Dance mom's are wack

[snapppyd]

I thought this was a thread about "real people".

 

[pacrosby]

First off, you have to ask yourself why a woman, who owns a dance studio and wants business, would act that nutso if she weren't! Would that be the kind of image you want to portray to families already involved with your studio or people considering your studio? I'm sure that Cathy felt very smug about her "you can't fix stupid" comment and stealing Chloe's music but to me, she looked small, petty, and classless. And I wouldn't want her teaching my kid. Doesn't she realize that it has a bad impact on her image? Last place I'd send my kid would be to Candy Apples based on her behavior

That's exactly what I mean. If she can go back to her studio and say "hey, did you see the show last night? Wasn't that a hoot? Can you believe they had me..........." she can distance herself a bit from the craziness of it all. I don't know anything about her studio but if she's been in business for any length of time, those in the area already know if she's a whack job or not. Just for fun I'll have to look up her studio's website (like I don't have more important things to do )

And, remember that Cathy loves the limelight and has always longed to be famous. I am sure knows that it's going to take drama to get her mug on tv.

This I agree with. She was definately THE pick for this 'part'. Sure she's pushing Vivi (and that's a whole other discussion because that child is a novice dancer and Cathy HAS to know that) but maybe that's just for show. Maybe she's really the one hoping to be discovered

 

[CurlyGirl]

That's exactly what I mean. If she can go back to her studio and say "hey, did you see the show last night? Wasn't that a hoot? Can you believe they had me..........." she can distance herself a bit from the craziness of it all. I don't know anything about her studio but if she's been in business for any length of time, those in the area already know if she's a whack job or not. Just for fun I'll have to look up her studio's website (like I don't have more important things to do )

Yeah, but how many times can you say "Can you believe they had me doing ..." before people stop believing it and start questioning why you'd continue to make yourself look like a buffoon?

This I agree with. She was definately THE pick for this 'part'. Sure she's pushing Vivi (and that's a whole other discussion because that child is a novice dancer and Cathy HAS to know that) but maybe that's just for show. Maybe she's really the one hoping to be discovered

Oh, it's Cathy that wants to be discovered. No doubt. If she didn't, she wouldn't have taken over that Moms dance at the recital like she did. She is out for attention, creating her own drama, and wanting the spotlight and loads of tv time. All the moms were so reluctant to do that recital dance except for Cathy! She was all over it. I'm sure she's hoping to get her own show out of this whole thing.

 

[pacrosby]

Just an interesting tidbit from a gal who says she was Cathy's student for 14 years.....

http://lexicalsemantics.blogspot.com/2011/08/for-entertainment-purposes-only.html



and a blurb from a producer explaining why he believes this 'reality' show has very little to do with reality (cut and pasted from another site)....

"I was a Producer for 25 years, first in radio then TV, in the Atlanta/Chicago area. This show is your very basic confrontation orientated program. 1) Interviews before the show tapes to tap into the mothers concerns. These concerns are generally low to moderate problems. 2) The producer exacerbates small to medium issues. What plays out as the biggest issue wins air time. That’s where the Moms get to “act”. The bigger they make their problem the greater their chances of air time 3) Set up meeting of confrontation or discussion. Film different angles and several takes. 4) Take film to editing and splice together a show. Yes, every blue moon you will have a legitimate fight or argument. But its rare that you get it on film. Sometimes you have to be creative and “recreate” the moment. Most participants are glad to help with the recreation. Remember, more air time=more popularity=other opportunities in TV. (Dancing w the stars, etc) Bill was correct(must be in the biz). Check the camera angles and placement. Those producers, although not very creative, have done their job pulling in the viewers that can relate to the dance world. But don’t think for a moment that what you are seeing is real. Its all Hollywood editing magic and recreation. If you want real tune into “COPS”. "



The cameras and when and how they catch the drama that they do is really a good clue to the lack of reality in this reality show, I think. There was a scene a week or so ago where one of the moms confronts Abby's in her hotel room at a competition. There is a cameraman in the mom's room videotaping her angry rant before she comes out. There is also a cameraman in Abby's room videotaping her just sitting around. Then the first cameraman follows the mom out as she storms to Abby's room. No question that was set up. You just can't tell me that every member of that show has a cameraman hanging around videotaping their every move 24/7 just in case something happens.

