Dance mom's are wack

[LuvsDragonflies]

**Broadway dancers typically earn $135 per show. With approximately eight performances per week, they earn between $1,000 an $1,100 as of 2005. Yet, a May 2011 casting notice in Backstage.com for the Broadway show "Wicked" pays dancers a minimum of $1,653 per week. This matches the Actors Equity Association standard agreement for weekly minimum rates on Broadway.

Read more: Salary of a Broadway Dancer | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8496907_salary-broadway-dancer.html#ixzz1XhbrJVXc**

Now that was in 2005, so I'm not sure how much more they would make 6 years later. 8 shows a week. So you figure you have to live in or really close to the city, not cheap, how many pairs of expensive dance shoes do you go thru? How many years can you keep it up? Travel expenses to and from work. Food, how much time do you really have to cook? Eating out is expensive. So even tho it sounds like a lot of money, I'm guessing those girls are still running a little tight.

Face it, if you aren't the star, even tho the money might seem good, it's not easy money. You'd better love it and you'd better hope your body can put up with it. IF you are lucky enough to be in a long running Broadway show, then you have something, at least for a while. If not, well you'd better be dancing for at least 12 weeks or your health insurance benefits drop off until you are back to working. I don't know if they have COBRA or not...

Seems like a tough life to me (again, unless you're a star, which would still be demanding). Again, if you love it great, but if you don't, you should find something else to do because I'm figuring it'll take a lot of commitment and time.

At least one of those kids really doesn't even want to dance. Thanks mom.

 

[CurlyGirl]

I see that Abby touts her students who have gone to dance on Broadway or Disney or other programs. I'd love to see how many have had a serious ballet career. Because while I know that's not what everyone wants, I can't see how Abby could be training serious ballerinas. Dancers perhaps but not those for whom ballet is their primary focus.

I don't think Abby Lee focuses on (or is serious about) classical ballet. It seems like her students know ballet and study it but it seems like all the performances are a combination of ballet, acro, and a few other things. I think her specialty is Broadway/Disney/Cirque du Soliel type dancers. I think her focus is on training dancers, not ballerinas.

 

[pacrosby]

**Broadway dancers typically earn $135 per show. With approximately eight performances per week, they earn between $1,000 an $1,100 as of 2005. Yet, a May 2011 casting notice in Backstage.com for the Broadway show "Wicked" pays dancers a minimum of $1,653 per week. This matches the Actors Equity Association standard agreement for weekly minimum rates on Broadway.

Read more: Salary of a Broadway Dancer | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8496907_salary-broadway-dancer.html#ixzz1XhbrJVXc**

Now that was in 2005, so I'm not sure how much more they would make 6 years later. 8 shows a week. So you figure you have to live in or really close to the city, not cheap, how many pairs of expensive dance shoes do you go thru? How many years can you keep it up? Travel expenses to and from work. Food, how much time do you really have to cook? Eating out is expensive. So even tho it sounds like a lot of money, I'm guessing those girls are still running a little tight.

Face it, if you aren't the star, even tho the money might seem good, it's not easy money. You'd better love it and you'd better hope your body can put up with it. IF you are lucky enough to be in a long running Broadway show, then you have something, at least for a while. If not, well you'd better be dancing for at least 12 weeks or your health insurance benefits drop off until you are back to working. I don't know if they have COBRA or not...

Seems like a tough life to me (again, unless you're a star, which would still be demanding). Again, if you love it great, but if you don't, you should find something else to do because I'm figuring it'll take a lot of commitment and time.

At least one of those kids really doesn't even want to dance. Thanks mom.

I know, just think, they could've gone out and spent 200 thousand dollars on a college education and ended up a manager at Staples for 32 grand. Whoopee!!!!!Now that's a life worth living

 

[golfgal]

There is nothing "reality" with this show.

My DD (11) has been in Comp Dance for 5 years, I have attended almost 100 competitions, and have witnessed thousands of routines, (300+ per competition) and have never, ever seen a single routine that would compare to what they show on this program.

It's a trash show with the producers engineering and pushing the situations to the extreme.

