I saw this on Good Morning America a few days ago. They interviewed the parents of one of the girls, who of course defended the entire thing and claimed that by putting the video on the internet and taking it out of the confines of the dance competition, the whole thing was therefore rendered "out of context." Quite frankly, I thought the parents came across as a couple of clueless dolts.

These little girls are amazingly talented dancers, but to exhibit them in this way is pure exploitation, as far as I'm concerned. It isn't cute to dress them in barely-there Burlesque attire and have them shimmy and gyrate like that. Their dance skills could have been showcased in any number of appropriate ways. This was done with a nod towards titillation, and was thoroughly disgusting, IMO. I mean, these little ones are eight years old!

My niece is 8. In her last dance recital the girls wore pigtails and bloomers and did a routine to song called "Ants in your Pants." There were absolutely no sexual overtones, and the crowd still went wild with (wholesome) pleasure.

I agree that between Shannon's post and this post my heart aches for kids today.

Do kids have no opportunity to be innocent? Everything is just out there.

I did and at first I was a little shocked by it but then I saw an interview on one of the morning shows where the parents were trying to explain. Once I heard their angle I thought well??? Basically, according to them, the show wasn't meant to be posted on the internet. Their daughter has been taking dance lessons at a studio and this was a recital meant just for family and friends of these girls. In that environment they felt it was fine because it was just for a dance class. I hesitate to judge the parents because whether I would agree or not in regards to my own daughter, I think that it's their perogative as parents to decide what is best for their daughter. It was a safe environment, not illegal and I wouldn't want someone judging me about my parenting choices. That sort of trumps how I feel about young girls their age doing that dance. If anything, maybe the dance instructor should have been a little creative and adjusted the steps so it was a more age appropriate routine for girls.

It's sad when you think about it, not too long ago this would have been considered innocent stuff, people could do what they wanted without a fuss or fear of something going viral; but then came the internet and utube and now you just NEVER know what will end up in everyone's face! I don't think people are thinking on those terms yet as they make choices. Of course recitals are supposed to be kept low profile and more personal, who would have thought it wouldn't be? Now things go viral and everyone has their own opinion, perspective or interpretation about it and the facts can be so easily distorted a well. I find it very scary to think that everyone needs to be that on guard all the time.

Was it the best dance routine? From the perspective of the outside world, probably not, but from a dancer's perspective, maybe. I've never been in a dance class im my life, so I can't say.

IMO, The girls are talented and I don't want to take away from that but it is disgusting. The way they are dressed; then the way they are moving is a pedophiles dream. I almost reported the video the other day when I 1st saw it but couldn't decide what to flag it as but did so today. It needs to be pulled.

If something happened to one of these girls because of this video; you know the parents would be screaming really loud but they probably wouldn't accept responsibility for anything. They chose to allow their kid to dance for this and someone posted it on you tube.

To think of what grade they are in (I heard they were 7) and how not long ago they were losing their 1st baby teeth.. now they are moving like they want to make babies.

Off of my soap box..

This didn't look like a small recital. That was a pretty big stage. I think that the costumes really pushed it over the edge of taste. Presumable the parents had seen those adorable little costumes before the performance. Surely the little girls had practiced the moves at home. The thing is that at that age the girls don't have any idea how they are coming across to adult men. They think that they are just imitating videos that they've seen on MTV (which IMO they shouldn't be watching anyway), but they don't understand what that style of dancing means.
When my daughter was about 13 she wanted to get her belly button pierced, because she had a friend with a pierced BB and thought that it was cute. I had to explain to her that what was cute to her could bring her some very unwelcome attention. All my kids knew that we would not allow any body piercings or tattoos. They could do what they wanted once they turned 18, and understood the ramifications of their actions better. (maybe I should have told them age 40!)

and we wonder where eating disorders come from.

This isn't an intra-school dance recital, it's one of those 'competitive dance' circuit industry things. I've seen them before and my neighbor's daughter was in it (at the Portland Convention Center--huge sound, lights, etc.) Very "So you think you can dance". The sexualization is not at all a one-off; it's part of the pageant-like culture. And my neighbors were Christian Science, as conservative as they could be otherwise, they just let their daughter get into this culture and pile on the makeup and dance in skimpy costumes. It's a big money thing.

Here is a link that might be useful: summary of the industry

is a pedophile's dream

That's my concern, and if you look at the UTube tape, this is hardly an amateur recording of the dance. It is in fact owned by YAK Films World of Dance, with the comment presumably by the person who posted it, makoshi5, is "
Dance Precisions Dance Studio of Orange Country, California performed at World of Dance Pomona 2010 and these little girls were going hard on this dance routine.

