My blogging MoJo is missing. I dunno where it went. I dunno if I’m even going to bother looking for it.
I do though, in the meantime, have a little something something to say about this video that has all the Mommy Blogger people in an uproar. Now that I’ve had time to marinate and simmer.
You know the one, the video I’m speaking of? Those darling little 7 year old girls that are in a dance competition. Wearing a bikini type costume and dancing to Beyonces song All The Single Ladies.
THIS ONE
I used to dance. Ballet and Modern Dance.
My daughters danced for a couple of years. Ballet, Tap and Gymnastics.
I’ve sat through many dance recitals and performances.
I’ve seen a kagillion costumes. Some have been exceptionally raunchy while others have been acceptable albeit fugly.
This…was a dance competition. Would I have wanted my daughters wearing that costume? No, probably not. Not at 7. Not when there are catalogs and catalogs of dance costumes out there. The instructor who chose that costume could have found one EXACTLY like that but with some sort of flesh colored material inset in the center to cover the girls tummies.
I happened to catch The View this morning where Whoopie mentioned what I had been thinking. This was a freaking dance competition. Costumes are probably chosen to show off how the girls dance and their bodies articulation. The one that should be under fire is the person who posted this video to YouTube and turned it into child porn fodder for all the pervs and sanctimonious people out there.
These girls fabulously danced their hearts out. Perhaps in the wrong costume, I suppose. But I can almost bet that this competition, the choreography and the costumes worn were not intending to become pedophile food.
It’s incredible to me all the finger pointing going on at the parents of those girls. Please. I’ve seen the way some mothers allow their daughters to go to school, with clothes so tight that it makes those costumes look like nuns uniforms. And don’t even get me started on all the belly baring Halloween costumes that Moms dress their daughters in. There is Devil Slut for a 7 year old. Britney slut, six 6X. And my favorite, Witch Slut with low rise bottoms and high rise top. Yet no one is posting videos of their elementary school Halloween parade where the entire 2nd or 3rd grade classes are parading their navels around for all the parents and the neighborhood sex offenders. And what about those kiddie beauty pageants? Seriously.
They weren’t stripping. They weren’t touching themselves or each other inappropriately…at all. They were simply doing a choreographed dance routine to a EXTREMELY popular song in little dance costumes.
So really? Get over it. Bad choice in costume, yes. Video that should never have been posted to YouTube, yes. Excellent and impressive dancing from really young girls, hell yes.
So many other things to worry about. It’s not like those girls were gyrating over 7 year old boys dressed in leather pants and chains or something. Sheesh. People are SO judgmental about what other people do and how they conduct their lives.
I have more to say but I’m going to stop here. I have to run to the store to buy my daughter a bikini.
I’m totally with you on this – what was the person thinking posting this online?
My first thoughts when I saw it, criminy those little chicks can shake a tail feather! I can’t even get my 7-year-old to walk without tripping. Must be a boy/girl thing?
Simmer down indeed.
.-= Ash´s last blog ..Sunday Funnies =-.
I sort of agree. But, I think whoever was in charge of the costumes and the choreography could have made some wiser choices. Are gyrating, rump-shaking 7 year olds truly age-appropriate? I don’t really think so. I think another song could have showcased their skills just as well. It was a bit adult.
In the end, it certainly wasn’t offensive. The kids should not get any flack for it, but I may have had something to say if I saw my daughter’s dance class practicing this routine…
.-= LZ @ My Messy Paradise´s last blog ..Happiness =-.
The travesty is that the poor costume choice completely detracts from the talent these girls had…so this is what gets the attention. This same dance could have been performed with costumes that do not resemble something a pole dancer in a strip club would wear. Did I think the dance itself inappropriate? No. Is it important to wear costumes in which the dancers can actually move and show how their bodies move? Yes. But the costumes were over-the-top, and, as I watched these girls dance, all I could think was “cover them up!”
I’d much rather be talking about how talented these girls are, but I wouldn’t even want to show the video to my own children, lest they think that dressing like this even on stage is appropriate.