And for the record, i am a DANCE DAD....

http://youtu.be/fYTaPn1sD2I

DD16 was in dance for one year, age 4. We went to one recital and that was IT for her dance career. When the 5 year old group was dancing to bump and grind music and the outfits . It only got worse with each age group . Maybe you are just sensitized to all of this now?

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

I know, just think, they could've gone out and spent 200 thousand dollars on a college education and ended up a manager at Staples for 32 grand. Whoopee!!!!!Now that's a life worth living

Touche! I can't see being exactly passionate about that! lol

 

[MouseJunkie]

How bout' them apples??? More like road apples...

 

[chellewashere]

I cant believe she did that to Cloe (sp) I get shes mad at Abby and the moms, but to take it out on a child..what a <you know the word to put in here> I am so glad she got beat!! Then to come and say you cant fix stupid..WOW!!

 

[njmom47]

Cathy needs a huge reality check. I feel sorry for Vivi, but watching her in her duo with the boy last night, I thought her skills were nowhere near what her mom thinks they are. And as crazy as I think Abby is, I don't think "Candy Apple's" even remotely had a chance of beating Abby's girls, although Taylor did seem like a talented dancer.

ETA I thought Nia and MacKenzie were awesome together!

 

[clutter]

Anyone else think that Taylor's going to leave Candy Apples and show up at Abby Lee's??? Abby may be nuts, but Candy is nuttier.

 

[Swimnoid]

Anyone else think that Taylor's going to leave Candy Apples and show up at Abby Lee's??? Abby may be nuts, but Candy is nuttier.

That would be great! It's a couple of hours drive though, from Candy Apples to ALDS so that would be a pretty long commute.

 

[CurlyGirl]

Yesterday's episode only confirmed (for me) that Cathy is CRAZY!!!! Certifiably nuts.

What Cathy did (both stealing the song and saying you can't fix stupid) shows that she has no class. She is just a nasty woman whose daughter will never be a great dancer because Vivi doesn't WANT to be a dancer! Nor does she want to be famous. She's said as much!!! She will not put the effort in to be a good dancer if it's not what her passion is and Cathy can't see past Vivi's name in headlights.

It takes a real coward who has little confidence in her dancers to attempt to sabotage another dancer by stealing her music. How about your dancers dance on their own merit and shake up the other team with a fabulous performance and not with her crazy antics!!!

Cathy is just a spiteful little bee who thinks she knows it all but knows nothing. The dance that Vivi and Justice did looked like amateur hour compared to not only ALDS girls but to other kids dances that they showed.

Gotta love how Cathy trash talked ALDS and came out the loser. I was hoping that Cathy would lose just because I cannot stand her and her spiteful tactics.

Also ... this whole show is completely staged. Do you really think Abby got that drag queen to come? Please! You know that the producers sat down w/Abby Lee and said "You need to have Nia dance to this Laquifa song and wear an afro wig. Her mother will flip and that's going to make for a good show. Then, you can do a competition in LA and we'll get Laquifa the drag queen to stop by and teach Nia the death drop!" And you know that they sent Cathy to the LA competition to stir things up. And, even though you can look up the kids performance music on line, Cathy didn't come up with that idea on her own. I don't think she's that smart!

Cathy's mouth wrote a lot of checks that her butt couldn't cash last night and I loved that little self-assured know it all bombed out bigtime! How sad that she couldn't be a gracious loser!!!

 

[pacrosby]

Yesterday's episode only confirmed (for me) that Cathy is CRAZY!!!! Certifiably nuts.

What Cathy did (both stealing the song and saying you can't fix stupid) shows that she has no class. She is just a nasty woman whose daughter will never be a great dancer because Vivi doesn't WANT to be a dancer! Nor does she want to be famous. She's said as much!!! She will not put the effort in to be a good dancer if it's not what her passion is and Cathy can't see past Vivi's name in headlights.

It takes a real coward who has little confidence in her dancers to attempt to sabotage another dancer by stealing her music. How about your dancers dance on their own merit and shake up the other team with a fabulous performance and not with her crazy antics!!!

Cathy is just a spiteful little bee who thinks she knows it all but knows nothing. The dance that Vivi and Justice did looked like amateur hour compared to not only ALDS girls but to other kids dances that they showed.

