The Dance Mom Thread

[jwsqrdplus2]

Is this the Encore one you are talking about? Are you doing the Encore nationals in Las Vegas. Looks to be up on our schedule for next year. We have LADF convention and competition this weekend although the younger girls are not competing in this one. Our senior company is and I'm anxious to see them dance together again.

Yup. Encore is the competition in 6 weeks. But we are not going to Encore Nationals. We have the Celebrity regional the first weekend in May, and then Celebrity Nationals in Jun (only the 4 older companies are competing at Nationals). We just added in Dance Masters of America as an optional convention (Sunday only since the studio doesn't want to lose that precious Sat rehearsals 2 weeks before competition!) We are getting a new Artistic Director next year, and she really like this convention and we will be going to it next year! So I'll be back up in Phoenix the end of this month! We also have NYCDA on the books as an optional convention, but that one is Mother's Day weekend and my MIL will be visiting, so we are going to pass on that convention.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Yup. Encore is the competition in 6 weeks. But we are not going to Encore Nationals. We have the Celebrity regional the first weekend in May, and then Celebrity Nationals in Jun (only the 4 older companies are competing at Nationals). We just added in Dance Masters of America as an optional convention (Sunday only since the studio doesn't want to lose that precious Sat rehearsals 2 weeks before competition!) We are getting a new Artistic Director next year, and she really like this convention and we will be going to it next year! So I'll be back up in Phoenix the end of this month! We also have NYCDA on the books as an optional convention, but that one is Mother's Day weekend and my MIL will be visiting, so we are going to pass on that convention.

Cool! We have encore nationals on the calendar for next year in Vegas. I wish we were doing the nationals at Disneyland as I have a 5 year old and I have no clue what to do with him in Vegas! We will be going back to Disneyland to perform in June as well.

 

[missypie]

Well, JUMP is over...very long and grueling. DD15 thought Danny from SYTYCD was a big jerk. She said that most of the teachers were mean and jerky.

Judging was pretty tough...we got all golds. There were lots of gold and high silvers...only a few high golds. The one that upset everyone was a very very sexual number that our coach thought was very inappropriate for high school girls (I agree!) - it got a high gold and really belonged in a gentlemens club.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

missypie--Sorry to hear about the sexual dance scoring so well. I'm with you--they grow up too fast as it is, they don't need to dance like they're collecting tips in their g-strings! And I think it detracts from the girls' talent when they do that.

Danny seemed nice when we met him on tour, but it was a 30-second thing, so who knows? I think my DD12 has a big crush on him.

 

[missypie]

missypie--Sorry to hear about the sexual dance scoring so well. I'm with you--they grow up too fast as it is, they don't need to dance like they're collecting tips in their g-strings! And I think it detracts from the girls' talent when they do that.

I always say that if high school boys ever discovered dance competitions, there would be no room for the parents to sit. These 16, 17, & 18 year old girls have these terrific, fit bodies...they look pretty darned sexy no matter what they do....I see no need to throw "stipper moves" into the mix.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Well, JUMP is over...very long and grueling. DD15 thought Danny from SYTYCD was a big jerk. She said that most of the teachers were mean and jerky.

Judging was pretty tough...we got all golds. There were lots of gold and high silvers...only a few high golds. The one that upset everyone was a very very sexual number that our coach thought was very inappropriate for high school girls (I agree!) - it got a high gold and really belonged in a gentlemens club.

I feel so uncomfortable watching dances like these. I just sit there not knowing whether to look away or what. One time at a performance at the state fair these little 6 year olds were in bikini like costumes doing moves meant for a strip club and we were all like "if our daughters went to THAT stuido we would rip them off stage." Imagine bringing the grandparents to watch something like that. Disgusting.

I prefer to watch real technical dancing.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Well, JUMP is over...very long and grueling. DD15 thought Danny from SYTYCD was a big jerk. She said that most of the teachers were mean and jerky.

Judging was pretty tough...we got all golds. There were lots of gold and high silvers...only a few high golds. The one that upset everyone was a very very sexual number that our coach thought was very inappropriate for high school girls (I agree!) - it got a high gold and really belonged in a gentlemens club.

Count me in the group that hates to see that! Our studio actually sent a letter to NUVO (the studio owner and all the paretns signed it) about that very issue. Unfortunately, as long as the judges allow those dances to compete and reward them with good scores, it will keep happening.

I feel so uncomfortable watching dances like these. I just sit there not knowing whether to look away or what. One time at a performance at the state fair these little 6 year olds were in bikini like costumes doing moves meant for a strip club and we were all like "if our daughters went to THAT stuido we would rip them off stage." Imagine bringing the grandparents to watch something like that. Disgusting.

