to email the dance teacher about 6 yo DD dancing to "I'm sexy and I know it"

[treadonthecracks]

They have a diffent theme each week, and for the street dance week it's "I'm sexy and I know it".

The class is fab, the teacher is lovely (no kids of her own) and it's fantastic value. I don't want to upset her as she's so lovely but I feel this is too old for DD. Some of the other kids in the class are 4!

If you think I should email what would you say?

'are they pole dancing next week?'

No way. Wrong wrong wrong. Ask her to choose another track.

yanbu as long as you word it correctly. Lots will think it an over reaction im sure, but having spent a week trying to explain to my 5 yr old dd that she can;t be sexy as shes only 5 and trying to explain what sexy is (actually if someone could define sexy for me that would be great as i'm struggling), i wouldnt want to be in that position again. This started because her 14yr old brother has been playing the track from his ipod and teaching her the dance to go along with it. thanks ds1!
The chances are your dd will go along dance to the music and not even think about it, but it could start a lot of questions for you.

I don't know the song, but based on its title I would be horrified if that were my daughter (who is 5 and who dances to the Pink Panther theme tune every week at her dance lesson, as far as I can tell!).

Not sure about what wording to use - do you usually send her emails, or would a word in her ear be better? Part of me would want to complain big time, and part of me would want to be very tactful so as not to upset her.

It's irrelevant that she doesn't have children of her own yet - she is a trained dance teacher who is in charge of children, she bloody well ought to know what's appropriate and what's not, frankly!

I would email but in a friendly, non-confrontational way along the lines of saying your daughter will miss that particular weeks lesson because of not wanting to expose her to having to act 'sexily' no matter how innocent it may appear.

I'd be hoisting my bosom and being all catsbumface about this too!

It seems like an odd theme to have for such young children - not really your standard Early Years topic! Even if the dance moves could be construed as 'sexy' in older people, it can be done innocently with little ones, but that theme does seem a bit odd.

You could just keep her away from the class for that week, but then what would you do if a similar theme cropped up again in the future?

Why don't you ask her what's going to be involved? And tell her it doesn't sit very comfortably with you. I doubt you'd be the only parent who's a bit about this.

Tbh, I think people who don't have children realise how strongly those who do can feel about this type of thing.

Just say what you've said here. Explain how much you like the classes, but could she choose a track that doesn't describe a 6 year old as sexy. I'd call instead of e mail though - less chance of being taken the wrong way.

they can street dance without the wiggle wiggle wiggle (grin) i think thats a bit off for little children to be dancing to , they are not sexy I think i would say something TBH

I'd say something. I'd not be happy either.

i would simply say I do not approve of this completely inappropriate song, my daughter is only 6 and not yet sexualised, please can you stop playing it. thanks.

YANBU not appropriate for a dance class. Although I'm being totally hypocritical as I absolutely love that song (and the video ). I made the mistake of playing the song the other day when the dds were in the room, and now 5 year old dd2 won't stop singing "I'm sexy and and I know it," and also "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah", whilst wiggling her bum. She even said to me the other day, "Mummy, you're sexy and I know it," and then wiggled her bum at me.

Oh crikey.

I've just looked down the list and

"mamma do the hump - hip hop style partner work"

Is that what I think it is?

Do I need to mention that too or do you think she'll get the message from the first complaint?

Is that the one that goes "girls look at that body" and also goes on about passion in his pants?

It's a shit song although the video to it is clearly a piss-take. Little ones shouldn't be singing these lyrics, they are far too adult for them and I certainly wouldn't want to see a 6 year old thrusting away to this song let alone a 4 year old.

I wouldn't send an email, that's a bit cowardly. Just take her to one side and say that you've seen the lyrics of the song and you are not sure if she is aware just how sexual they are. Tell her that you are not comfortable with your child dancing to that song. That she is a great teacher and your child just loves her classes, but your problem is with the song rather than the dancing and the song itself is quite sexual in its tone. Those who hear it will know exactly what the lyrics are. You can be polite without causing offence, but sending an email merely states that you can't be bothered to raise it with her personally and don't have the confidence in her to be able to discuss concerns.

i would suggest a change of music

streetdance well they are going to copy what they see on tv, some moves in adults are sexy in children they are not because it is not sexual to them

Didn't realise it was an actual song! Thought it might just be as simple as a theme! That's even worse!!!!!

Definitely say something. Totally inappropriate.

The dance teacher really needs educating about her song choice. Mama do the hump is completely inappropriate for young children too. A snippet of the lyrics ... "Yeah lemme touch back down
Slap her bum until it
Comes back round"

"I just want all of these girls to be on me
And maybe even one of these girls could be Beyonce."

A polite email sounds like a good idea lol

But an email isn't polite. Discussing it with her shows that you have confidence in her to be able to raise these issues. She'll have far more respect for your concerns if you do chat with her about them rather than send an impersonal email. I'd be offended if a child's parents did that as I'd wonder what was so wrong with me that they felt they couldn't discuss it with me personally.

YADNBU please let the dance teacher know what u think. I'm sexy and i know it for 6 year olds? . Agree that a friendly word is better than email and is less likely to be misunderstood. Let her know that dd loves her class.

Good for you for standing up for your beliefs.

I find the song quite funny but I wouldn't want my six year old dancing to it, and I'm sure quite a few other mums would be as well.

I would like to discuss it with her, but we are going to miss this weeks lesson as we're at a party, then next week lesson 3 will only be a week away.

I agree talking is better than an email for anything liable to cause offence.

I will try and find her number to ring her but she is very hard to get hold of on the phone, if I need to talk to her I always email.

If I talk to her at the end of the lesson it will be with hoards of kids and parents crowded round, that's why I usually email.

I have drafted what I think is a very polite email - anyone (Sircliff?) want to read it if I pm it to you?

Was it like Little Miss Sunshine?

I run performing arts classes and my 10 year old dd dances. She is currently in panto dancing to JLS She makes me wanna and a song about shaking your tail feather!

I woulndn't be happy if our teacher had our 9-12 year olds dancing to that song. There is loads of stuff more appropriate.

I have in the past had teachers use songs as warm ups and not realise that some bits are inappropriate. For warm ups they tend to just think has the song got the right beat for whatever excercise they are doing and don't really listen to the words.

As soon as they realised it they changed the music.

If you can't get her on the phone, please make sure that you start your e-mail off by saying that you have tried to do so, and that you would have much rather had a face-to-face conversation!

I think this is totally inappropriate for small children to be dancing to and would be very concerned that a teacher would see it as acceptable.