Gotta love how Cathy trash talked ALDS and came out the loser. I was hoping that Cathy would lose just because I cannot stand her and her spiteful tactics.

Also ... this whole show is completely staged. Do you really think Abby got that drag queen to come? Please! You know that the producers sat down w/Abby Lee and said "You need to have Nia dance to this Laquifa song and wear an afro wig. Her mother will flip and that's going to make for a good show. Then, you can do a competition in LA and we'll get Laquifa the drag queen to stop by and teach Nia the death drop!" And you know that they sent Cathy to the LA competition to stir things up. And, even though you can look up the kids performance music on line, Cathy didn't come up with that idea on her own. I don't think she's that smart!

Cathy's mouth wrote a lot of checks that her butt couldn't cash last night and I loved that little self-assured know it all bombed out bigtime! How sad that she couldn't be a gracious loser!!!

But do we see how admitting that we know the whole show is staged makes getting angry at the 'actresses' and their 'performances' kind of silly? Then again, I have seen people talk this way about the characters on a daytime Soap Opera. Is that what people are doing here????? (I'm just kind of confused)

The more I watch of this show the more I am convinced that there is very little that is real about it. Did you ever notice how empty the auditoriums are when they pan to the audience during a number? Has anyone taken the time to look up the specifics regarding these competions, specifically the results? Hmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Tricia1972]

But do we see how admitting that we know the whole show is staged makes getting angry at the 'actresses' and their 'performances' kind of silly? Then again, I have seen people talk this way about the characters on a daytime Soap Opera. Is that what people are doing here????? (I'm just kind of confused)

The more I watch of this show the more I am convinced that there is very little that is real about it. Did you ever notice how empty the auditoriums are when they pan to the audience during a number? Has anyone taken the time to look up the specifics regarding these competions, specifically the results? Hmmmmmmmmmm

I admit that I've looked up Star Power's National and International title holders for 2011 to see how ALDC ends up for the year.

So far the winners on the show (like Maddie) and Chloe are listed as winners on Star Power's site.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

But do we see how admitting that we know the whole show is staged makes getting angry at the 'actresses' and their 'performances' kind of silly? Then again, I have seen people talk this way about the characters on a daytime Soap Opera. Is that what people are doing here????? (I'm just kind of confused)

The more I watch of this show the more I am convinced that there is very little that is real about it. Did you ever notice how empty the auditoriums are when they pan to the audience during a number? Has anyone taken the time to look up the specifics regarding these competions, specifically the results? Hmmmmmmmmmm

Staged or not, it would be a stretch to assume that this is a good thing for the kids. So no, I don't think it is silly to be upset with the moms to subjecting their daughters to this. I just don't think they are all Oscar winning actors able to act upset and defeated when Abby barks. So while the set up is staged, the reactions are real--especially when Maddy and the other kids cried wyns Chloe's mom went on her tirade. The moms allowed it to go way too far before they thought to protect the children. It isn't an improv class where they are pretending to be other people.

Depending on the dance competition, the auditoriums can be packed or empty as the various competitors often only show up when they are ready to perform. That doesn't mean much to me. The best attendee competition we attended was one at Disney. It was a major one, but even then..groups came and went. We attended another one a Disney that was smaller and I swear I could hear Jiminy Cricket chirping.

From our limited experience--places like Candy Apples can claim champion status because they prudently select venues where their chance of success is greater. Competitions are a dime a dozen. The second Disney one we went to, there were dancers who were older but less skilled than Vivi. But they did okay due to limited competitors or being the only competitor in their category. So they would be champions.. (for solo performances)

 

[pacrosby]

I admit that I've looked up Star Power's National and International title holders for 2011 to see how ALDC ends up for the year.

So far the winners on the show (like Maddie) and Chloe are listed as winners on Star Power's site.

Thanx for that info. At least we now know that that part is accurate......well, for Star Power anyway.

Personally I've never questioned the girls' talent (well, some of them anyway). They dance mostly contemporary and lyrical and acrobatic numbers...something that, I've come to the conclusion, many here simply aren't familiar with. Perhaps the shots of the audience/judges are 'staged' as well.....taken out of sync, after the actual competition. That would explain the almost empty auditoriums.