I prefer to watch real technical dancing.

I know you're new, but Phoenix is one of the worst cities for oversexualizing the dancers and dance. We see it at every single competition we go to! There a some studios that keep the costuming and choreography age appropriate (ours is one), but they are few and far between. And what kills me is the parents from the other studios see our dancers in their costumes and watch the dances and they are always complimentary. Yet they allow their own kids to be hussied up in both costuming and choreography!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Count me in the group that hates to see that! Our studio actually sent a letter to NUVO (the studio owner and all the paretns signed it) about that very issue. Unfortunately, as long as the judges allow those dances to compete and reward them with good scores, it will keep happening.



I know you're new, but Phoenix is one of the worst cities for oversexualizing the dancers and dance. We see it at every single competition we go to! There a some studios that keep the costuming and choreography age appropriate (ours is one), but they are few and far between. And what kills me is the parents from the other studios see our dancers in their costumes and watch the dances and they are always complimentary. Yet they allow their own kids to be hussied up in both costuming and choreography!

I know! We were told at the last convention that Phoenix has some of the best dancers but they do tend to oversexualize the kids. DD has been performing for 3 years locally so while we are new to competitions we are not new to the whole performances outside of recital. I'm shocked at what these studios put their kids in to dance at for the Suns games, local festivals etc. I'm certain they will be worse at competitions. Our old studio was very conservative on costumes so from the age of 2 it has not been an issue. There are 3 studios up here that majorly come to mind when I think about horrible costumes. I know others do it but the 3 large ones are terrible! This new studio we have swtiched to likes the whole midrift thing but when we told her we did not want our girls showing their tummies she changed her tune and chose more age appropriate costumes. I would not let let my daughter do a dance or wear a costume that shows her being a tart. Luckily her dances this year are very technically challenging as well as age appropriate. I'm scared to see other studios at this competition this weekend.

 

[missypie]

You're all right. What is worse than the 18 year olds being all sexual is the 4 and 5 year olds being all sexual. There is one company that we see on occasion who have their youngest kids doing SUCH inappropriate things. But then the parents of those kids are the ones hooting and cheering when their little darlings turn around and shake their behinds at us....what are those parents thinking???!!!!

 

[missypie]

I feel so uncomfortable watching dances like these. I just sit there not knowing whether to look away or what. One time at a performance at the state fair these little 6 year olds were in bikini like costumes doing moves meant for a strip club and we were all like "if our daughters went to THAT stuido we would rip them off stage." Imagine bringing the grandparents to watch something like that. Disgusting.

I always wonder what their fathers are thinking. On Saturday night, after those high school girls finished doing their almost stripper dance, I kept thinking "That's Daddy's little girl...."

 

[AZMickeyfans]

I always wonder what their fathers are thinking. On Saturday night, after those high school girls finished doing their almost stripper dance, I kept thinking "That's Daddy's little girl...."

I know its disturbing isnt it?

 

[cabanafrau]

After seeing an extremely well-financed dance company roll into convention, put about 72 dancers, including 6 & 7 year olds, up on stage to shake what their mama gave 'em to Sexyback; then watch a group of high schoolers get up on stage to "dance" to Black Betty in vinyl, short-short -- & did I say short jumpsuits & stiletto ankle boots, squat, spread their knees apart w/ a slap -- I've just got to ask, what the heck is going on in Phoenix that can be more overtly sexualized than that?

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

After seeing an extremely well-financed dance company roll into convention, put about 72 dancers, including 6 & 7 year olds, up on stage to shake what their mama gave 'em to Sexyback; then watch a group of high schoolers get up on stage to "dance" to Black Betty in vinyl, short-short -- & did I say short jumpsuits & stiletto ankle boots, squat, spread their knees apart w/ a slap -- I've just got to ask, what the heck is going on in Phoenix that can be more overtly sexualized than that?

In Phoenix it is not just ONE studio that does stuff like that! Most (not all) of the studios that compete in the Phoenix area do that.

AZMickeyFans, Kimberly Lewis School of Dance is the first one that comes to mind when thinking about over the top studios. Is that one of your 3 big ones?

 

[missypie]

After seeing an extremely well-financed dance company roll into convention, put about 72 dancers, including 6 & 7 year olds, up on stage to shake what their mama gave 'em to Sexyback; then watch a group of high schoolers get up on stage to "dance" to Black Betty in vinyl, short-short -- & did I say short jumpsuits & stiletto ankle boots, squat, spread their knees apart w/ a slap -- I've just got to ask, what the heck is going on in Phoenix that can be more overtly sexualized than that?