Personally I'm planning to watch for such clues from here on in. I find it more fun to catch the inconsistencies than to criticize the participants.

 

[jsmla]

I stumbled on the marathon too and just had to call my daughter and get her to watch!

I spent over ten years as a "dance mom" and, while there was the occasional bit of drama, it was never anything like what I've seen on this show. For one thing none of the moms in our group would ever have behaved in that way in front of the girls! If we had an issue we took it to the office away from the kids. JMHO but I feel like the whole thing is just staged for the cameras and I feel bad for the girls. To me it feels like they are being exploited simply so that the adults can get their 15 minutes instead of being celebrated for their talent and dedication. JMHO, but Chloe and Maddie seem extremely talented to me. I'm always amazed at the level of technical difficulty in their numbers. They also often seem a lot more mature than most of the adults!

At our daughter's old competition studio ballet was more of a foundational thing for the competition dancers and not the main focus of the studio. DD danced at both a classical ballet studio and a separate competition studio. She was very petite and popular with the ballet company for "face" type children's roles like Clara, Little Red Riding Hood, etc. but was far from the best technical dancer there. At the competition studio, however, she was much, much, much more advanced in ballet (especially pointe) compared to the other girls on the team. But these girls never competed ballet, ballet was a tool (an important tool) used to make better lyrical/contemporary/jazz dancers.

We had to deal with a lot of animosity from the ballet company over the competition thing. They were VERY opposed to it. I think they only put up with DD's competing because she had a very good face for the stage-something she learned at the competition studio.


About the audience, or lack of one-we did all the usual competitions-Starbound, Starpower, Showstopper etc. and in our experience most parents just watched their group and that group's age division. The rest of our time was spent backstage in the rehearsal areas. In my memory, anyway, it was mostly moms/parents at these things. They were a long, drawn-out, all-day or even two day affair and not something I would think would draw an audience.

 

[pacrosby]

About the audience, or lack of one-we did all the usual competitions-Starbound, Starpower, Showstopper etc. and in our experience most parents just watched their group and that group's age division. The rest of our time was spent backstage in the rehearsal areas. In my memory, anyway, it was mostly moms/parents at these things. They were a long, drawn-out, all-day or even two day affair and not something I would think would draw an audience.

I wasn't thinking that it actually 'drew' an audience either but I have seen other similar type competitions where the audience is packed with other competitors and their families. As a result I just assumed that the dancers and their families would do the same. Isn't it true that some of these competitions can draw hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dancers? Just doesn't seem plausible that the auditorium would be almost empty. To me it almost seems that it would, and should, be encouraged.....to support your fellow dancers.

Personally, I can't imagine spending all day just sitting around in the waiting/rehearsal area. What a drag LOL When my daughter dances in the Nutcracker I'm always running back to the audience between costume changes. I watch that same show over and over and over. I can imagine I'll be doing the same thing once she qualifies for competition. Dancing never gets old to me

 

[CurlyGirl]

I have to wonder --- at what point do you reflect back on your actions and say "Wow - I look batpoop crazy and I need to stop this!"? At what point do you realize that you could be damaging your business (Candy Apples) with this tv show?

While Cathy might've been asked to be on tv by Abby, you know that she agreed for one purpose only and that was to get her mug and Vivi's mug on tv and try to make Vivi a star. I can see that Cathy and Abby Lee are colleagues (being in the same business) but I do not buy that they are friends. They may be friendly on the outside, but friends who do stuff together? I doubt that.

I don't doubt that this stuff is staged, ideas are set in motion and followed through to see what the outcome will be, etc. However, at what point do you realize that you're looking insane to the rest of the world?

 

[pacrosby]

I have to wonder --- at what point do you reflect back on your actions and say "Wow - I look batpoop crazy and I need to stop this!"? At what point do you realize that you could be damaging your business (Candy Apples) with this tv show?

While Cathy might've been asked to be on tv by Abby, you know that she agreed for one purpose only and that was to get her mug and Vivi's mug on tv and try to make Vivi a star. I can see that Cathy and Abby Lee are colleagues (being in the same business) but I do not buy that they are friends. They may be friendly on the outside, but friends who do stuff together? I doubt that.

