This weekend we went to Gatlinburg. Abigail had an opportunity to perform her solo one more time and also participate in her trio with her friends Sarai and Bailee. Here are some professional photos that we got of her performing:
Okay. Now for a few words from one mom.
Abigail's ballet Director, LoriAnn, warned me profusely about these competitions. My friend, Patty, a retired professional ballerina, concurred. However, LoriAnn said that despite the fact that these things are a "racket" (in other words, a place where parents pay a lot of money for no real reason), we decided that the racket was a good idea for us.
Here's why we did it:
1. We wanted Abigail -- who is super-shy --to get to perform in new places, outside of her comfort zone.
2. We wanted Abigail to get to work with the director and the other choreographer (Sarai's mom, Elizabeth) to perfect two dances.
3. We thought the opportunity would be fun.
4. We thought trying this was the only way to know if it fit her/us.
In the end, here's what we decided:
1. Doing this was sooooo good for Abigail. She worked on something, perfected it, and had to overcome nerves and shyness to perform it.
2. She is a performer! She enjoys it. It's fun for her. And it brings our family happiness.
3. WHAT ARE PARENTS THINKING?!?!?!!?
Let's break down my #3 further.
There were many beautiful dancers this weekend. Ballerinas and modern dancers and lyrical dancers. Some Tapp and jazz. Some really nice stuff. Some kids were talented. Some weren't as much. But they were having fun. Appropriately.
However nearly TWO-THIRDS of the entries were simply SEXUALIZING THEIR YOUNG GIRLS! These kids were dressed in little two pieces. They were dancing to sexual, stripper music. (Seriously! Songs I wouldn't listen to as a grown woman!) They may be talented dancers but all you saw was a bunch of bootie shaking. I mean we want our culture to respect women and yet we put young girls on stage half-dressed while people watch them dress like they are on a pole?!
We actually had to put our boys off to the side with headphones and a movie because we just didn't think it was appropriate to watch. It was way too much.
The parents were whooping and cheering as these tiny girls did what they were asked to do in tiny little clothes. I hated it. It was awful. LoriAnn told me it's incredibly frustrating to see kids come out and do some tricks and shake their rears and score higher than girls doing very difficult dances, but she's gotten used to it so she tries to ignore it. That's what we tried to do too. Patty had warned me of the same thing. She said these dance competitions are more about tricks and flexibility than actually rewarding talented dancers. I agree with that too.
However, they both told me that if we went into it for the right reason, we'd get the right thing out of it. And we did. Abigail did. I cried with pride for her overcoming her nerves and stepping out onto that stage and dancing. That was so fun o watch.
In addition, these mothers are INSANE. Seriously. They come in with big suitcases and glitter and jackets and the whole nine-yards. It's simply crazy and way overboard. These are children. Just let them have fun. There is fake hair and super expensive costumes. Abigail chose her costume out of the "costume closet" at Central Ballet. Anni helped our trio by making costumes for them.
As for us, we would definitely consider doing this again in the future. There are a lot of positive things that really, nearly made it worth it. Like I said, the experience was incredibly positive for my little girl and her friends. I'm so proud of all of the Central Ballet dancers and all they accomplished over the last few weekends. But we are going to stick with our tiny little appropriate dance studio where girls are role models and have positive body images and performances.
Okay.
Rant over.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU LORIANN and ELIZABETH for raising young girls to dance appropriately and modestly and beautifully. And thank you to Patty for being my other go-to-ballet-lady. We need more of you!!!!
2 comments:
100% agree on dances that sexualize young girls and young women. One of the main attractions at our town's 4th of July celebration are dancers from a local dance school, girls from about 3 to 15 yrs old. The costumes, the moves, the music - it's sickening. Last year they had elementary age girls imitating Tina Turner. Tina Turner can dance like Tina Turner and that's okay by me; she's a grown woman who's earned her right to shake her hips however she pleases. But to put wigs and revealing costumes on eight-year-olds and have them mimic her? They haven't even GOT hips. It's crazy. It's crazy that I have to have another adult in the room at all times if I want to tell the kids that Jesus loves them (because you know, 42 years of teaching SS might just be a front), but it's okay to put them up on stage in front of hundreds of strange men and cheer them on while they strut their stuff. Good for Abigail for her accomplishments, her grace, and her joy in dance that uplifts the spirit. It's what dance should do.
I hear ya! My Sarah is on a competitive dance team and we particularly chose our studio because they have more age appropriate music, choreography, and costuming than other studios. Sometimes our costumes show more belly than I'd like, but our girls aren't the ones out there twerking! Ugh! We saw a team last year that was a team of 4 year olds that did nothing but pelvic thrusts, booty shaking, and twerking the whole time. We had to look away because it made us feel dirty just looking at them. We looked at each other and said Sarah would quit tomorrow if she was at a studio like that! I don't know how people think that is OK to do to little girls!
(I will admit that we cheer our girls on with sparkly dance mom jackets on - it doesn't mean we're crazy dance moms, just supporting our kids, just like I wear our basketball team sweatshirt to basketball tournaments).
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