Dance mom's are wack

[marie1203]

I love this show. It might be because I don't have kids so I cannot relate to the way mothers must feel when they watch a dance teacher yell at their daughters, but I can't get enough.

I danced as a child, never competitively and just for fun, but once I got into high school I got a little competitive with other things- academics mostly. So I'm a competitive person and it might be why I don't see as much wrong with the show as others. Oh well.

That being said, I feel as if the first episode pushed it to the extreme. As the series has gone on, I feel like it's been toned down- er, well a little bit. Slightly.

I sometimes even find myself agreeing with Abbey on certain things (Nia has to be corrected over and over, fix their flaws before they go out into the real world, etc) but I'm afraid to admit it lest everyone on the DIS thinks I'm insane. But anyway, just like everyone else, I have my moments. "Electricity" and "Where have all the children gone" made me cringe. I find myself occasionally raising my eyebrows at whatever costume the girls have on. I wonder why they're always in full make-up.

But I like this show because truth be told, I don't get the impression that most of the girls are forced to do this (like Toddlers and Tiaras). They all seem to thoroughly enjoy dancing with the exception of Vivi (whose mother is just crazy) and Brooke- and Brooke I can make an exception for because even though her mother pushes her to continue with dancing, I think it's for good intentions- she mentioned in the first episode that 13 years old is when all the trouble starts and that's why she doesn't want Brooke to quit dance.

AND I still like it even though I'm pretty aware that most of the things are probably pushed and/or scripted (Candy Apples showdown... seriously?)

Anyway, there's my crazy rant. I've been afraid to admit that I love this show at the risk that people will flame me but it's my guilty pleasure.

I agree with 100%. I also don't have kids and sometimes I do agree with Abby.

What poor judgements has Holly made? Holly knows that Abby Lee is the one whose students end up on Broadway, dancing for Disney, in Cirque de Soliel, etc. If that's what Nia wants, then what choice does Holly have? Holly complained to Abby Lee about the costumes twice and Abby told her if she didn't like it, she could go elsewhere. Where else is Holly going to go if Abby's the only show in town that has such a high success rate?



When your kid wants to be a pro dancer and Abby Lee turns out pro dancers, are you really going to leave a studio that offers the best chance of making your child's dreams come true? If Nia were miseable, you can bet she wouldn't dance there anymore.

Abby is a bulldog and there's only one way with her ... and it's her way. Like Abby says, people can go elsewhere if they don't like it but elsewhere doesn't turn out the pros like she does. You can see that Holly's frustrated ... but what can she do? Pull her daughter and destroy the kid's dreams?! Or just suck it up and have the area's most successful dance teacher training her kid?

This I heard most of this girls say they want a career as a dancer. I do not think any of the dancers that have made it out of her company regret it at all but I am sure they thanked their parents for giving that opportunity.

AND, I still think they dance like crap. It's unmoving, it's uninspired and it's not even pretty to watch.

I used to compete when I was younger and my older step brother was a dancer so we watched many competitions for their age category they are good. Some of the moves might not look like much but they are hard to accomplish. I can say I have not seen many girls in they age be better than they are. I seen teams that practice for longer and they do not get nearly as close to their level. Add to that they put routines together in a week.

 

[CurlyGirl]

So, you'll teach your daughter to tramp it up and let herself get treated like dirt, all for the glory of being a two bit chorus girl on Broadway? Seems like very little return for teaching a kid some self respect.

Wow! Who says that those girls will be two bit chorus girls? Abby Lee allegedly puts out some great dancers with successful careers. And, honestly, with the amount of opportunities that there are to dance on Broadway and the number of dancers wanting to fill those few spots, I don't think anyone dancing on Broadway is considered a "two bit chorus girl".

You don't think those girls have any self-respect? How do you come up with that? I would bet that they probably follow direction better than most kids in their class, handle stress better, and take criticism better.

Do you think that a choreographer on Broadway is going to be any different than Abby Lee? Do you think a choreographer or director is going to mollycoddle his dancers? Please. Those girls have been trained to hear, accept and handle criticism. They've been trained to listen and take direction. Abby is hard on them because she knows what it'll be like for them in the dance world. They'll have choreographers and directors yelling at them.

