FYI: It’s the World of Dance competition and they’re 7 years old.
They have the skills as dancers, but their choice of music, costumes & routine is questionable in my opinion.
They’re pretty good dancers for their age and skill level, considering that at 7, I” (along with most kids) were at the most ungainly, awkward stage possible (just heading into pre-teen years).
But….. they’re 7.
SEVEN!
At 7 I was playing with Barbies, begging for ice cream, reading Sweet Valley High Twins and The Babysitter’s Club series without the faintest knowledge of what the heck being sexy or seductive meant.
So do these girls know, themselves, what they are doing on stage?
Talk about fast-forwarding the sexualization of little girls, and the growing pressure to be “sexy” at such a young age!!
While I am admiring their limberness & dancing skills (neither of which I shall ever possess), I am feeling slightly disgusted, with a faint nagging feeling of “this is wrong. this is so wrong” as I am watching.
Comments?
UPDATE:
I found an article on Psychology Today that talks about this exact video, even quoting some of the parents who said: “What’s the big deal?”
Underage girls dancing in lingerie, or dressing up as a French maid for Halloween, are sexually objectifying themselves, putting their bodies on display for the entertainment and titillation of others. That kind of activity teaches girls that sexuality is a commodity which girls provide to boys.
You don’t see many boys dressing up in Chippendale’s outfits for Halloween; the boys are going as Darth Vader or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, just as boys might have done 20 years ago.
American culture has long made women into sexual objects. But two generations ago, the sex objects were women, adult women like Sophia Loren or Marilyn Monroe.
The sexualization ofprepubescent girls in the mainstream of American culture – rather than off in the dark shadows of Lolita and Humbert Humbert – is a relatively new phenomenon…
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Obviously the girls are talented dancers, but the routine and clothing are way more provocative than Beyonce's Single Ladies music video.
I made the boyfriend stop brushing his teeth to come watch this with me. We were both in shock. He said "Who lets their kids do this??" My thoughts exactly. You are right about the talent, but the costumes and dancing is disgusting for their age.
It amazes me that parents are so blindsided by the fact that their little seven year old could be a 'star' that they would allow for this.
I would be curious to know the history of whoever choreographed/picked the costumes for this… There is a reason it makes you feel sick, it goes beyond the usual stage makeup/dress up normal for even the most competative dance competions… it is in the realm of the creepy.
Someone mentioned this video to me just yesterday, a college student so not some old geezer 🙂 I could tell it was something questionable by the way she asked me if I'd seen it. Now that I HAVE seen it I would just like to say that this dance routine is indicative of the way young girls see themselves in society today. I knew of a 5 year old who had posters all over her walls with lipstick marks on them (her own) of prepubescent Disney boys who themselves were being marketed as young studs. The 5 year old's mother would send her to school in clothes fit for a street walker. If parents buy into this trash then kids are going to think it's OK. Unfortunately it's not. No way are these kids able to psychologically deal with the sort of sexual attention that their unwitting behavior is going to bring upon them. This is the way it seems to be though ~ everyone wants to be famous! And there are many shallow crazy parents out there who will pimp their kids out in a bid to acquire the fame and the $$.
I wish I could comment, but all that I'm thinking is "what the eff?"
Wow.
Wow.. that is some seriously aggressive sexual display posturing. I know athletes start young, and I'm all for their skills, but that choreography was terrifying. If the costumes had lost the thigh high stockings and been pink or something, they'd have looked like little swim suits, but any adult in that kind of black and red would have been knowingly referencing brothel wear. What exactly does this say about our society? Just because something takes place on a stage during a competition does not make it less exploitation.
Would have been more appropriate with less provocative clothing. They are incredibly talented girls, but the costumes distract people from their routine by making it seem oh so wrong!
WOW….that was actually hard to watch. I would be pulling my kid out of that dance studio. So not necessary. Terrible terrible terrible!!!
The costumes are too similar to lingerie. Way over the top sexy – not something girls so young should be wearing. And the moves? Seriously?!?!?!? These girls have talent, that's clear. They should be dancing, not thrusting and gyrating. I don't consider myself a prude – and I thought this was way over the line. There is no need whatsoever for children to be so sexual and, really, exploited. Flaunt their talent, empower them – don't strip them half-naked and demean them. This is so wrong on so many levels. I'd love to know who put this all together. They really need to be called out.
I don't think that kind of dancing or those costumes are even remotely appropriate for 7-year-olds. Their spins are lovely, but a lot of what they're doing just isn't right for someone that age. The adults who trained them, picked the costumes, and choreographed the routine were out of line.
yeah i mean they are truly very very talented but i am surprised that no one questioned the costume choice for SEVEN YEAR OLDS!!! i mean really. as far as the dancing goes… i danced all my life and shook my booty at a young age. at that age you are far too young to understand the meaning to it all. it just concerns me the instructors and parents were ok with the costume choice.