Our middle school girls did Black Betty a few years ago...they did have black short jump suits and fish nets, but the actual dance moves were just normal cute tap steps. We moms did have to laugh in the dressing room when they were changing out of that costume...all these 11-13 year old girls, topless, in black thongs, fishnets and heavy makeup...lordy lordy! What a picture!

When DD's company was in 4th-6th grade, they did a number where they had red halter long jumpsuits with cut outs at the waist....since they were all built like Gumby, it didn't look suggestive. Then one of the girls "blossomed" big time, got all these curves...it didn't look so harmless on her anymore!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

In Phoenix it is not just ONE studio that does stuff like that! Most (not all) of the studios that compete in the Phoenix area do that.

AZMickeyFans, Kimberly Lewis School of Dance is the first one that comes to mind when thinking about over the top studios. Is that one of your 3 big ones?

OOOYYY That school gives me a headache. Yes it was one!!! SAS is another and DCTOO! DCTOO isnt always with their dances but with the costumes. there were 2 others that I remember sticking out but I cannot think of their name!

We did so much research on finding a new studio that was good but not trashy. A hard combination I'm telling you!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Our middle school girls did Black Betty a few years ago...they did have black short jump suits and fish nets, but the actual dance moves were just normal cute tap steps. We moms did have to laugh in the dressing room when they were changing out of that costume...all these 11-13 year old girls, topless, in black thongs, fishnets and heavy makeup...lordy lordy! What a picture!

When DD's company was in 4th-6th grade, they did a number where they had red halter long jumpsuits with cut outs at the waist....since they were all built like Gumby, it didn't look suggestive. Then one of the girls "blossomed" big time, got all these curves...it didn't look so harmless on her anymore!

We have one very well developed girl at our studio too and they have had to make costume switches to accommodate her attributes! Thank goodness they did though or she would have fallen out of some of them.

 

[missypie]

We have one very well developed girl at our studio too and they have had to make costume switches to accommodate her attributes! Thank goodness they did though or she would have fallen out of some of them.

A couple of weeks ago we did school drill team competitions. There was a girl at one school who was SO close to falling out of her costume. We were just holding our breath until the number was over.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

OOOYYY That school gives me a headache. Yes it was one!!! SAS is another and DCTOO! DCTOO isnt always with their dances but with the costumes. there were 2 others that I remember sticking out but I cannot think of their name!

We did so much research on finding a new studio that was good but not trashy. A hard combination I'm telling you!

DC and DCTOO were both at NUVO with us. DCTOO put up a dance to Nasty Boys in the mini (7-10) category!!! It was, well....nasty! SAS, I'm not familiar with, but we usually only see the Phoenix studios at conventions and competitions! If they don't choose the same convention or competition as our studio, then we never see them!

TDA is supposed to be pretty good (and very age appropriate) up in your neck of the woods. Our owner/artistic director was trained at TDA. And she just hired one of her former teachers to take over as Artistic Director in the fall.

 

[cabanafrau]

Our middle school girls did Black Betty a few years ago...they did have black short jump suits and fish nets, but the actual dance moves were just normal cute tap steps. We moms did have to laugh in the dressing room when they were changing out of that costume...all these 11-13 year old girls, topless, in black thongs, fishnets and heavy makeup...lordy lordy! What a picture!

When DD's company was in 4th-6th grade, they did a number where they had red halter long jumpsuits with cut outs at the waist....since they were all built like Gumby, it didn't look suggestive. Then one of the girls "blossomed" big time, got all these curves...it didn't look so harmless on her anymore!

Nope, not the same type of Black Betty vibe I'm describing at all. Definitely girls who already had "blossomed", dancing in a way to make something like those Pussycat Dolls blush! I heard some comments about only being missing the poles to dance around.

What never fails to crack me up at these things is when they give out the convention scholarships & awards the final day. Notice most of the elite/VIP or whatever the term du jour is, most of them are the male dancers -- who aren't required to check their self-respect at the door? Why oh why when most dance classes seem to be taught by women at studios owned by women with a largely female student population wouldn't someone step forward, hard & fast, to teach these girls to dance w/ the same art & athleticism that gets all the guys all the recognition?

 

[luvdisney00]

Last year I went to a competition in NJ and was watching a friend of my daughter's solo. The number before her was billed as jazz 12-13 and i watched it with my mouth hanging open. The girl was dancing to a song I was unfamiliar with called something like, "take your clothes off but leave your hat on". She wore a black bikini and a sequined hat and she was developed for her age. She also was just missing the pole! I think that studio should have lost pts for exploiting children, but instead they took 1st place. I wonder if her father was proud. My Dh would have tied my daughter up and locked her in the closet before he let her do that!!!