Stupid Dance Moms!

What you describe makes me question whether these moms you know are really focusing on dance -- the art form -- or on showing off children like prizewinning pets. And it also makes me wonder whether their teachers (or are they "coaches"?) are focused on teaching lifelong love of dance or on winning prizes to stick in the studio display case.

Real dance does require make-up -- on stage, for performance. And makeup that is appropriate for the role being played. (You don't put the ballerina dancing Sleeping Beauty in pounds of rouge and screaming scarlet lipstick or she isn't an innocent princess, she's a streetwalker.) But what you're describing, I would bet, is from the kinds of "dance" where it's all about how "adult" the kids can look and how many competitions the teacher/coach can win. I would question whether those kids are learning skills that will make them want to dance for a lifetime, rather than for a trophy.

But moms and dads should not let that form of "Dance Moms" dance put them off. If kids want to dance, they should -- but the parents need to find a serious studio that focuses on teaching, not on constant competition.

Can't answer the question bc I'm with you! I don't get it at all...there are just so many issues with this...

You DO realize that leotards and tutus were banned in most cities as being EXACTLY what you're calling modern outfits, not that long ago... and that MANY families consider leotards to be completely immoral and disgusting?

You feel comfortable with leotards. Others don't.
Your friends feel comfortable with modern dance outfits. You don't.

The "one good reason" is the EXACT same reason you feel comfortable with leotards.

If you can explain why you feel comfortable with leotards and tutus... you've got your answer.
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As far as makeup? Stage makeup (for dance, theatre, whatever) is LITERALLY PAINTED ON.

Ever see actors coming off stage?

Theatrical makeup is designed for the stage. Otherwise people's faces are just little white blobs with no features.

Who knows?
Shows like that (and people like that) make me glad I have a boy!

Molly -

You are preaching to the choir!

Thanks Cheryl!!! We had an amazing time and yes, my daughter's dance studio always has the girls dressed respectably.

We certainly saw some less than desirable outfits this past weekend, and it was only the first of many for our studio. So we will see more.

The makeup is always heavy because of the lights. Our girls looked not so cute when they were getting ready with the makeup - but on stage it was perfect. Kind of like actors. Or models - the lights don't like normal day makeup.

But I could not agree with you more. The other thing that bothers me is when the girls don't wear the skin colored leotards under their costumes. Our girls are required to have them. They have to change costumes in a matter of minutes sometimes (like we did this weekend) and there is no time to go to a changing room, other than the one where there are a hundred girls getting ready. I think the studios and the parents need to be making a stand. These girls are mostly underage and need to know there are certain ways to dress and act. I am beyond thankful that my daughter dances at a respectable studio with a owner who has respect for her dancers.

Molly:

I sooo get you!!! I can't watch the show. It disgusts me.

When I see the girls in Toddlers and Tiaras? I literally want to throw up.

I have a friend whose daughter is in Irish Dance. They wear a ton of make up - I understand that - for stage. But the whole troupe wears CLOTHES!! Not skimpy things.

Rachel's (Mom 2 KCK) daughter is in dance - the outfit she took pictures of this weekend were GREAT!!! Tights and dressed like girls!!! And to top it off they did GREAT!!! YAHOO!!! They had a competition this weekend. No girls were dressed like prostitutes selling their wears. So it IS possible.

The only reason I can think of that parents put their daughter in this situation (dressed like prostitutes) is they are living their dreams instead of their kids. I can't watch Toddlers and Tiaras nor can I watch Dance Moms. URGH!!! You aren't alone Molly!!

Molly, Are you venting about the girls dressing up like that for the performance or a show? Or just in general, they show up for dance class made up like that?

My daughter has her first figure skating competition next weekend and I plan on her wearing lipstick, mascara and rouge. No fake eye lashes. The coach said, just you wait and see what the other moms put on their little girls.

Just be yourself. There will definitely be other moms and kids happy that you wear what is comfortable for you, even if they don't express it.