If I were a parent whose daughter had ended up here, I would be all over YAK Films to get this off the internet. And shame on Paul Mitchell for being part of it. Stupid, stupid parents.

The video quoted above is unavailable on youtube now . I had seen it before on another forum and it was totally crazy unappropriate, I can't believe parents would find it ok, they are clearly trying to justify their poor choice.

the video I'm linking below is adorable, this little girl is watching Beyonce on tv and mimicking the dance moves; personally I would not let my child be seen on youtube that way, she is way too cute but you can tell it's innocent.

Here is a link that might be useful: mimicking beyonce and co

I agree with all the remarks here. The video is So innappropriate, disappointing, shocking, disturbing. I also agree with those who noted how talented the girls are. They actually do dance incredibly well...amazingly well. Did you notice how in sync they are with one another? It's so sad that the adult who created the choreography and taught the children, couldn't have channeled their talent into an age-appropriate routine that also showcased their skills. These girls could dance Swan Lake!

Roselvr, well said.

So tacky. Poor children.

I must be a prude or really old-fashioned, because I don't even find the video that mitch posted to be cute. I guess I'm looking at the parent behind it, who obviously enjoys her little girl imitating the moves of a sexy adult woman, then films it, then posts it on YouTube. Next step, when she reaches the ripe old age of seven, is the originally posted video. But, heck, I didn't even let my daughter wear a two-piece swimming suit at that young age because I think they look ridiculous on little girls, so I'm kind of radical that way.

So disturbing. These are the kind of kids and parents our kids are exposed to and we have a hard time stopping it. My sis is raising a 6yr old who will comment on how she cannot wear something because someone told her it was not fashionable. She is in Kindergarten! Parents are sexualizing their kids and think it is just cute.

The video is off youtube now but I can only imagine. I don't understand parents posting their kids face all over YouTube either.

A h h h .. now I'm singing that song. Just the chorus.

Fly, you mentioned the pageant-like culture which made me think of "Little Miss Perfect." Has anyone ever sat through that horror of a show? It's astounding the way they take these completely normal little girls and turn them into freakish miniature plastic-looking dolls. Some of them even wear "flippers" in their mouths - and those things are obviously painful for some of the children to keep in their mouths for any period of time - so as to create a "perfect" flash of straight white teeth. It's just beyond creepy. I understand that the show exists because it sensationalizes these events to an extent (I tend to doubt the veracity of most so-called reality shows) - but I think it's probably fairly accurate in its overall portrayal of kiddie pageants. To me, this is all about ingraining in girls from a very young age that pretty means fakery. And that's just all kinds of wrong, IMO.

I saw the video and I was shocked that parents would allow these little girls to be trained to dance this way AND would let them dance this way in public.

Those parents can try to justify this routine and costumes all they want, but this routine was too adult and too suggestive for little girls. What were they thinking!

And there were so many girls and so many parents!!!! Is there something in the water where they live?

Makes me just so heartsick.

I was thinking that many of the parents of these young children were part of the MTV generation. The parents literally grew up with MTV and video games (ok, the parents under 35) so that is probably why it's not out of the realm for them to think things like this are ok.

I just really worry about the whole internet pedophile thing. ANYTHING you video tape and post on Youtube goes viral in moments and can be edited into a kiddie porn flick for crying out loud! And you just don't know who's got a video camera or phone, so it's best to not even let our kids even participate in sexualized events.

I never thought I'd be an old prude lady, but come on...This is so much worse than the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll times of my youth. At least in the 70's and early 80's children still acted like children, and it was the older teens and 20 somethings that carried on.

This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by YAK FILMS.

When you click on the link, this is the message from U-Tube. I had hoped that my and others' clicks on the "Inappropriate" button on U-Tube was the result. But I guess not.

Graywings; I like to think that us reporting the video helped get it pulled; even if the message says that.

The video is still available online; go to google, type in Controversy Over Girls Doing Beyonce Dance. You can also use World of Dance Competition Pomona, California.

Amazing how easy it was to save the video.

The thought of how many pedofiles have saved this and are watching it non-stop. I think I am going to throw up.

Costumes and gyrating aside, the lyrics to this song alone render it inappropriate material for little girls to even listen to.

