Dance mom's new low

[PrincessKsMom]

Not that it makes it any better, but if you watched the show you'd realized THEY LOST. Apparently the judges were uncomfortable with their routine as well and let them know it. That's the only thing that speaks to Abby. I'm hoping it left a lasting impression and she doesn't try something like this in the future.

As for the outfit, I've seen smaller outfits at the beach. It sounded horrible when she described it but a blinged out top and silver bootie shorts is not vulgar in the dance world/cheer world.

 

[dngnb8]

Ive seen this on Yahoo's Prime Time in No Time.

If people dont see that the dance troop leader is purposely creating routines to shock the "reality" audience, then I suggest capping the airplane glue.

 

[phorsenuf]

I watched that episode and the costumes were so decorated that the whole thing was way overblown (can you say ratings). If anyone who is appalled actually saw they episode, instead of reading it second hand, you would see it wasn't a big deal in the end. I didn't agree with how some of the moves went, but they weren't even close to looking like they were dancing nude.

And what is this Daily Mail thing you are always quoting. Is it like a British version of the National Enquirer or something?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I watched that episode and the costumes were so decorated that the whole thing was way overblown (can you say ratings). If anyone who is appalled actually saw they episode, instead of reading it second hand, you would see it wasn't a big deal in the end. I didn't agree with how some of the moves went, but they weren't even close to looking like they were dancing nude.

And what is this Daily Mail thing you are always quoting. Is it like a British version of the National Enquirer or something?

I agree...The costumes weren't that bad. The style and theme of the dance were what I have an issue with.

It's funny to me how the moms were all up in arms about the dance, but Chloe's mother had NO problem letting her dance for Cathy in a MEAT SUIT! It was SO obvious that is was done to humiliate the poor girl.

 

[mjkacmom]

BTW, the straps were being colored with make-up to make them blend into the skin & disappear to the audience, not to make clear straps visible.

I disagree - the reason manufacturers make clear bra straps is so they won't be seen. Once they colored them in, they were definitely more visable.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

And what is this Daily Mail thing you are always quoting. Is it like a British version of the National Enquirer or something?

The Daily Wail or Daily Fail as it gets called is a tabloid targetting the middle market.
It's right wing, nationalistic, xenophobic and spends most of its time now writing about US stories and "celebs" such as the Kardashians and Snooki as well as bashing Europe

 

[mjkacmom]

If you are going to bash my city, at least get the spelling correct!! It's PITTSBURGH- with an H.

And yes, we are a center for the arts, a very prominent one. Have you never heard of Carnegie Mellon University?? CMU is one of the most highly regarded performing arts colleges in the country. Pittsburgh has produced a long list of celebrities, to name a few: Josh Groban, Melina Kanakenderas, Dennis Miller, Julie Benz, Holly Hunter, Francis McDormand, Ming Na, Dan Cortese, Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Keaton, GENE KELLY, Zachary Quinto, Rob Marshall, Jackie Evancho, Christina Aguilera, Coolio, Wiz Khalifa, MARTHA GRAHAM....get the idea.

And ALL little girls teeth look like that. Kids are not supposed to get braces until their teens, and this comes from having a mother who is and has been a dentist for the past 25 years.

Actually, orthodonics has changed a lot from when I had braces. I don't know any kids that age who aren't metalled up already. Poor dd15 still has hers on, and it is embarrassing for her, since most kids are done at this point. I thought it was hysterical when a "talent scout" came from NYC to audition the girls - like there's not enough talent in NYC that you'd have to travel 3 hours west to find a dancer.

The Candy Apple studio cracks me up - not only just because of the name, Cathy's pathetic hair cut, but the fact that it's attached to her husbands beef jerky store! And that they made that poor child dress up in a meat costume - it's a whole different world!

 

[epcotprincess]

If you are going to bash my city, at least get the spelling correct!! It's PITTSBURGH- with an H.