They only wear make up to recitals. I remember heavy make up for my
dance recitals and I did not dance competitively. These girls compete which is very different from your dance class that most girls take. Therefore, there costumes have to be a bit over what we would like to see.

Is this just to wear to dance class? If so, that's just wrong. My daughter only wore make up to her recitals. To class, she wore the leotard, tights and tutu. This was only five years ago.

The fashions have changed for sure. Our dance teacher orders lots of stuff that shows the belly in adult sizes. It doesn't sell well if it's kids wear so she only gets an occasional outfit like that.. The kids do wear sports bras but it is always under something like a off the shoulder tee or a leo that is cut where it can show. My girl is not going to wear anything that shows her belly all the time.

I do buy a lot of 2 piece outfits now though. She can get taller and still wear them. Once they get too short on top they get handed down to younger kids.
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My granddaughter has this outfit in dark pink, the racer back top and the boy cut briefs. They don't hang open like shorts do so they don't require a cheer brief underneath.

http://www.pizzazzwear.com/index.php?main_page=index&...

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The girls can wear a lot of cute but still modest outfits....a child does not have to wear clothes like the clothes on this show. They are setting fashion trends though. Those companies that sell dance wear have catalogs full of that sort of stuff now. Google Funky Diva, Trendy Trends, Body Wrappers, Pizzazz, all the dance wear catalogs have the same stuff now.

But think about it. The show is a hit. It is watched by many many people. I have even watched it once.

The show sells because it is sexier than other shows. The producers and directors of the episodes let them dress like this. If the rules were where they had to dress alike, most dance classes do dress exactly, this one would look boring and too cookie cutter if they did that. Sex sells. Especially if it is barely within the law and minor girls.

Have you looked at the moms of the really over the top offenders. One glance they are living vicariously though their children. They are desperate for popular kids, sad that they think this is achieved through making them look like hookers.

If you don't pile on the make-up, you won't see it at all from the audience. Everything has to be exaggerated: false eyelashes, heavy lipstick, etc., or it just fades in the harsh lights.
Now, the outfits are another story. I would never let my kids wear booty shorts unless it was under another piece of costume that covered it. Hookers wear more clothes than some dancers!

What's wrong with parents who let a crazy woman tramatize their little girls under the pretents of teaching them?

street makeup doesn't work on stage, it has to be vivid to be seen from the cheap seats. so when the littles are performing, they're learning to perform the way performers perform, i guess.
don't know from firsthand experience. i have boys who eschew the stage, to my sorrow.
but if you've got kids who like to perform, performance makeup is part of it. i mean, the kids aren't wearing that stuff to school, right?
khairete
S.

Hubs was not a fan of when daughter came and said "I want to do dance"...but when he gave her a choice to make "you can do soccer and girl scouts, you can do girl scouts and dance, you can do dance and soccer, but you cannot do all three". And she chose to stick with GS and Soccer, he was quit relieved as the outfits are a "bit" (insert sarcasm, eye rolls) revealing.

This is where I'm going to show my judgement of others when I do not know them. I say it's because they have low self esteem (moms) and are living through their daughters.

I don't get it either. I 've recently had FB friends post pictures of their daughters in their dance outfits and I am appalled at them! In fact, I just told my husband that our daughter will not be doing dance (we have all boys, finally expecting a girl!)........that is one benefit to having boys- I rarely have to worry about whether or not their clothes are appropriate/too revealing!

Interesting. Where I live I have never seen this. I don't think people do it here. Maybe it is a regional thing? Maybe women in my town are much more earthy/natural/laid back. I agree with you - that is nuts!

I am totally with you on this one!!!
Its not right and totally disgust me so bad I pulled my daughter out of dance. What happened to protecting our innocence of our children? They should not be wearing make up and sexy outfits and busting sexy moves at any age until they are adults.

There is a blog I find so inspiring that talked about this subject recently. http://blog.pigtailpals.com/ Check it out. They have a facebook too I think

Totally with you on this one. This is the reason my dd only does dance class for fun and not competitions. She would love to do comp but even she thinks the fake tan, lashes and make up is YUCK!!!! lol