All the single ladies

Now put your hands up
Up in the club, we just broke up
IÂm doing my own little thing
you decided to dip but now you wanna trip
Cuz another brother noticed me
IÂm up on him, he up on me
dont pay him any attention
cuz i cried my tears, GAVE three good years
Ya canÂt be mad at me

[Chorus]
Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
DonÂt be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

wo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh oh

(Chorus)Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
DonÂt be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

I got gloss on my lips, a man on my hips
hold me tighter than my Dereon jeans
acting up, drink in my cup
I couldnt care less what you think
I need no permission, did I mention
Dont pay him any attention
Cuz you had your turn
But now you gonna learn
What it really feels like to miss me

(Chorus)

Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
DonÂt be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

woo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh oh

DonÂt treat me to the things of this world
IÂm not that kind of girl
Your love is what I prefer, what I deserve
Is a man that makes me, then takes me
And delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond
Pull me into your arms
Say IÂm the one you WANT
If you donÂt, youÂll be alone
And like a ghost IÂll be gone

All the single ladies
Now put your hands up
woo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh
oh oh oh

Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
DonÂt be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it woo oh ooh

AJ, thanks for posting the words. I figured the song was not great philosophy set to music, but eek! I suppose that the lines,

"Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
if you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it"

are supposed to be pro-woman, pro-commitment, pro-marriage, anti-doormat.

I can just imagine the talking heads saying inane things about the lyrics like, "Beyonce is telling young women/girls that they have a right to expect a serious commitment from a man they're sexually involved with. She's empowering girls to demand monogamy, & to have more respect for themselves." Yeah, right.

You're right, Stinky. Those who would try to justify this song as being pro-woman would probably say those things. But there's no escaping this:

Your love is what I prefer, what I deserve
Is a man that makes me, then takes me
And delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond

That's anything but empowering, and clearly delivers the age-old message that a woman needs a man in order to be "made" into a complete person. (That's the clean interpretation. There are very strong sexual undertones as well.)

It's just sick, all the way around. I find no redeeming value in any of this crap for little girls. And some of it's not even appropriate for grown women, IMO.
:-(

I played the video for my teen & her friend (both 17), they both said.. Oh no! when they saw the kids starting to dance.

I wish I could get this song out of my head. I don't even like Beyonce.

Here's the video if anyone wants to see it.

I took tap when I was 5. We wore bare midriff outfits....parents were upset our dance moves weren't complicated enough. ha ha....those were the days.

Here is a link that might be useful: Little girls dancing to Single ladies video...

My 15 year old daughter has been a dancer for 10 years, and we have been to many, many competitions over the years. I wish I could tell you that this dance routine or these costumes were unusual or a one-off, but I can't. Bare bellies, wigs, fishnet stockings, garter belts - all on kids ranging in age from 5-18.

When my dd decided she wanted to dance, I had already spent several years goggling over some of the costumes and routines my best friend's daughter was doing at the local studio. We opted out. Instead, we registered her in an Ethnic Ukrainian dance program (with the last name of 'McCoy' it is generally obvious we are not Ukrainian!) and she has happily danced her feet off all of these years :) It is energetic, colourful, challenging, and best of all, nary a belly button in sight!

DD, two years ago:

Carrie

Ya know - I'm OK with the song. It's upbeat, catchy, and I doubt the little girls will grasp either the complete me sentiment or the more subtle sexual meanings of the words in the third stanza. But those costumes and many of the specific dance moves were way too sexual for little girls -- or even most teens!

The dance instructors should have known better, and the parents should have known better. Changing the costumes and just a few of the skankiest dance moves could have made the routine fabulous and fun instead of slutty, and still showcased the little girls' talents every bit as well.

When I was a little girl, I desparately wanted to take competitive dance lessons, but my mother wouldn't let me. The dancing girls always got to march in our town's parades in makeup and sparkly costumes, (and as Mom noted) turning cartwheels through the horse droppings... I thought it looked so glamorous! But Mom clearly thought the local dance studio was tacky beyond belief. Now I see why.

Ooooh - I just had a bizarre flashback! When I was in the 5th grade, my best friends signed up for the school talent show and performed a dance they "choreographed" (which, as I recall, involved a good deal of bumpin' and grindin') to a song called "Chick-a-Boom" by Daddy Dewdrops. Dig these lyrics:

Last night I had a crazy dream
'bout a chick in a black bikini, ugh!
Ah, she looked so good, she couldn't be real
She must be a magic genie!

But she disappeared around the corner
All I saw were three doors and the top of her bikini
I made it through the first door, there was a party goin' on
I asked about the chick but what they said was freaky...

Chick-a-boom, chick-a-boom, don't ya just love it
Chick-a-boom, chick-a-boom, don't you just love it
Chick-a-boom, chick-a-boom, don't ya just love it
Chick-a-boom, chick-a-boom-boom-boom

I found the bottom part behind the second door
Which took me to Africa, I presume
This really far-out cat was screamin' half-crazy
"Whomp-bobba-looba ba-lomp-bam-boom"
I said, "Hey man, cut that jive and tell me where the chick went"
But he looked at me, as spaced as could be
And said these words but I wonder what he meant...