Believe me, most girls put in that situation would be begging to quit. Abby is just weeding out those who are serious from those who are not. Plain and simple. Abby won't deal with special snowflakes because she knows that they won't handle what's thrown out at them in the dance world.

ETA: I don't have any daughters. I have a son. He is in sports. His coaches are hard on him, they push him to do better and I'm fine with that. He is fine with that. He knows that if he wants to be successful, he has to work hard.

 

[castmember19]

Wow! Who says that those girls will be two bit chorus girls? Abby Lee allegedly puts out some great dancers with successful careers. And, honestly, with the amount of opportunities that there are to dance on Broadway and the number of dancers wanting to fill those few spots, I don't think anyone dancing on Broadway is considered a "two bit chorus girl".

You don't think those girls have any self-respect? How do you come up with that? I would bet that they probably follow direction better than most kids in their class, handle stress better, and take criticism better.

Do you think that a choreographer on Broadway is going to be any different than Abby Lee? Do you think a choreographer or director is going to mollycoddle his dancers? Please. Those girls have been trained to hear, accept and handle criticism. They've been trained to listen and take direction. Abby is hard on them because she knows what it'll be like for them in the dance world. They'll have choreographers and directors yelling at them.

Believe me, most girls put in that situation would be begging to quit. Abby is just weeding out those who are serious from those who are not. Plain and simple. Abby won't deal with special snowflakes because she knows that they won't handle what's thrown out at them in the dance world.

ETA: I don't have any daughters. I have a son. He is in sports. His coaches are hard on him, they push him to do better and I'm fine with that. He is fine with that. He knows that if he wants to be successful, he has to work hard.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Wow! Who says that those girls will be two bit chorus girls? Abby Lee allegedly puts out some great dancers with successful careers. And, honestly, with the amount of opportunities that there are to dance on Broadway and the number of dancers wanting to fill those few spots, I don't think anyone dancing on Broadway is considered a "two bit chorus girl".

You don't think those girls have any self-respect? How do you come up with that? I would bet that they probably follow direction better than most kids in their class, handle stress better, and take criticism better.

Do you think that a choreographer on Broadway is going to be any different than Abby Lee? Do you think a choreographer or director is going to mollycoddle his dancers? Please. Those girls have been trained to hear, accept and handle criticism. They've been trained to listen and take direction. Abby is hard on them because she knows what it'll be like for them in the dance world. They'll have choreographers and directors yelling at them.

Believe me, most girls put in that situation would be begging to quit. Abby is just weeding out those who are serious from those who are not. Plain and simple. Abby won't deal with special snowflakes because she knows that they won't handle what's thrown out at them in the dance world.

ETA: I don't have any daughters. I have a son. He is in sports. His coaches are hard on him, they push him to do better and I'm fine with that. He is fine with that. He knows that if he wants to be successful, he has to work hard.

Push hard I get, obnoxious, mean and rude, no. I'm not a dance person, but they look jerky and uncoordinated to me. Maybe I'm just used to seeing better from the cheerleader next door? Their routine's look polished, these girls look like they don't even know each other out there. That chair routine was a mess.

Someone said they do the same routine through out the comps? or do they learn a new one a week? I've heard both. I can see why they would be choppy like that with a week's practice, but if they've been doing it all year, not very good work.

I'm saying no self respect because Nia(?) watched her mom back down from Abby about the stupid afro and type casting her. It was an exercise in teaching her how to let someone push her around to do things she doesn't want to do. Because it was obvious, at least to me, that the mom wasn't happy with it and wants it to stop. Yet, she's still there and I don't recall Abby having a change of heart.

The routine was trashy. From concept to costume.

 

[castmember19]

I'm saying no self respect because Nia(?) watched her mom back down from Abby about the stupid afro and type casting her. It was an exercise in teaching her how to let someone push her around to do things she doesn't want to do. Because it was obvious, at least to me, that the mom wasn't happy with it and wants it to stop. Yet, she's still there and I don't recall Abby having a change of heart.

The routine was trashy. From concept to costume.

While I wasn't a fan of the actual routine, or the song... I get what Abby was saying. I don't think it was typecasting, I think it's true- the other girls that do the "ethnic" dances that Nia can do. Meanwhile, Nia can do everything the other girls do and then some. She had a Bollywood number last week that I'm sure could be argued as stereotypical but nobody was complaining because Nia won first place.