For the record, my oldest daughter did dance competitions. And, yes, she wore the make-up. And tight costumes. But the costumes were not anything like this.
.-= Michele – The Professional Family Manager´s last blog ..Avoid Garage Sale Hassles: Earn Money by Donating =-.
Oh, and as for the gyrating…I guess it didn’t bother me because similar moves of a non-sexual nature are performed by some cultures in their dances, and any kid who studies modern will learn how to move like this. Now, I’m not dumb…these moves + these costumes = inappropriate; but I think that if they wore a type of form-fitting pants thing, it wouldn’t appear to be such a sexual move. I don’t know…I’d have to see it. But that’s why the choreography itself didn’t get to me.
Maybe my life without cable also lets me remain naive. I don’t know.
.-= Michele – The Professional Family Manager´s last blog ..Avoid Garage Sale Hassles: Earn Money by Donating =-.
I still think Kurt on Glee did this song/dance MUCH better! Ha.
.-= punkinmama´s last blog ..happy mother’s day 2010 =-.
since you’re asking people to “simmer down,” i will just say that i echo exactly what maria already commented and leave it at that.
I thought it was cute, and if I hadn’t known beforehand that the costumes were so controversial, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed them to be honest.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..my heart. =-.
The ‘sexuality’ of that performance is in the mind of the beholder. Those talented little girls were PERFORMING – they were doing moves they were taught – not with some perverse sexual motive in mind (at least, not on their part) – but doing MOVES – things they had been taught in imitation of what Beyonce does. Now. Was that a poor choice on the part of their teacher? Probably. Their teacher had to have known there was a potential for negative reactions to their performance – yet the children were taught this rather ADULT performance in spite of what I am certain was her (the teacher’s) better judgment.
All of that said – those girls are wonderfully talented. But I’m sure that the teacher could have found a more suitable way to show off HER talents – because in MY mind, that’s what that was.
.-= lceel´s last blog ..The Weekend’s Aftermath =-.
I’m with you on the girls being incredibly talented, and I would like a pox placed upon whoever dumped that video onto YouTube. But it’s out there, and I was one of those people who pointed fingers. I’m a grandmother, it is in our nature to do this. But I also tried to look at everything in context before I pointed.
I looked at photos and video of the other groups – clearly the youngest children were the ones with the most provocative dance moves. And okay, maybe it wasn’t really intended for YouTube, but the video was posted on the World of Dance website, along with tons of photos of the girls in their costumes. In order to publish photos of minors, you have to have written permission from their parents – so for them to say they believed this was just meant for families and friends doesn’t ring true.
When you steer a child in this direction, toward the spotlight, you take everything that comes with it, you don’t get to pick and choose. And one of the things we do in this country is we judge people in the spotlight. If you put yourself out there, this is what happens. I have empathy and sympathy for the girls, not for the parents.
What it comes down to for me is that I have seen too many little girls have to grow up too soon, including my own. When we can choose for our children, I think we should choose childhood.
If that makes sense.
.-= Joni Golden´s last blog ..Michigan Women Running: Only 12 percent of Congressional candidates are women =-.
Yes, they were talented. That’s all I can agree on.
We have competitive dance schools around here and many of my friends send their daughters to them. It’s not my cup of tea. All of the costumes are a little skanky IMO. The girls dolled up to look like little French hookers. There is nothing natural about it. I know it’s for “show” and for “performances” but I think there is a much more respectful way to showcase dance.
Maybe I am a prude. I dunno. I just really like the idea of girls being girls. Talented or not, those girls weren’t acting 7 or 8.
.-= OHmommy´s last blog ..Should of, could’ve. I’m so glad I did. =-.
First let me say, I have all boys. So this is not something that really directly concerns me (unless you want to get into the whole boys sexual objectifying little girls issue today). IF I ever ended up with a daughter, she prob wouldnt be in a bikini until she could drive on her own. But that would be our families choice.
I have no issue with the song choice or the choreography, the song isnt about sex it’s about marriage. At least I thought it was?