I wonder what the parents thought? The people that were teaching this routine can still show their talent without making them parade around like they are in a Las Vegas show!
the main thing i kept thinking was thank god i'm having a son. this is ridiculous.
Classic cognitive dissonance. We think, "Wow those girls are so talented! I admire and like that!". On the other hand, we think, "Ew, some of those moves and those outfits are inappropriate for young girls." To align those two contradictory beliefs usually means people will rationalize the moves/outfits instead of just flat out admitting those girls should be doing something appropriate with their considerable talent.
This is disgusting. I want to stomp the parents involved in the face. That is all. Urghhhh
Yeah, this is gross. But from the very slight passing acquaintance I have with large dance schools that emphasize these kinds of competitions, I this does not strike me as unusual.
I dunno– when I think back to my days in dance I remember a 6 or 7 year old doing "hey big spender." She had a tight pink dress and writhed around the stage to the lyrics. I think this is actually better– at least it's "single ladies" and not "back that ass up"
I think “Hey big spender” is a lot less .. suggestive than what was chosen.
I can't believe their parents!
There was a reason my mom didn't want me to do competitive dancing … I went to a nice little place where I learned my ballet, jazz and tap, and at 7 I would be embarrassed by the idea that with the outfits in the recital, my underwear might possibly be seen underneath my skirt. As we got a little older, the outfits showed some skin, and I didn't even like my belly visible! Would I be seen dancing around in underwear on a stage? Hell no. Not then, not now.
(message too long, being split)
Would I want my daughter (assuming I had one, and she was 7) prancing around with a highly sexualized dance style on a stage with people taking videos and pictures of her, in what amounts to her underwear? No! I most certainly don't agree with child pornogrophy, so please don't take this the wrong way, BUT, how is this different? These little girls are being put on a stage for the WORLD to see them, and they are doing moves that could be seen as sexually exploitave (though the clothes stay on). Again, I return to the parents – how can they allow this, and how can they possibly be praising the instructor that taught these girls? Much less paying to send their daughters back to this school.
They're great, sure. But why can't they be great with a different song, or even with the same song, but a different routine (and different outfits)?
And what kind of self image are these little girls going to have as they get a little older? What kind of women will they turn into if they are spending their childhood being praised for their sexuality? Will their bodies mean more to them than they should? Will their bodies be "used" more than they should, because they have learned to value the moves that their bodies are capable of doing?
Anyways, I have to get ready for work, but I completely agree that this is inappropriate.
Thanks for your 3 comments 🙂
I was talking about this with BF last night, and we agreed — why can’t they be killer with another routine, song and outfit?
Wow! All I can say is that if pedophiles are not in attendance then they should be. Sorry sad but, true. I am reminded by a scene in Donnie Darko where they make fun of this very thing although the girls were 12 not much better than 7 I admit. What were these girls parents thinking? Wow I could never allow my daughter to do something like this let alone wear that skimpy of an outfit at 7 years old.
I've been weirded out ever since I saw a display of cosmetics aimed at 8 year olds. I hate to see young girls wearing wedgie heels. I freaked when I heard that children were the leading fans of The Spice Girls and Britney Spears, the words to their songs, so inappropriate!
Dancing, something I did from the age of 3 — but nowhere this good!, I can see in a slightly different light. A costume isn't real clothes (We wore fishnets as part of our workout uniform. In the 50s in Oklahoma, fishnet tights were associated with streetwalkers), it's just dress-up. A costume is just about make-believe in an art-y setting. In dance class, adults, sometimes strange adults, tell you how to move your body, what to do with your derriere, and it's OK there in that group; but nowhere else! As a child you can play with words, Mae West lines, and it's just play. It's being sexy, but just playing with the glamourous part. I think the girls can pretend they are Beyonce and not know about the act of intercourse. We all did our share of prancing around in Mom's heels, throwing a pretend mink stole over our shoulder and pretending to smoke cigarettes when I was a kid. I probably would worry more about the stress of competition these girls are exposed to, are their parents greedy, pushy slave drivers?
It is a strange thing to see, and there are probably undesireable effects, but it's not quite the kiddie porn I was afraid I was going to see!
I want to know who choreographed their dance, picked their music and costumes. I mean, to them, it might be like playing dress-up, you know? Like they get to "play" grown-up dancers on the stage.
If you didn't mention their age (the camera's not that great that it doesn't really show their ages well, except for the fact that they're flat as boards, hah), I would have thought that they were more teenaged, and incredibly good. They're talented, but perhaps whomever choreographed the dance (since there are a lot of changes from the original music video) should seriously consider different choices next time. =/
I thought they were older too. Like 10.
BF said: “ARE THOSE BABIES!? *horrified*”
And I think they totally had fun on stage, but it was just a nagging gut feeling with… “wth am I watching?”… as I saw the video.
They got mad skills and talent, but not cute at all, like all 7-year olds should be. It is disturbing.