I think the moms need to choose their battles a little better. The "Electricity" dance I saw the issue with. Even then, the moms should have spoken up before the competition. If the kids had placed, they wouldn't have been complaining.

That is, if the producers haven't been provoking them, which I wouldn't doubt.

 

[Magic Mom]

While I wasn't a fan of the actual routine, or the song... I get what Abby was saying. I don't think it was typecasting, I think it's true- the other girls that do the "ethnic" dances that Nia can do. Meanwhile, Nia can do everything the other girls do and then some. She had a Bollywood number last week that I'm sure could be argued as stereotypical but nobody was complaining because Nia won first place.

I think the moms need to choose their battles a little better. The "Electricity" dance I saw the issue with. Even then, the moms should have spoken up before the competition. If the kids had placed, they wouldn't have been complaining.

That is, if the producers haven't been provoking them, which I wouldn't doubt.

Her mother did complain about that dance too. And just because the dance is ethnic doesn't mean the other girls can't do it.
Bottome line, Nia's mother allows her to be verbally abused. That's not good judgement. I don't care how good Abby is, she isn't the only dance teacher that turns out good dancers.

 

[Magic Mom]

ETA: I don't have any daughters. I have a son. He is in sports. His coaches are hard on him, they push him to do better and I'm fine with that. He is fine with that. He knows that if he wants to be successful, he has to work hard.

My daughter show jumps horses andcross country jumps as well. Her instructor is incredibly hard on them. She has classes with 4 12 yo girls jumping 3 foot fences with 1200 pound animals, so she has to be on them all the time fo safety's sake. I've seen her tell a child to get off her pony and leave the arena. She yells. But she is never sneering and nasty and sarcstic like Abby is. You can be strict and demanding without humiliation.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

How is the dance studio "not for profit"? I hardly get the feel that Abby is philanthropic in any way, shape or form.


Wait...the producers....PROVOKE them? Yeah, like that happens.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I know what you're saying. Their transitional movements aren't very fluid. There is no "flow". It's almost like you can hear the kid saying the routine in their head as they're performing -- "Chasse, now arabesque, then spot turn, ok aerial cartwheel" in their head. It doesn't come from just letting the music "take them". They focus on the technique (good turnout, perfect landing) and just don't let the movements flow. It's like they know the steps and are repeating the steps but aren't letting the music take them.

ETA -- I would guess that a lot of that has to do with the fact that they have a week to learn a new routine before presenting it in competition. They can't get the "lyrical" format of fluid movement down because they're so focused on remembering the steps.

Agreed. I know for myself that I have to dance a routine many, many times before I get "muscle memory" and don't have to think so hard about what comes next. When I get to that point I can actually start to DANCE, and put expression into my face and movements. Prior to that I'm just going through the motions, ya know? So while I agree that it's technically possible to learn a routine and compete it in a short space of time, I think it takes an extraordinary dancer (and they do exist) to truly be able to dance a new choreography well within just a few days.

Some of the dance costumes are a bit , but I don't mind the make-up - you have to have it pretty much caked on in order to not get washed out under the bright stage lights.

 

[lilmissdisney216]

is it sad that I'm still kinda over the statement "kick apples."??!!

 

[goofy4tink]

It depends on how you define perfect technique. Her legs are straight, her turnout is good, ect but all of them lack what we always called the "conncetive tissue" of dance. The underlying musicality and transitional skills that knit all the "big ticket" tricks together is just not there the way it should be in dancers who are throwing those kinds of skills. I have found that a lot of times with younger girls it is a trade off. You can either push them into these major skills at 8-10 or you can slow down and teach musicality, flow, and connection to the music and wait on the "big" skills until they are ready to integrate them into a fluid routine. Our sudio errs on the side of waiting to teach foutes untill they are 10-11 and teaching those connective skills first.