And yes, we are a center for the arts, a very prominent one. Have you never heard of Carnegie Mellon University?? CMU is one of the most highly regarded performing arts colleges in the country. Pittsburgh has produced a long list of celebrities, to name a few: Josh Groban, Melina Kanakenderas, Dennis Miller, Julie Benz, Holly Hunter, Francis McDormand, Ming Na, Dan Cortese, Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Keaton, GENE KELLY, Zachary Quinto, Rob Marshall, Jackie Evancho, Christina Aguilera, Coolio, Wiz Khalifa, MARTHA GRAHAM....get the idea.

And ALL little girls teeth look like that. Kids are not supposed to get braces until their teens, and this comes from having a mother who is and has been a dentist for the past 25 years.

:

And I was under the impression that most of the families on the show are well-off. Private dance lessons alone are a fortune, not to mention: dance school tuition that does not include the one-on-one training, new costumes every week, travel expenses to competitions, the cost of dance shoes, the cost of specific "dance wear" to practice in, performance necessities such as makeup, tights, hair stuff, etc., competition entrance fees, and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. Also, the girls are always in Ugg boots and the moms are frequently in designer clothing. On top of that, two of the featured moms have TWO daughters in the program. It really adds up.

I am not from Pittsburgh and I do not condone the performance choice in question in this post, but to suggest they're from some podunk town and don't have enough money to fix their teeth is misinformed.

 

[cabanafrau]

I watched that episode and the costumes were so decorated that the whole thing was way overblown (can you say ratings). If anyone who is appalled actually saw they episode, instead of reading it second hand, you would see it wasn't a big deal in the end. I didn't agree with how some of the moves went, but they weren't even close to looking like they were dancing nude.

And what is this Daily Mail thing you are always quoting. Is it like a British version of the National Enquirer or something?

Of course it's manufactured, overblown and the routines are created for the show to garner ratings. I saw the episode. I am a dance mom. I am even a dance mom w/ a HS DD who performed in a showgirl outfit -- think Busby Berkley(sp?) movie chorus line with bright red fans. The premise of the TV routine was to emulate showgirls, showgirls dancing with fans, showgirls who danced with fans in burlesque numbers to either give the illusion of nudity or in fact dance nude & tantalize the audience with peek a boo.

How on earth does it matter whether or not you in the television audience or the live audience that day knew full well the girls were not nude? How is it ever appropriate for children to perform in any way that insinuates nudity, however close it is or not to looking as if they were in fact dancing nude? It doesn't matter a bit. It's never appropriate, never.

 

[phorsenuf]

Of course it's manufactured, overblown and the routines are created for the show to garner ratings. I saw the episode. I am a dance mom. I am even a dance mom w/ a HS DD who performed in a showgirl outfit -- think Busby Berkley(sp?) movie chorus line with bright red fans. The premise of the TV routine was to emulate showgirls, showgirls dancing with fans, showgirls who danced with fans in burlesque numbers to either give the illusion of nudity or in fact dance nude & tantalize the audience with peek a boo.

How on earth does it matter whether or not you in the television audience or the live audience that day knew full well the girls were not nude? How is it ever appropriate for children to perform in any way that insinuates nudity, however close it is or not to looking as if they were in fact dancing nude? It doesn't matter a bit. It's never appropriate, never.

Did you watch the episode? Just curious.

 

[mjkacmom]

:

And I was under the impression that most of the families on the show are well-off. Private dance lessons alone are a fortune, not to mention: dance school tuition that does not include the one-on-one training, new costumes every week, travel expenses to competitions, the cost of dance shoes, the cost of specific "dance wear" to practice in, performance necessities such as makeup, tights, hair stuff, etc., competition entrance fees, and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. Also, the girls are always in Ugg boots and the moms are frequently in designer clothing. On top of that, two of the featured moms have TWO daughters in the program. It really adds up.

I am not from Pittsburgh and I do not condone the performance choice in question in this post, but to suggest they're from some podunk town and don't have enough money to fix their teeth is misinformed.

And where do you think they're getting all that money for private lessons, lessons every day, travel, competitions, new costumes every week? Heck, the moms look even more together this season! Why do you think these moms are letting their girls participate in such a show?!

My dds' do Irish dance, and this network is trying to start a similar show, baiting people on message boards about different negative aspects, showing up and filming at competitions, having meetings with the powers that be... Of course, everyone says they refuse to participate, but I'm guessing they'll find enough that sell out for fortune and fame.

