I feel like my daughters dance school is inappropriate

You can only do the right thing for your daughter. It's up to the other parents what they do. If you want to you could tell the owner how you feel when you explain why your girl is leaving

Presumably, the other parents are happy with it otherwise their kids wouldn't be there.

You have only one course of action if you disapprove and that is to remove your DD.

If you try to "report it" (to whom?) or "escalate it" (how?) you will be regarded as batshit crazy.

I’ve actually been thinking the same about dance/cheer for a while and am relieved to see I’m not the only one! I did dance as a teen and now have realised maybe this is why my mum was so reluctant 😄 that plus I was fat so would never be one of the chosen favourites.

As the mum.of a 16 yr old dancer I have a really significant amount of experience of shows. Once over 16 and out of year 11 they do not come under safeguarding in the same way. Dd did 1st show at christmas at 16 , no licence for Performing, had to be in the " adult" 16 to18 dressing room . No consent from me , yes this correct they were inspected by the council during the show and passed with flying colours. It thengirls.are this age you can't really do much unfortunately. My daughters school does do the odd raunchy dance move at her age BUT costumes are not revealing and the burlesque type routine had full sleeves and neck to hip fully covered in velvet and lace. Her dance teacher is careful on routines and costumes so they are age appropriate and make up.and tan are used but to look natural, under lights only.Tan is pale gold. No vidoea alowed of shows onky fhe official one. It is a good school , doesn't do competitions just focus on good ballet, tap and modern traing, dance exams and sends pupils often to RBS amongst others. I'd look for an alternative maybe more classic school if you are uncomfortable. Dance is an amazing confidence booster and friendship source when done well.

There are so many dance clubs (and gymnastics weirdly) that are like this and as far as I can see - they are just a recipe for disaster. My friends daughter is 7 and the costumes that she is put in are frankly alarming. And while the teachers and chaperones are safe and in the main dbs checked - there is nothing to stop any Tom dick or Harry coming to see these shows.

The amount of body image issues that also comes out of these classes does also alarm me.

Why are you going to see strippers in Vegas? *misses point of thread.

Well actually haven't missed point. Withdraw your daughter if you disagree with them doing routines from Chicago in character.

And yet you won't pull your daughter from this club, despite knowing it's her that will be dancing like that next year. You filmed it because it was like a strip club - what exactly are you intending to do with the footage? Out it to the local newspaper?

Absolutely agreed.

Is there no other club she can join elsewhere?

You are absolutely right. There are literally hundreds vids on YouTube where idiotic parents boast about their kids' achievements in Latin dancing - which is vulgar, bordering on obscene - just like you described it. I had to avert my eyes and quickly close the tab, could not see kids gyrating in that way, in those clothes. If a child is super-mobile, there are other types of dancing - like classical waltzes, foxtrots - not out of place in a decent ballroom, etc. Just make them stay away from the original Latin horrors - like the tango, which originated in the bordellos and that is why it is danced that way.

I knew it was going to be Chicago, my son has been at dance/ musical theatre school for 10 years and every time they did Chicago I used to wince a bit. If everything else was ok I wouldn’t panic too much but it sounds like you have lost trust in the whole enterprise. Move her elsewhere there are loads of grea5 schools.

It's grim but very typical for these type of dance schools in my experience.

I went to dance class for a year in the '70s. Those of us in the Highland Dancing class wore no make-up; those in the Ballroom Dancing class were caked in it.

The school was owned by a husband and wife team.

It does seem to depend on the type of dancing. I now see girls doing Irish dancing caked in make-up, and wearing elaborate hairstyles, whereas girls involved in Highland Dancing still seem to have a natural look and just have their hair up in a bun.

I dont understand. You want to complain about something but you don't think that something is bad enough for you to remove your own Daughter.

We don't all have kids at 18, you know!

I was 11 when Flashdance came out and my DS is 10!

Just no need for the rudeness.

DD did modern dance and ballet to a pretty high standard at a local dance school in her teens. Did all the grades and got on to the musical theatre post 16 course at BRIT with their help so they knew what they were doing.

They were very strict on uniform for the lessons (high necked leotards and leggings for modern, standard practice clothes for ballet) . All the costumes for the shows were very classic and not revealing. Makeup only for older teens and only a bit of classic red lipstick and mascara. Definitely no fake tan, the principal would have had a fit! Very non suggestive music tracks (an emphasis on 70s romantic ballads- Forever Autumn a particular favourite ) and no dodgy moves. I can recommend them if you are anywhere near Kingston!

Find yourself a good quality dance school that regularly sends students to top performing schools. There are too many iffy places around that are too influenced by the likes of Dance Moms.

It wasn't my example but yes if I think of women gyrating around in a leotard then yes my head would go to flash dance. I mean why wouldn't it, it was massive.

Like another poster pointed out you didn't seem to realise that women have children at different ages so your comment wasn't accurate.

I am not remotely involved in dance schools so don’t have an axe to grind in any of this.

I recently watched a school musical and the costume coordinator had made really good choices for the big all-girl dance numbers: loose fitting cotton floral dungaree playsuits over a white teeshirt being one of them. The costumes looked cute, allowed plenty of movement but were not remotely sexualised.

The world has changed a lot in recent years and there is a lot more awareness of the risks of children becoming sexualised too soon. Back in the eighties and nineties it was just seen as part of growing up! Plus there was a very low risk of images being used for inappropriate purposes.

The main problem is that lots of these musicals started off as entertainment for adults. So then the costumes and dance moves follow suit. I have never seen Chicago but reading a summary of the plot online, it seems pretty seedy?

Why anyone would think it appropriate for a child under 16 to wear stockings and suspenders onstage is bizarre. Some women wear them for comfort, yes - hidden under a skirt - but any sane adult knows that the only time they are on display is in the bedroom! They are a garment with sexual connotations.

(Sits back to await a barrage of women claiming that they wear visible stockings and suspenders everyday to work.)

.

But you also filmed it?

I filmed some of it because it genuinely felt like a strip club, and if that was my daughter I'd be horrified (she's still in a class below).

I think that dance schools need to look at this thread and be aware of views of parents because I don't actually think some have thought that deeply. Our local dance group has a lovely teacher who invests a lot for shows at a local theatre.

I think the demonstration of acrobatic ability and the ability to follow choreography is brilliant but maybe a bit of thought has to be put into consumers and specific routines because a lot of dance productions e.g. Chicago were meant for adult dancers for an adult audience.

I suppose to some extent it depends on whether you view dancing as an art form. Personally I like acrobatics more for my daughters. Less hassle with costumes and better exercise...A lot of acrobatics on floor does have a dance element.

HebburnPokemon
OP, can you name and shame the school here?
ah how is it ok to put a small business on a site that has such a following, you could get them closed down. I hate people shaming businesses, if you talk to them privately they may be able to address any concerns.

most are like that now op, I’ve a few friends and relatives with girls in different dance classes both rural and urban and all sound like you describe- a lot into k pop type dance, or drum n bass type music

To the clothing and the dance moves. OP stated they were too young to consent but even under 16 they can consent if Gillick competent and can consent over 16 anyway, obviously.

Well, yes, I do still use things from my childhood as a frame of reference, especially when they had a big impact.

Your posts are odd. You seem desperate to invent something to have a go at the OP about - why?

Troll hunting is banned here btw. (And it's very tiresome.) Report if you think she's a troll.