The screaming and yelling and swearing and all in front of the kids is what makes me cringe.....scripted or not. I almost feel like it HAS to be scripted since it's so outrageous. But then again I ask myself who would allow themselves to be portrayed like that on national television? Scripted or not.

They must have a lot of 'splainin' to do to family and friends.

 

[CurlyGirl]

But do we see how admitting that we know the whole show is staged makes getting angry at the 'actresses' and their 'performances' kind of silly? Then again, I have seen people talk this way about the characters on a daytime Soap Opera. Is that what people are doing here????? (I'm just kind of confused)

Putting people in situations and filming their reactions (staging a situation) is different than memorizing a soap opera script.

It's my feeling that the producers stage things but don't necessarily script them. The whole getting Laquifa in to show girls moves was preplanned. You know they decided to give Nia that Laquifa dance and knew they could bring Laquifa in once they hit LA. You know the producers set up Cathy going to the LA dance competition. That idea wasn't hers. The producers knew it would make for great drama and paid for her and those kids to go. Notice that she had all of what - 3 kids? No group competition? At least ALDS girls competed in solos and groups.

These women are put in situations and can choose their path. Different from reading off a soap opera script. The producers probably said "hey, by the way, you can see what ALDS kids are dancing to by going to the website." Or they could've said "Chloe is dancing to this song - you should ruffle her feathers by using the same music!" Then,it's entirely up to Cathy to choose to lift the music or to say "No, that goes against my ethics, it's immoral, and I won't steal the other child's music." I think these women are put in positions where they have choices to make and the producers hope things will have the outcome they want.

The more I watch of this show the more I am convinced that there is very little that is real about it. Did you ever notice how empty the auditoriums are when they pan to the audience during a number? Has anyone taken the time to look up the specifics regarding these competions, specifically the results? Hmmmmmmmmmm

A lot of these competitions draw mainly family members and not the outside public. My neighbor's girls dance and have gone to Star Power and I know that it's a very expensive thing to do, so only their Mom goes to the competitions. It's not like they bring the entire family along. And, I am sure that the moms are backstage with the girls unless their girls are performing. So, I think that contributes to lack of audience.

Have you ever watched those Toddlers and Tiaras type shows? The audiences are just as bare. It's not like there's a large draw unless you know a performer. From watching Dance Moms and T&T, it looks like the only time the moms are in the audience is when their kids are on stage. Otherwise, they're back stage getting the kids ready for the next dance.

I wouldn't go to a pageant or a dance competition unless I knew someone in it and, even then, it would have to be a family member because I wouldn't want to sit through hours of dancing or a beauty pageant for kicks.

 

[mdsoccermom]

I am addicted to this show. I danced for 15 years, but came from a very traditional dance setting. On occasion there would be an opportunity to compete, but it was nothing like was we see on the show. I wanted DD to dance, but she took a year and a half of classes and quit because she didn't like it. Soccer is a much better fit for her, LOL!

As far as scripting goes, I did read that the whole pyramid thing was created by the producers, and not something that Abby Lee does.

The one thing that makes my blood boil was how Abby puts the girls right in the middle of her conflicts with the mothers. To talk about the mothers' behavior to the girls is completely out of line.

 

[pacrosby]

Staged or not, it would be a stretch to assume that this is a good thing for the kids. So no, I don't think it is silly to be upset with the moms to subjecting their daughters to this. I just don't think they are all Oscar winning actors able to act upset and defeated when Abby barks. So while the set up is staged, the reactions are real--especially when Maddy and the other kids cried wyns Chloe's mom went on her tirade. The moms allowed it to go way too far before they thought to protect the children. It isn't an improv class where they are pretending to be other people.

No, I hear you on that. I agree that the way they talk to one another in front of the children is outrageous, scripted or not. But it just doesn't sit well with me that it's completely unscripted. It's alittle TOO over the top in my opinion. And while I agree with you that their emotions often seem very real, there's still something very unreal about those scenes. To me it feels like they are in fact acting for the camera. I've heard other reality show participants say that very thing after the show is over......that when that camera is in your face, you can't help but ham it up.

