mom surely spends that on her makeup alone! ha!

Kellys sister had a studio years ago, my daughter danced there. It was not in business very long if I remember right. It was great for kids to learn basics of dance but nothing further than that. Probably why it didn't stay in business long. Her sisters studio was opened about 2 miles from Abby lee. Abby Lee's studio is a small, kind of run down, building in a not so great area. You wouldn't know it existed unless you were looking for it. I pass it often and wonder why they don't move the studio or at least spruce it up a little with some "Dance moms" money. I think you have to remember Abby is making a show, everyone I've talked to says she is not the sweetest person but NOTHING like she acts on TV.

 

[KAMLEM]

Was anyone else creeped out by the stuffed dog on the mother's bed at the nursing home? I would have nightmares if that was in my bed. The dog was much cuter when it was alive.

 

[cabanafrau]

Was anyone else creeped out by the stuffed dog on the mother's bed at the nursing home? I would have nightmares if that was in my bed. The dog was much cuter when it was alive.

Felt sorry for the girls, especially since they had known the dog. If it made the mother happy, that's wonderful. I could never stand to do that.