True to the theme of the song, Pam and Ellen danced in their bikinis. I desperately wanted to be a part of their routine. We intended to be a trio, but the dance was performed by the two others girls as my parents refused to allow me to get up on stage in front of the elementary school and wiggle my butt to a song they deemed lewd.

I had to play "The Entertainer" on the piano instead. It was mortifying at the time ... but now I completely understand, and am thankful I had parents who cared enough to say NO WAY.

By the way Carrie, your daughter is just lovely! She looks like she's thoroughly enjoying herself, and the costume is gorgeous!

sweeby, you're right, a bit more discretion in the costumes and the moves and it would not have caused the uproar it did. I like the tune personally, it makes me get up and dance, as it does a lot of people, I loved Kurt in Glee when he did his version.

carrie, gorgeous picture, she sure seems to be dancing so well .

A friend posted the video on Facebook several days ago, and I was aghast. I thought maybe I was just overreacting, but I showed it to my 17 yo DD, and she also thought it was very "wrong on so many levels."

I work for a local non profit whose mission is the empowerment of girls and young women. We do this by teaching them to make wise choices, but when a girl is 7 or 8 years old she needs her parent(s) to do that for her. I would say the parents of those dancers did not make a wise choice for their daughters.

The sexualization of girls of younger and younger ages in our culture is very disturbing to me.

This is more my speed:
{{gwi:1509488}}
DD at last year's recital. Right before she quit for good... boo hoo hoo :(

I just watched the video. Are you kidding me? The dancing was bad enough but the outfits make it 10 times worse! I can't get over that an adult actually put that whole thing together and all those parents were OK with it. Neither of my parents would've approved but I can only imagine Dad's reaction. Those people were cheering. Sick.

Lovley photos above. I always thought it would be fun to dance.

OMG Tomorrow, I thought that was a stock photo then scrolled down to see it's your DD. She is stunning!

Both pics are so really cool.

As for the girls not knowing what the lyrics really mean. True but they will end up singing them outloud. Our neighbor boy was in culdesac last year, not quite 8, singing "She's my cherry pie". Cute, but no. The other older boys were laughing, encouraging him. Luckily my ds did not pick up on it.

We listen to lots of rock and realized that some lyrics may not be all that great so we change the song when the inappropriate ones come on. Dd has some albums on her computer that we needed to remove a few songs from because they are just not appropriate. She may hear them elsewhere but not on her computer. That reminds me we need to take off a few new ones.

As for the girls video, I am not sure which is worse the moves or the costumes. I tried to watch and convince myself that the moves were not really bad, but then WHAM, a very inapporpriate move would occur and I thought I was going to see some pole dancers appear. I wonder if you asked those parents to throw in some poles they might have thought that would be cute too.

Just really sad.

"Luckily my ds did not pick up on it."
Heck, I didn't pick up on it either! Until now...

Wanna do something really cruel to torture your teens?
When you hear them playing music with inappropriate lyrics, tell them you didn't understand the singer and ask them to repeat the lyrics for you. Then act confused about the meaning and ask them to explain. Just watch them squirm! (evil grin) That's one way to assure they never listen to those songs again in your hearing ;-)

My DD has been dancing competitively for 6 years now. I can tell you that inappropriate costumes/music/movements are a hot topic in the dance world. Her teachers have always walked a fine line between choosing something age appropriate and something the girls will like too. They all want to grow up so fast.

If you watch the video you'll see people sitting in front of the girls. Those are the judges. According to National dance competition rules they are supposed take points off of--or just plain disqualify--groups with numbers like that one. But time and time again we go to these competitions and not only are the groups not disqualified, they are rewarded with top trophies.

My DD decided this year to not compete anymore and to pursue other dance opportunities. And guess what? Her old teacher gave in and had the 14-17 year old group dance to a Pussy Cat Dolls mix. And worse, their costumes are almost identical to the ones those little girls are wearing in this video. I am so glad that my DD did not have to wear that onstage! I heard through the grapevine that the judges at their last competition commented that the dance was not appropriate for their age group and they got lower scores because of it. Good job judges (at just that ONE competition...).

Just finished watching the video. It is SOOO inappropriate! If I were a parent of one of these girls I would be furious! I would NEVER allow my child to have an outfit like that, much less perform those moves. Honestly, whomever put that piece together needs to have their butt kicked. Some of those dancers have amazing skills (and at such a young age, too). I'm not discounting that. However, the format it is presented in completely disgusts me. What were the teachers, parents and studio owners thinking? Boo-hiss.