 

[cabanafrau]

I disagree - the reason manufacturers make clear bra straps is so they won't be seen. Once they colored them in, they were definitely more visable.

I understand the purpose of clear bra straps, they are in fact sold in the backwoods of Michigan. I don't believe they were putting make-up on clear straps at all. I do believe they were applying the make-up to fabric straps to make them blend in as much as possible to the skin, making them less visible to the audience. I myself have done this many times to straps on my girls' costumes over the years.

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

Abby Lee Miller is classless

 

[Joyful3Heart]

If you are going to bash my city, at least get the spelling correct!! It's PITTSBURGH- with an H.

And yes, we are a center for the arts, a very prominent one. Have you never heard of Carnegie Mellon University?? CMU is one of the most highly regarded performing arts colleges in the country. Pittsburgh has produced a long list of celebrities, to name a few: Josh Groban, Melina Kanakenderas, Dennis Miller, Julie Benz, Holly Hunter, Francis McDormand, Ming Na, Dan Cortese, Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Keaton, GENE KELLY, Zachary Quinto, Rob Marshall, Jackie Evancho, Christina Aguilera, Coolio, Wiz Khalifa, MARTHA GRAHAM....get the idea.

You beat me to it! As a fifth generation Pittsburgh girl, I assure you that it is a delightful place to live near and work in, with a rich history and increasingly bright future. So no 'burgh bashing, please, especially based on what is a manufactured "reality" show.

 

[cabanafrau]

In our area as of about 4 or so years ago the one dance company I know of tuition rates for was $26,000 per year. That is merely company tuition, not actual dance lessons. Travel costs and costumes were additional charges. To maintain technique and your spot in the company actual dance lessons were required and most members actually took lessons at a couple different studios, plus required in-house workshops at the dance company.

I believe the company tuition covered choreography, rehearsals and competition fees. Choreography fees can be quite large. I know even the studio my DD's danced at would pay $4,000 and up to outside choreographers for competition numbers. I know we were at a competition in 2008 where this dance company also competed and I heard their studio had paid over $50,000 in competition fees at that competition alone.

 

[kacaju]

I understand the purpose of clear bra straps, they are in fact sold in the backwoods of Michigan. I don't believe they were putting make-up on clear straps at all. I do believe they were applying the make-up to fabric straps to make them blend in as much as possible to the skin, making them less visible to the audience. I myself have done this many times to straps on my girls' costumes over the years.

when Abby first pulled out the bras, they had clear straps...when it came time to go on stage they had different bras with fabric straps, that they were covering up with makeup

 

[cabanafrau]

Did you watch the episode? Just curious.

Yes, that's what I said. I'm also a dance mom of over ten years, including several years of competition dance, even some of the competitions that have been featured on the show. I'm pretty familiar with the dance experience they're ostensibly trying to portray.

I've said for years I cannot for the life of me understand in an industry that is so predominantly female, with loads of women in positions of authority and control of the money, why there has not come a significant push for female dancers to move far into the athletic/artistic realm like the male dancers do?

 

[luvsJack]

I understand the purpose of clear bra straps, they are in fact sold in the backwoods of Michigan. I don't believe they were putting make-up on clear straps at all. I do believe they were applying the make-up to fabric straps to make them blend in as much as possible to the skin, making them less visible to the audience. I myself have done this many times to straps on my girls' costumes over the years.

If you watched the show, you would have seen the bras before they did anything to them and they were in fact clear straps. ETA: I see another poster stated that there were different bras that had fabric straps or maybe they changed the straps. Sometimes clear straps will reflect and shine under the lights more than just having a flesh colored fabric strap.

Additionally, although this was a "fan dance" and it was a burlesqe style of dance that traditionally gives the illusion of nudity or the dancer was in fact nude--these girls in no way looked nude or gave any such illusion. The color of the shorts and the bling on the tops made sure they did NOT, in any way, shape or form look nude.