The costumes are NOT cool at all. I can’t see any reason why they were chosen. I am not all up in arms about it though. Why? Because this was done with parental consent. These are not my kids, therefore I don’t get a say. If it was abusive, dangerous, or illegal then maybe I would feel the need to thrust my opinion on them, but the bottom line is, it’s none of those things.
As for the child porn comments… Perverts will find porn in ANYTHING. Baby pics, toddlers in diapers, preschoolers playing in the sprinkler, tweens slumber party pics, ect… Do the best to protect your children and keep the bad people away.
I think the parents had every right to post the video for family and friends to see.
We all get so caught up in what WE think is appropriate and what WE think is best, but the bottom line is, YOU do what YOU think is best for your family. And unless laws are being broken or children are in danger, keep your opinion to yourself.
When I saw this video my mouth dropped open. I couldn’t believe the moves they were making. Maybe it was because I was never in dance as a child. My daughters have just begun ballet/tap. But they will NOT be wearing outfits like that as they progress in their dancing. That being said, I think that it is up to parents to make those choices for their daughters (and sons). So, if the parents felt that the dance moves and costumes were okay, then so be it. That’s their call.
Now, those girls DID have some moves!
Liz
Our dance recital is Saturday. The costumes are leopard print, cute cute cute, cover up more than most bathing suits. I haven’t seen the routine yet, but I know it won’t be that fancy or adult. I do think the whole thing involved a whole lot of people using poor judgment, but you’re right, those girls are just dancing the routine they were taught.
I’m with JP. The words across the butt of regular clothes bother me a whole lot more.
And a voice of reason cries out into the darkness. My daugher is in dance. I don’t even SEE the routine until she performs it at recital. That is the way ALL of the dance studios do it on our area. I’m pretty sure that whoever choregraphed this routine and picked out the costumes never put together sexualaztion and seven year old, that those thoughts never connected in their heads. They probably just thought that they were cute little girls doing a great job dancing. Period. Because that’s exactly what it was.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Packed… =-.
Amen, Sista!!! Bad costumes, yes, but my GOD! Give me a break! Get over it already! Why doesn’t everyone have to be so judgemental??? And they don’t have enough to cover with the humongous oil spill in the Gulf that they chose to talk about the video on The View??? Re-freakin’-diculous! I’m with you…what about all the teenagers running around with body piercings, belly shirts, and tramp stamps/tattoos? I guess 14 years old is a much more appropriate age to be “seductive.”
I hope no one gets the idea to video tape my 4 year old when she practices her “dancing.” She loves to run around half nekked and especially loves to dance! She has all the Kids’ Bop CDs. Lady Gaga is her new fave! She loves some Beyonce, too!!
Those girls were performing not walking around the mall. The clothing sold for young girls, pre-teens, and teen girls is disgusting. I’m fortunate that my 13 year old daughter likes to wear clothing that I consider appropriate. Performances are just that, performances. Because a child actor cusses in a movie does not mean they cuss in their day to day life. Because an actor or actress has a nude scene in a movie does not mean they parade around nude in their every day life. They perform. The girls were performing.
.-= Aunt Crazy´s last blog ..TST 05/18/10 =-.
buahahah buy your 7 year old a bikini
cracked me up.
.-= staciesmadness´s last blog ..DeWyze Choice =-.
Performing or not, costume or not, seriously ewww!! I found it creepy.
.-= Zoey @ Good Goog´s last blog ..Confidence vs Humility =-.
I haven’t seen the video and I am not sure that I will. I am not all that into modern music videos much preferring classical music.
I do agree with the statement that “it is in the eye of the beholder” and all those condemning voices may tell a lot more about the “beholder” than about the dancing girls – even if only 7-years old and clad in “provocative” clothes. People have written that their performance was awesome and why not stop with that? It is high praise for 7-year olds.
I have been shocked by the attitituded of people on several occasions. One was when people screamed “disgusting child porn” when seeing a picture showing a naked young girl splashing around in the water – what I saw could be spelled HAPPY with capitals…I didn’t see it as porn, it wasn’t even erotic in my eyes….
Perhaps there is something wrong with me…:-(