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The popular reality TV show “Dance Moms” gained fame from dance instructor Abby Lee Miller who’s known for her notorious demands and passion for dancing enforced on her young students.
Miller is known for her flamboyant dances and controversy but this episode took the cake in what I would call the most controversial episode I’ve ever seen. Miller was teaching 10 year old girls and younger, for a competition, a famous burlesque dance. She then adds
"The audience should think you are NUDE"
This came with gasps from the parents as well as the students who were dumbfounded over statement. One child said:"I don’t want to be nude on stage"
Regardless, the show must go on and Miller taught them the risque dance. With her instructions she goes on to say “It’s Breast, Crotch, Breast Crotch, TEASE THEM! You can’t afford me she says to the children referring to a prostitute.
As a patron of the arts and entertainment I have a HUGE problem with this. I am all for freedom of expression but this went too far. This segment exploits 10 year old girls in a sexual manner.
Miller stated that “It’s obvious they won’t be actually nude on stage, they will have nude colored outfits to imply nudity”. When I saw the actual costume I thought these girls were topless because it wasn’t easy to see the lines of the tops they wore to make them look nude.
There are so many things wrong with this and Hollywood is out of control. Now there will be people who will blast me for this saying “it’s just entertainment”, and “who cares they weren’t nude” – I’m expecting it. But the implications of this sets a precedence that should not be entertained. I understand this show is more than likely scripted. I can’t guarantee those mothers are actually the children’s moms but I do know that they do have real moms and dads somewhere and they allowed this to happen.
So let me break down what I see to be wrong with this episode other than the obvious:
Abby Lee Miller
Abby is their teacher. I have no problem with a teacher pushing their students to be their best, to push creativity and never give up all while demanding excellence. Those are qualities of a good teacher. I do have a problem when these young girls join a class to learn an art and creativity and implied nudity for these 10 year olds is what this teacher comes up with.
Teachers have a duty to enrich but also protect their students. This kind of dance puts an implied OK on bad morality. It essentially tells these girls that it’s OK! The human body is a work of art and there is nothing wrong with sex, but there is something wrong with sex and the human body when it’s an impressionable and innocent 10 year old who you are exploiting. You are promoting promiscuous behavior in these children even if it’s indirect.
She’s not protecting these students because over a million people watched this show. In that crowd I’m sure are pedophiles who prey on children like this. Even though they weren’t nude, it was hard to tell they weren’t and to a pedophile you just spawned their sickness. Then when it’s done live in person what if one of these predators are there in the crowd. It may be implied, but some people don’t let it go at that.
Plus teachers are role models except Miller has a rap sheet. In 2017 she was sentenced to serve one year and one day for bankruptcy fraud and taking $120,000 worth of Australian currency into the U.S. Yep, she’s teaching our kids values and morals too!
The Moms
This one shocks me especially with the feminist movement going on right now. I saw the shock in their faces although it was probably acting, regardless they let it happen. What kind of example does that set for your child? It tells me that it’s OK to do what’s wrong as long as it brings fame (even for a second) – just throw out those morals and values and basically sell yourself because you’ll be famous and make a few bucks doing it.
As a parent it’s their responsibility to make the right decisions for their child and their safety. That went right down the tubes because a camera was on them! Shameful! These are probably the same mothers who take offense when a child is sexually active with a teacher or neighbor and fight to keep that from happening but this is different. I’m trying not to judge, but it’s hard to when you allow a 10 year old to parade around on national TV and stage implied that they are naked while doing a sexual burlesque number.
The Dads
I see posts of dads all the time who are horrified at the fact their daughter is dating. They sit ready with a bat or weapon six to ten feet behind the front door when their daughters open it to greet their date – dads that are ready to attack anyone that even thinks of deviant or sexual advances on their daughters. Where did that go?
These dads are spineless! They either gave into their wives because they didn’t want to hear it from their wives or ex-wife, what ever it may be or they are so disconnected that they don’t care or maybe not even know that this is taking place.
Dads take pride in protecting their family from harm and exploitation except when money and camera are involved we can over look that?
The Children
The children are underage, they can’t say “no” – I mean they can but if their parents keep pushing they have no choice! They are victims in this case. What makes children so awesome is their innocence, it’s something we as adults would love to have back, and try but we realize that once that innocence is gone it’s gone forever. This kind of behavior takes it away from them even if it’s just a little piece – it’s a piece they can’t get back.
They are learning that promiscuity is OK. Sex is OK yet they will probably be scolded if their parents find out they were sexually active at a young age. The parents will ask where did she learn this – but it only takes looking at the video to see where things started going wrong.
This also attacks their self-esteem and makes them targets for aggressive sexual advancement at their school and surroundings should anyone recognize them.
Hollywood
In 2017 Hollywood stood strong over the sexual harassment movement. At one of the award shows all the actresses wore black to protest this behavior. Then stuff like this happens and they are silent. The studios continue to push the line for ratings sacrificing their talent for it or exploiting those who join reality TV with a dream of fame. The studios should be held accountable and stop this promiscuous and unmoral behavior – even if it costs them ratings or money. Here the studios looked the other way and allowed these children to be exploited for ratings #SMH
In conclusion it was an epic failure down the line. Other girls will see this and think I guess it’s OK! We’re setting a precedence for these impressionable young minds that this kind of behavior is OK as long as fame and money come from it.
I think it’s time we stand up and shut down the hypocrisy and the demoralization of our society. This isn’t the only show that’s pushed the limits but it needs to be the last; no rating or dollar is worth the destruction and/or exploitation of our children PERIOD!!