Thanks for putting my thoughts into words. There is no way girls that young have the musicality to dance those routines. So, they have decent technique. But, dance is more than 'doing the right steps'. I would much rather teach technique to girls this age, and then as they mature, put in more complicated routines as their musicality improves. But now???? Sure, they do the right steps, but there is something terribly lacking in their routines.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

While I wasn't a fan of the actual routine, or the song... I get what Abby was saying. I don't think it was typecasting, I think it's true- the other girls that do the "ethnic" dances that Nia can do. Meanwhile, Nia can do everything the other girls do and then some. She had a Bollywood number last week that I'm sure could be argued as stereotypical but nobody was complaining because Nia won first place.

I think the moms need to choose their battles a little better. The "Electricity" dance I saw the issue with. Even then, the moms should have spoken up before the competition. If the kids had placed, they wouldn't have been complaining.

That is, if the producers haven't been provoking them, which I wouldn't doubt.

Personally I was more "offended" that it was called "Bollywood" but the costume and moves looked more Thai than Indian. Talk about stereotyping! I get what Abby is saying and I think Holly is being too sensitive. But, I don't know anything about competitive dance, but 8-9 years old may too young to start teaching "ethnic" dance. Shouldn't they be polishing the basics?

 

[mjkacmom]

Personally I was more "offended" that it was called "Bollywood" but the costume and moves looked more Thai than Indian.?

Why? Isn't that a recognized form of dance? I know that it's a category on So You Think You Can Dance.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Why? Isn't that a recognized form of dance? I know that it's a category on So You Think You Can Dance.

Well I may be wrong, like I said I don't know anything about competitive dance. But I do know attire and dance with Thai elements, and Nia's costume and dance looked Thai. From what I know, Bollywood refers to India's film industry, and the Bollywood style of attire and dance is quite unique. I've never heard anything from Thailand referred to as "Bollywood." But maybe in the dance world it's close enough.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Abby Lee Dance Studio is a mile from my house. (Penn Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh) I have a lot of friends who sent their daughters there to dance and ended up leaving after a year or two.
That woman is something else!

I had enough warnings about the place and sent my daughter to a different dance studio, but I did get to meet Abby one time when she was involved in working with some girls from my daughters school for a video. I didn't like her and wouldn't want my daughter around her.

That's exactly what I was wondering. My son works with a professional dancer from Butler. I've always what the Abby Lee Dance Studio's reputation is. I've bugged him to ask, but typical son-he keeps forgetting. It's one of my favorite shows. Boy, am I glad I had sons to raise!

 

[Embel]

This is so true. If you do research on Abby Lee alumni, you'll find that a good amount of them go on to perform at Disney.

That's neat to know.

In a way, these girls have already "made it big". They're on TV every week. They are most likely earning a paycheck for it. The show certainly opens the door for bigger things to come from it. I laughed when the broadway casting agent came to the studio. He could have watched them all from the comfort of his home. And...so can any other casting agent.

That's why the mother's will put up with all the drama and problems.

 

[kacaju]

That's neat to know.

In a way, these girls have already "made it big". They're on TV every week. They are most likely earning a paycheck for it. The show certainly opens the door for bigger things to come from it. I laughed when the broadway casting agent came to the studio. He could have watched them all from the comfort of his home. And...so can any other casting agent.

That's why the mother's will put up with all the drama and problems.

My dd teaches a few dance classes, and she has said she has seen these girls as models for the dancewear costume catalogs

 

[mjkacmom]

That's neat to know.

In a way, these girls have already "made it big". They're on TV every week. They are most likely earning a paycheck for it. The show certainly opens the door for bigger things to come from it. I laughed when the broadway casting agent came to the studio. He could have watched them all from the comfort of his home. And...so can any other casting agent.

That's why the mother's will put up with all the drama and problems.

I laughed when a NYC casting agent was looking for new talent at a studio outside of Pittsburgh - there is plenty of talent in the NYC area as it is!

 

[scrapquitler]

My dd teaches a few dance classes, and she has said she has seen these girls as models for the dancewear costume catalogs

They mentioned that indirectly during one of the first few episodes. They showed a scene of the Mom with the two daughters looking at one of the costume catalogs and the girls were talking to the Mom about it.

 

[scrapquitler]

I laughed when a NYC casting agent was looking for new talent at a studio outside of Pittsburgh - there is plenty of talent in the NYC area as it is!

Free advertising for him. And I'm sure he was paid!