From our limited experience--places like Candy Apples can claim champion status because they prudently select venues where their chance of success is greater. Competitions are a dime a dozen. The second Disney one we went to, there were dancers who were older but less skilled than Vivi. But they did okay due to limited competitors or being the only competitor in their category. So they would be champions.. (for solo performances)

I'm the mother of a dedicated dancer as well (10-12 hours a week) and am aware of how competition has become a bit of a joke. At our studio only the most advanced dancers compete and they're very selective when it comes to choosing competitions to compete in. As an alternative, there are many other opportunities available to the serious dancer who hasn't quite risen to that very advanced level yet......opportunities that don't require the kind of time and financial committment that Competition Team generally does. This notion of novice dancers competing makes little sense to me. I'd be wary of any studio that did this.

 

[pacrosby]

Putting people in situations and filming their reactions (staging a situation) is different than memorizing a soap opera script.

It's my feeling that the producers stage things but don't necessarily script them. The whole getting Laquifa in to show girls moves was preplanned. You know they decided to give Nia that Laquifa dance and knew they could bring Laquifa in once they hit LA. You know the producers set up Cathy going to the LA dance competition. That idea wasn't hers. The producers knew it would make for great drama and paid for her and those kids to go. Notice that she had all of what - 3 kids? No group competition? At least ALDS girls competed in solos and groups.

These women are put in situations and can choose their path. Different from reading off a soap opera script. The producers probably said "hey, by the way, you can see what ALDS kids are dancing to by going to the website." Or they could've said "Chloe is dancing to this song - you should ruffle her feathers by using the same music!" Then,it's entirely up to Cathy to choose to lift the music or to say "No, that goes against my ethics, it's immoral, and I won't steal the other child's music." I think these women are put in positions where they have choices to make and the producers hope things will have the outcome they want.

I can't disagree with anything that you say. I really don't know the answer. I guess when I watch Cathy go off on a tirade I have a hard time believing that anyone in their right mind could be that crazy. In my mind if it isn't scripted it HAS to at least be egged on by the producers. I can actually see them all sitting together before shooting telling her to behave like a nutjob...feeding her ideas for crazy things to say.....allowing her to rehearsh a bit before filming. I mean I can get a little crazy too but I have boundaries. I can't imagine how any of these women wouldn't be aware of how such behavior, if not scripted, could impact their personal and professional reputations at home.

And I guess for me it all boils down to the kids. I simply don't (maybe can't is a better word) believe that these women would allow themselves to behave this way in front of their children if it wasn't all 'part of the show'. In this day and age, seems like an invitation to DSS.

 

[CurlyGirl]

I can't disagree with anything that you say. I really don't know the answer. I guess when I watch Cathy go off on a tirade I have a hard time believing that anyone in their right mind could be that crazy. In my mind if it isn't scripted it HAS to at least be egged on by the producers. I can actually see them all sitting together before shooting telling her to behave like a nutjob...feeding her ideas for crazy things to say.....allowing her to rehearsh a bit before filming. I mean I can get a little crazy too but I have boundaries. I can't imagine how any of these women wouldn't be aware of how such behavior, if not scripted, could impact their personal and professional reputations at home.

And I guess for me it all boils down to the kids. I simply don't (maybe can't is a better word) believe that these women would allow themselves to behave this way in front of their children if it wasn't all 'part of the show'. In this day and age, seems like an invitation to DSS.

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

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. I'd bet she preplans what she'll say in certain situations. IE: her encounter with Abby Lee at the LA competition. I am sure that, the whole flight to LA, even before, Cathy was picturing different scenarios and preplanning her reactions. She was planning on what to say, how to say it, etc. Sure, the producers might've fed her key lines or ideas, but I think Cathy is the kind of woman who could turn ordering a coffee at Starbucks into major drama.

ETA: I am sure the producers "help" along the way. I am sure they nudge, egg, implant ideas, cajole, etc. For example, I bet the producers gave Cathy the idea to steal the music. I don't know that she would've come up with that on her own. A good dance teacher would have enough faith in her student to let that student's ability show and wouldn't feel the need to sabotage another dancer.