 

[Heidict]

Oh please, I think CPS has more important things to worry about than a reality TV show. Did you watch the show? They took the flesh covered tops, covered them in tons of bling (dispelling the illusion that they were naked), darkened out the clear strap so you could see them, and they wore silver boy shorts. I've seen less at a beach on a 10 year old.

Yeah, but were the girls on the beach doing sexy / stripper / burlesque moves? I think that is the difference.

But it really doesn't matter - they're doing this for the ratings, for money, for 15 minutes of fame. This is as real as pro wrestling. And maybe the some of the girls will get an opportunity from this brief moment in the limelight. I mean, they're from PITTSBURG, not the center of the arts. Heck, have you seen the girls' teeth?! Maybe they'll be able to afford braces.

Wow, really? Have you ever been to Pittsburgh or are you just basing your knowledge of them from all the wonderful things portrayed in shows and on the internet. The fact that you would make insulting remarks about a childs teeth though tells me all I really need to know. Classy.

Of course what goes on in this show is manufactured. I saw an article online about this showgirls episode a few days ago and what really sickened me was a link to a purported online chat of pedophiles discussing the show, well particularly the dancers and I'll just leave it at that.

While I'm highly skeptical the online chat was real, I have no doubt there are many, many similar online discussions about the show. That thought leaves me feeling I got punched in the gut.

BTW, the straps were being colored with make-up to make them blend into the skin & disappear to the audience, not to make clear straps visible.

I wouldn't doubt that there are pedophile communities out there that discuss this show ad nauseum. It sickens me to think of it. Just one more of the many reasons why I would never allow my DD to take part in a show like this. She is a lot more important to me then money and fame.

If you are going to bash my city, at least get the spelling correct!! It's PITTSBURGH- with an H.

And yes, we are a center for the arts, a very prominent one. Have you never heard of Carnegie Mellon University?? CMU is one of the most highly regarded performing arts colleges in the country. Pittsburgh has produced a long list of celebrities, to name a few: Josh Groban, Melina Kanakenderas, Dennis Miller, Julie Benz, Holly Hunter, Francis McDormand, Ming Na, Dan Cortese, Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Keaton, GENE KELLY, Zachary Quinto, Rob Marshall, Jackie Evancho, Christina Aguilera, Coolio, Wiz Khalifa, MARTHA GRAHAM....get the idea.

And ALL little girls teeth look like that. Kids are not supposed to get braces until their teens, and this comes from having a mother who is and has been a dentist for the past 25 years.

Thank you for stating that!

Ive seen this on Yahoo's Prime Time in No Time.

If people dont see that the dance troop leader is purposely creating routines to shock the "reality" audience, then I suggest capping the airplane glue.

But why? It smells so good and I like the way it makes me feel.

In our area as of about 4 or so years ago the one dance company I know of tuition rates for was $26,000 per year. That is merely company tuition, not actual dance lessons. Travel costs and costumes were additional charges. To maintain technique and your spot in the company actual dance lessons were required and most members actually took lessons at a couple different studios, plus required in-house workshops at the dance company.

I believe the company tuition covered choreography, rehearsals and competition fees. Choreography fees can be quite large. I know even the studio my DD's danced at would pay $4,000 and up to outside choreographers for competition numbers. I know we were at a competition in 2008 where this dance company also competed and I heard their studio had paid over $50,000 in competition fees at that competition alone.

Wow, just wow. I can't believe that people can and would put out that much for dance. I guess if you got it though and your kid loves dance, then why not. Feel bad for those that love to dance and can't afford those astronomical prices though.

 

[Kimi313]

What I think a lot of people don't understand is that this show is completely manufactured. I am the mother of a competitive dancer and watching this show makes me cringe (so much so that I stopped watching midway through season 1).

You must register and pay for a competition at least a month in advance. At that time you must list the name of the routine, the participating dancers and their ages. There is no way to decide to do a new routine just a week before a competition. It would be a scheduling nightmare for the competiton organizers. Dancers also practice routines for months before a competition. The idea of learning a new routine a week before performing it is ridiculous.
.

Thank you! My DD competed for a small local studio for 15 years and I tell people this all the time but they don't believe me. I mean our studio may have been small but we went to big city competitions and talked to other studio moms.