Dance Moms

The critical comments do seem to be more prevalent amongst the competition team parents, also at competitions. But they can also come out at audition and exam time.

I'd like to think they're in a minority. My opinion is that people shouldn't pass negative comments about other dancers and their abilities.

these mums talking and critiquing other kids in the class

This just isn't right, is it? Why do some people think that it's OK to openly criticise other people's children? So judgemental, and completely unfair - not only on the victims but on their own children who grow up thinking that this sort of thing is normal and to be expected.

Aside from everything else, the parents are not trained dance teachers/qualified experts, so their opinions probably aren't actually worth having anyway.

My dc was never into the competition scene thankfully, so we only occasionally came across this sort of attitude, but I hear on the grapevine that it does seem to be becoming more common.

I think there's always a few and it depends on whether they outnumber the nice parents or not.

13 years ago I had a dad square up to me because I dared to say his little darling wasn't the leader all the time in the babies class.
I'd been in the classes for a term and knew the teacher took a strict rotation so every child got their turn.

He was doing the faux embarrassed "oh it's so embarrassing Fay's always the leader, don't know what everyone else thinks of her."
One of the other mothers said gently that her dd had said she was leader last week, and he said "oh no, I expect some of the other children like to think they're leaders, but Fay's always chosen..."
The mother was clearly a little (quietly) upset at this, so I spoke up about it being in turns and he squared up to me.

Funniest thing was they came out and he shouts out "Fay, who was leader today?" Fay says she was, then her friend pipes up with:
"No, you wanted to be, but Miss Toni said it wasn't your turn and then you sulked and wouldn't do good toes naughty toes."
Whole lot of parents was one big

But definitely yes, I can count on two hands easily the number of parents who boldly pronounce their child is going to be a ballerina or a star.

. I think there have always been a few as you describe and the competition aspect can bring out the worst in some.

However, I do wonder if in the last few years it has got more intense.