I don't doubt that this stuff is staged, ideas are set in motion and followed through to see what the outcome will be, etc. However, at what point do you realize that you're looking insane to the rest of the world?

That would be a question that only Cathy could answer

 

[Schmeck]

If I was running any of these competitions used on the show, I'd be very upset. I think this is very bad publicity for the dance community, and I can't believe that they use actual footage from competitions. Dance competitions are pretty lame anyways, there are multiple winners, multiple "national competitions", etc. Now the uneducated public thinks some of these competitions are the 'do-all, end-all' of the dance scene, when they are not.

My daughter was going to list some of her accomplishments in dance on her college applications. Now I'm thinking she should leave that off, as this crappy tv show has made a joke out of what serious dancers have managed to accomplish. Sure, she won a title at a few competitions, but this show has distorted the system so much that who is going to understand what a title means?

 

[jsmla]

I wasn't thinking that it actually 'drew' an audience either but I have seen other similar type competitions where the audience is packed with other competitors and their families. As a result I just assumed that the dancers and their families would do the same. Isn't it true that some of these competitions can draw hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dancers? Just doesn't seem plausible that the auditorium would be almost empty. To me it almost seems that it would, and should, be encouraged.....to support your fellow dancers.

Personally, I can't imagine spending all day just sitting around in the waiting/rehearsal area. What a drag LOL When my daughter dances in the Nutcracker I'm always running back to the audience between costume changes. I watch that same show over and over and over. I can imagine I'll be doing the same thing once she qualifies for competition. Dancing never gets old to me

I'm just going by our experience. It does seem like some had more of an audience than others, especially the competitions with separate categories for novice, advanced, etc. The two day competitions where they'd do solos and duet/trios one day and groups the next didn't usually have as many people in the seats, neither did the big travel competitions like nationals.

Around here there might be hundreds of numbers but our studio (with solos, duet/trios, small group, large group and then all of those in lyrical, jazz, tap, open, etc. divisions) probably had at least a dozen numbers at any given competition. And we were a very small studio! I'd guess my daughter probably danced in an average of five numbers each time and I was usually her only family member in the audience.

After the first couple of years I signed up for the green room at Nutcracker. It was more fun than watching it over and over and over! I pretty much hated competitions but did love my dance crazy daughter so off I went

I didn't always agree with everything, especially some of the costumes, but all in all I think it was a positive experience for our DD. Dance gave her confidence, a positive body image and taught her that hard work has its rewards.

 

[jsmla]

My daughter was going to list some of her accomplishments in dance on her college applications. Now I'm thinking she should leave that off, as this crappy tv show has made a joke out of what serious dancers have managed to accomplish. Sure, she won a title at a few competitions, but this show has distorted the system so much that who is going to understand what a title means?

This made me When DD was doing her medical school applications I mentioned dance and she looked at me like I'd lost my mind!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If thEy are friends and colleagues, why on earth would they allow the show to portray them badmouthing each others studios and one allowing her dancers to not look great?

It does explain (if accurate) a lot about the way Ms Candy Apple always had this little smile on her face in dealing with Abby. Never any fear or anger.

And why would she participate in a show where Abby talks smack about her young daughter????

Delusional.

Just an interesting tidbit from a gal who says she was Cathy's student for 14 years.....

http://lexicalsemantics.blogspot.com/2011/08/for-entertainment-purposes-only.html



and a blurb from a producer explaining why he believes this 'reality' show has very little to do with reality (cut and pasted from another site)....

"I was a Producer for 25 years, first in radio then TV, in the Atlanta/Chicago area. This show is your very basic confrontation orientated program. 1) Interviews before the show tapes to tap into the mothers concerns. These concerns are generally low to moderate problems. 2) The producer exacerbates small to medium issues. What plays out as the biggest issue wins air time. That’s where the Moms get to “act”. The bigger they make their problem the greater their chances of air time 3) Set up meeting of confrontation or discussion. Film different angles and several takes. 4) Take film to editing and splice together a show. Yes, every blue moon you will have a legitimate fight or argument. But its rare that you get it on film. Sometimes you have to be creative and “recreate” the moment. Most participants are glad to help with the recreation. Remember, more air time=more popularity=other opportunities in TV. (Dancing w the stars, etc) Bill was correct(must be in the biz). Check the camera angles and placement. Those producers, although not very creative, have done their job pulling in the viewers that can relate to the dance world. But don’t think for a moment that what you are seeing is real. Its all Hollywood editing magic and recreation. If you want real tune into “COPS”. "



