Dance Moms

[carnation]

One of my daughters and I watched several episodes of this a few nights ago. I was horrified! The director verbally and emotionally abuses these kids 24/7 and their moms take it (and her nasty treatment of them), I suppose, because the get to be on TV.These kids are gonna end up as basket cases.

The new season started last night but I could not watch it. Too much cruelty.

[summer_gphib]

I watched the first two episodes when it first came on, and I was horrified. These children are being abused and demeaned. If the parents were speaking to them in this way they would be yanked out of the household. I'm shocked that someone hasn't stepped in to stop this insanity. In my opinion the "instructor" belongs in jail for psychological and emotional abuse.

[AlphaFrog]

She belongs at a Weight Watchers meeting, not on Lifetime screaming at little girls. I normally would not go there with the weight issue, but if she is going to be so critical, maybe she ought to take a look in the mirror.

[ColdInCanada11]

My dance teachers weren't *quite* that bad, but most dance teachers are fairly critical. I've definitely seen teachers far worse than her at competitions. This brings me back to my childhood. However, I don't think that you can determine if a dancer is going to be a professional by the age of 9

[carnation]

The difference as I see it: you can criticize without insulting the dancer. Saying, "You need to do this in your tour jete," or, "Pull your hips to the left!" gets the point across. You don't need to say, "You stupid kid, you look like a hippo when you do that."

[ColdInCanada11]

I think it really depends on what generation of dancers your teacher is from. That's what confuses me- Abby sounds like dance teachers who are in their seventies and eighties.

[knight_shadow]

I saw a commercial with the main instructor (I guess?) screaming at children and parents. I refused to watch after that. Seemed like it'd be too messy.

[princessamy]

I watched a few episodes and felt like I needed to see a therapist after that. The moms are crazy for taking her attitude though.Poor kids. Sadly its the instructors like those that will make kids hate something that they are supposed to love.

[Senusret I]

I love the show.

[KillarneyRose]

My kids love this show for some reason but I can't stomach it. Maybe because it's filmed in my hometown of Pittsburgh and it makes my homies look like sadistic idiots.

I do know of one successful dancer spawned by Abby Lee; her name is Miranda Maleski and she made the top 20 in last year's "So You Think You Can Dance".

http://www.fox.com/dance/bios/contes...iranda-maleski

[CeCe Newbie]

Originally Posted by KillarneyRose

My kids love this show for some reason but I can't stomach it. Maybe because it's filmed in my hometown of Pittsburgh and it makes my homies look like sadistic idiots.

Oh, please! You're the one that introduced me to it.

She secretly loves it, everybody.

[ColdInCanada11]

I've read several interviews with Abby. From what I can recall, she formed her own dance company at 14, because she knew that while she was a good dancer, she was a stronger choreographer. This may have been true in the past, but it appears like Gianna (or whatever her assistant's name is) does most of it, at least for the girls that we see. My issue with studios like this (especially now that they have a new dance each week), there are about 15 "staple" movements that are in every single dance and it's kind of a mix-n-match, with little else in it. You shouldn't recognise a studio because each dance is the same.

[Always AlphaGam]

Anyone else get a headache from visiting this?

http://www.abbyleedancecompany.com/

[thetalady]

Guilty pleasure.... kind of like gawking at an ongoing car crash, where another car piles on every week. I cannot believe that Abby gets away with her behavior, no matter how many dancers might go on to dance on Broadway or in videos. WHY do these mothers allow her to berate their children like this?

Only one as bad as Abby is that Candy Apple Cathy bitch. At least she seems to focus her conniving more on hurting the adults.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I love the show.

I do too!

But, while I do think kids need to stop being so babied these days, she's a bit much. Some of the stuff she says to them make me cringe.