I didn't read your own comments until I'd seen the whole video. I'm glad I did because I had the same nagging feeling….I almost wish they'd danced to a different song, or just worn different costumes, because the way it was it just seemed wrong. It's a shame too, because they've obviously got some talent to be moving around with such agility at such a young age! However as it was I just couldn't shake the thought that it was inappropriate. I dunno, maybe I'm just a prude or something….
Hmm.
Here's the thing…I was lucky enough to witness a similar show (with kids as young as 5!) recently, and they were doing a LOT of those same moves. But you know what? I didn't see anything dirty or wrong about it–because they were actually fully clothed. Of course, the music wasn't the same, but the moves were– and just a foot of more fabric made all the difference.
(As far as talent goes? Wow! They look like they're having a blast, and they're pretty talented. Kudos to them, boo on the wardrobe choice.)
I can’t believe their spins!
Perhaps it is just a costume thing for me. Covering their bellies would do it.. and a longer skirt..? And maybe cutting out the last part where they grind their hips.
The most unfortunate part is that their parents decided that everything questionable about this presentation was okay for 7 year olds.
I'd love to comment, but frankly, I'm speechless.
The dancing was amazing but dude…they're just kids Dx I doubt they understand the suggestiveness other than it must be "cool". But isn't that too suggestive…A lot of kids are getting like that now a days, but they don't understand it yet. Sure it can be fun and all but they're not there yet. It's like 4 yr olds singing to "Bedrock" (oh yes I love the Flintstones!). Prehaps if it wasn't so revealing or suggestive – or just a different song. But they do have massive talent.
I guess what I see as suggestive (hip grinding at the end, stripper moves..) is acceptable today.
Even Elvis at one point, was seen as being suggestive with his hips.. which we find totally fine today.
The only thing, is that maybe it’s the costumes that should be a bit more covered just for their age… bellies and a slightly longer skirt?
I can't decide whether to be horrified or impressed.
I feel like a pedophile for watching that. Great dancing skills, yes, but couldn't they have worn more clothes? 18+- do whatever you want in whatever amount of clothing you want. Under 18? For the rest of us, just wait a few years.
i feel sort of sad and disgusted…
Wooooow. I'm speechless by their talent and the same "this is wrong" feeling that you had. The scary thing is the fact that the it's so convincing; they commit to the raunch!
Oh and I love how they're bodies are so light that they fly from one move/formation like they couldn't keep their feet planted to save their lives.
I was all right until one of them gyrated in my face.
I'd like to be all modern, but I don't think I'd ever let my hypothetical daughter do that.. Too many opportunities for the video to be misused.
It was the hip grinding that got to me, I suppose.
They have talent, no doubt. But these are children, and should be treated (and acting) like such. They're in grade 2?! IMHO, they shouldn't even know what sexy means.
All those provocative dance moves, skimpy outfits, and cheering makes me question how their parents allowed this to happen, how the studio allowed the routine to happen, how the choreographer and costume designer allowed this to happen.
This is wrong.
Thoroughly disgusted by this.. They shouldn't be dancing that way – at all. Granted they are amazing for their age, but still – made me feel dirty even watching it!
xoxo-nklsmom
To be honest… I clicked the video in my reader before I read the post. My roomie and I watched this video and we thought that it would be decent if the 7 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRLS DIDN'T LOOK LIKE SLUTS!!!
This dance video broke my brain!! This could on some level be considered child exploitation!!
Moms… Really you allow this and promote your daughter to present themselves such as this!
I danced as a kid (although I was never near their skill level) and I also felt the sexualized nature of this dance was wrong. It is possible to show off this level of skill without having it be seductive. Neither do their leotards need to look like lingerie.
I agree. Too little clothes and too sexy movements. I'm not the bothered about the song as is. When I was 7 I loved Madonna's Like a virgin, oblivious to the meaning of the song.
As it happens, yesterday I saw a programme on TV about sexy clothes for little girls and if it was inappropriate. We're talking thongs for 7 year olds.
I kind of get it, from the girls point of view. When we were little didn't we all want to be like mom, with high heels and make up? What I don't get is how parents can allow this.
This makes me sad. They are great dancers but it is sooooo imappropriate. And no one thought to question that?! What mother in her right mind would allow her 7 year old to dress and dance like that?
My daughters wouldn't be up there in those outfits. Guess I'm too much of a prude, but there have to be some limits.
I find this really interesting to watch, because for as GOOD and talented as the girls are, there's this certain kind of clumsiness to them when theyr'e doing the more sexual dance moves… and it's because they don't know what that movement means. They can replicate it, but because it's not something their bodies actually experience or something they emotionally understand, they kind of seem like puppies in rollerskates trying to do it.
Replace "slightly" with "very" and "faint" with "strong" and that's my reaction.
I am soooo not cool with that.
I am disturbed by the suggestive dancing and clothing. I also was thinking this is SO wrong. I hate that people are ok with sexualizing children at such a young age. They are amazing little dancers, but I would never let my kid dance like that or wear that type of clothing at such a young age!