The cameras and when and how they catch the drama that they do is really a good clue to the lack of reality in this reality show, I think. There was a scene a week or so ago where one of the moms confronts Abby's in her hotel room at a competition. There is a cameraman in the mom's room videotaping her angry rant before she comes out. There is also a cameraman in Abby's room videotaping her just sitting around. Then the first cameraman follows the mom out as she storms to Abby's room. No question that was set up. You just can't tell me that every member of that show has a cameraman hanging around videotaping their every move 24/7 just in case something happens.

Personally I'm planning to watch for such clues from here on in. I find it more fun to catch the inconsistencies than to criticize the participants.

 

[katrina1122]

When ddo these competitions take place?

They went from FL to Vegas to Hollywood and now on to Tahoe and didn't go home? Are these girls going to school during all of this and how much did they spend to be on the road that long? I can't imagine that the cost outweigh the benefits for developing their dance careers.

Such a train wreck.

 

[design_mom]

When ddo these competitions take place?

They went from FL to Vegas to Hollywood and now on to Tahoe and didn't go home? Are these girls going to school during all of this and how much did they spend to be on the road that long? I can't imagine that the cost outweigh the benefits for developing their dance careers.

Such a train wreck.

I think the "national" competitions (the ones they've been attending recently) are usually held during the summer. Our studio attended a competition in July (not the same one they attended). My guess is the girls were out of school during most of the taping.

 

[Schmeck]

This made me When DD was doing her medical school applications I mentioned dance and she looked at me like I'd lost my mind!

Well, for med school, they are most likely looking at what she did as an undergraduate in college, no? For college, they look at what you stuck with (12 years of dance) and what you accomplished by doing so. My daughter has spent far more time practicing at the dance studio, at least 10 hours a week, than her HS sports playing counterparts. It just kind of stinks that this show is becoming popular, and giving the dance community a bad name.

I just hope this studio doesn't show up at any of the competitions we go to this year - imagine the 3 ring circus that entails!

 

[CurlyGirl]

I just hope this studio doesn't show up at any of the competitions we go to this year - imagine the 3 ring circus that entails!

Oh, I hope they do! Then you can follow Abby Lee around and tell us if she's as bad as they portray her on tv!

 

[luvmy3]

I have never seen the show until last night, and all I can say is I feel sorry for every one of those girls on that show. I don't know if last nights show was different than all the others, but I can't believe the way those adult women act in front of those girls. I need a vomit smilie.

 

[jsmla]

Well, for med school, they are most likely looking at what she did as an undergraduate in college, no? For college, they look at what you stuck with (12 years of dance) and what you accomplished by doing so. My daughter has spent far more time practicing at the dance studio, at least 10 hours a week, than her HS sports playing counterparts. It just kind of stinks that this show is becoming popular, and giving the dance community a bad name.

She taught little ones in a rec class while she was in undergrad and wants to do peds at med school. I thought it would look good but she didn't want it anywhere on her admission except under employment. I know for a while DD, especially September-December, was spending at least four hours a day at a studio during the week and most of the day on weekends-way more time than any of the guys I knew spent at sports practice.

 

[HonnyDipp]

I just started watching this show. But am I the only person who is uncomfortable with the dark dance routines? The group dance about the missing kids and then Maddy's dance routine with the black eye makeup bothered me. Maybe that was the reason why she got 2nd place.

Also, Abby took Maddie out to lunch but wasn't she in charge of her little sister too?

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I just started watching this show. But am I the only person who is uncomfortable with the dark dance routines? The group dance about the missing kids and then Maddy's dance routine with the black eye makeup bothered me. Maybe that was the reason why she got 2nd place.

Also, Abby took Maddie out to lunch but wasn't she in charge of her little sister too?

I wondered where Mackenzie was too, but I thought maybe she was with Nia, either just hanging out or working on their duet with the assistant.