I’m just watching dance moms for the first time

[Soubriquet]

And OMG I am shocked

How much of a bitch is Abby Lee?!!

Shouting grow up at a 12 year old girl who was a little upset.

These girls obviously put their heart and soul in their dance routines and their dance teacher is a complete emotional abuser screaming no cry babies. A 9 year old is nervous yet instead of reassuring her, she’s screaming at her.

I know the parents want the absolute best teacher they can for these competitions but how as a parent could you watch your child being emotionally destroyed like this.

I couldn’t

My dd does ballet. She does to a brilliant dance school with teachers who are supportive. Think the dance teacher taking the little ones on the stage to dance with them if they feel nervous. Allowing them to take a supportive teddy if need be

This is what they need. Not yelling all the time

99% of it is all fake, right down to the competitions being set up just for them and producers meddling, asking people to argue etc however that doesn’t excuse the way Abby treats the girls. I think JoJo (on a much later series) is the only one who still sees her, others ended up in court with her. Even maddie doesn’t have anything to do with her

Really? I’m glad to hear that.

Even if it is fake I can’t deny the girls have talent

I used to love this, but like you, gradually got disturbed by the emotional abuse. Some of the children are really really young (a few six year olds even) and I'm not sure how you could sit back and watch that as a mother.

She ended up spending time in jail for tax evasion. Deeply unpleasant woman. I started watching it and couldn't stomach the abuse and the parents just standing by colluding. Just awful.

It's mostly fake I think. I remember reading about the things the programme set up which she'd never done or used before (like the pyramid people move up or down on).

It is emotional abuse though. Fake or not, it must have an impact on those poor dancers.

I also as a mother can't imagine being that involved in my child's life 😮

I know, I watched it for ages thinking it was fake so it didn't matter but actually it's set up rather than completely fake iykwim? So if it was totally fake and the kids knew they were acting a role that'd be fine but actually it's just small kids being put into set up scenarios that they might not full understand so that disturbed me.

Does anyone remember the dance, I think it was called electricity. I lost any respect for every single parent who allowed their child to be in it, I wouldn’t care if I had signed a contract, I would rather be taken to court and explain to a judge it’s not right for a 7 year old (or how old they were) to be dressed like a stripper and dance like one on stage and to be recorded and broadcast. I felt like I felt so uncomfortable watching it

Daisy

Fucking hell. I recognise some of those moves from lapdancing/pole dancing classes from the place I worked years ago. Slut-dropping for a start.

Yep, that’s dance is grim. And not nearly as tightly choreographed as the normal dance moms routines, which are really impressive.

My dd (10) is obsessed with watching that on YouTube at the moment. I keep saying 'you know that's not an acceptable way to treat people' again and again. She actually is a competitive gymnast at a club with really lovely supportive coaches, the exact opposite of Abby Lee. She'd never cope in that environment which is maybe why she's fascinated with it.
The way the moms are all dressed to the nines makes me laugh.