I saw the video clips on GMA this past week, as well as the interview with the parents. What they said did not at all surprise me. As some already commented, they saw their darling child practicing, they heard the song, heard the lyrics, and probably hand-dressed their little girl in the costume. This was not a surprise to them. And they have justified putting their child out there in their own minds, are annoyed and irritated that their choice is even being called into question. Their attitudes and disdain for others opinions, were what I found truly revolting. The dance, the costumes, the song choice, are all sexual--there is no real question of that. Even the words of the Mother and Father prove that. They want to hold that this video was not for 'public' consumption. Well, what is NOT public about the dance competition? Do they really believe that there is not one single pedophile among the parents, instructors, videographers, stage hands, family members, or janitors, in that Dance Competition audience? It's not just the murkey/creepy guy in front of the computer who saved the video to his hard drive that they need to worry about. Like many other moms here, I had both of my little girls in dance for a while. There are plenty of moves, steps, and dance routines that can really show off a child's talent. The photos above also show that costumes can be creative and beautiful. There is no necessity to make it risque or erotic. That is a choice.

We see parents every day making justifications about their choices for their children. People do all sorts of horrible things to children; some to punish them, some to hurt them, and some to push them into the spotlight. Just because you are a parent does not mean you have that child's best interest at heart, nor does it mean that you have good sense, good judgment, or the ability to reason on your mistakes. This mistake was the result of a lot of poor judgment. Part of the appeal to this routine, these costumes, this song; was the shock value. It's too bad that most of these people will never get that. They will feel that they are the victims of other people's wrong opinions. And because children are so dependent on their own parent's attitudes, approbation, and comments, the little girls will probably be taught that this was okey-dokey.
It's just that some ignorant people outside our Dance World don't understand, Sweetie!

Red

Very well said, Red. You are absolutely correct.

Indeed very well said; you always have a great way of summarizing ideas, good one, red.

After reading your descriptions I don't even want to see the video. My ds is 6.5 and I won't let her wear dresses above the knee, or halter-style tops. Many "street" clothes for 6+ girls are inappropriate, forget about dance costumes. In fact, other than for special occasions (concert this Friday) I may not let her wear sundresses to school at all since 2 of her *girl*friends pulled her dress up to show her panties the other day!

When I dropped my DS off at school yesterday, I couldn't believe the SHORT and TIGHT shorts this 3rd or 4th grader had on! I hope someone at school said something to her about wearing that. I don't even know what the dress code is at school, since I have a boy, and all he wants to wear is UnderArmor athletic stuff. Plus, she had on the one pair of flip flops that I DISPISE (sp??), you know, the one's that have fabric ties on the top that fall to the sides and get all dirty. I thought those were 10 years ago anyway! LOL!

Well, there's really no telling why a child would dress in clothing that's too small or wear shoes that are out of style. Maybe her folks just don't have much money, and those were hand-me-downs?

auntjen, that was not the case. Guess you would have just had to have seen her. I would never condemn a parent for a child wearing hand me downs. The shorts were "meant" to be tight and too short.

It's a slippery slope down the primrose path from dance competitions to playing professional tennis.

{{gwi:1509489}}

-Lena

I saw that picture today; there was also a rear view shot when the skirt flew up in an action sequence. Nothing surprises me anymore though !!

".....I may not let her wear sundresses to school at all since 2 of her *girl*friends pulled her dress up to show her panties the other day!:
ajsmama! We solve that problem with bike shorts! Gymboree sells them (online if no store near you) in prints and solids and Nordstrom, also, in solids. Have also found them at Target. Our girls wear them under all skirts and dresses so they can be kids and play hard with no worries. In our mild winters they wear knee length tights under skirts.

Tight and very short shorts are back in fashion. Went to a casual school music event last night and many of the girls (10-14 y.o) had on what used to be known as "hot-pants".

chispa, I so remember "hot pants" , early 70's ; I showed up to my weekend job wearing those, I was 18, they had a small bib and straps, my boss had to consult his boss to decide if I'd be allowed to stay , I was the first one to wear them and later on everyone did. I worked in the cosmetic dept. of a large store.

Kids think these are the newest trend, but they're so retro !!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Hot Pants

Yep, I wore 'em too! My fav had cuffs,were tie-dyed denim look with a matching safari jacket. Hot stuff with those vinyl over-the -knee boots:>), but I never wore the ones that looked sprayed on and super short.