Dance photos of children

[GrandmaSharkdodo]

I've had a violent reaction to a family members photos of her child and not sure if I'm just an old fuddy duddy. The girl is 13 and is a great dancer, competing at regional competitions. She's recently gone for some studio photos of her "dancing" and I think they are highly inappropriate and over sexualised. I know young teens often take risqué selfies as they want to look older, bit this was paid for and overseen by her mum. Obviously I can't and won't put the actual photos on here but this one is quite similar to one of them .. the photos are all over Instagram and are public. AIBU or is it a bit too much?

I agree gymnastics costumes are just as bad if not worse. But we’re talking about dance which didn’t used to be the way of is now.

But we’re talking about dance which didn’t used to be the way of is now

There are so many variations within dance. It’s utterly impossible to use sweeping generalisations

However they have strict marking schemes that the judges all adhere to

IME of many dance competitions, that is exactly what they do have. ISTD Ballet Awards, for example - every competitor is taught, and does, the same steps, followed by the set dance for their grade. Janet Cram Modern Theatre - equally, all dancers taught a routine, marked against a mark scheme. Haven't been to Star Tap, but I think that's the same. All national competitions.

That's true we don't see that picture the same way.

I would never be comfortable about my 13/15/17 year old stretched out on the floor in what I view as a clichéd glamour pose as part of a dance geared portfolio. To me that would always be a glamour pose therefore not acceptable for children and aged 18 it would be an adult's decision and not mine to make.

Jacques
“an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment”

This is not professional dance though is it? Professional dancers don’t compete against each other for public entertainment do they? They perform a show, art!

ScottishDoll

So by “glamour pose”, you’re saying you see soft porn? I see a stretched out female body looking graceful.

But we’re talking about dance which didn’t used to be the way of is now.

Which genre?
Ballet?
Tap?
Indian?
Greek?
Modern theatre, including lyrical?
Ballroom?
Contemporary?
Street?

I would agree that the relatively recent evolution of acro and some commercial dance HAVE changed, but they aren't representative of the WHOLE of dance, and in the vast majority of dance schools for children, they are a tiny proportion of what is taught (commercial IME isn't taught until post 16)

This is not professional dance though is it?

Is that relevant? Given we’re discussing kids activities?

In answer to your point, there are annual dance competitions near here which go up to adult level groups.

Posters on here referring to dance as a sport because they send their kids to compete seem confused that you can dance through to professional without competing for entertainment.

Posters on here referring to dance as a sport because they send their kids to compete seem confused that you can dance through to professional without competing for entertainment

And yet you’re referring to “dance” as a single thing without considering any of the permutations and other posters are confused?

Butterpup, I don't think the definition says 'public entertainment', though, does it? Football is a sport whether it is done at playtime in school or at Wembly. Dance is a mixture between sport and aesthetics, whether it is done in the sweaty confines of a local dance studio or at the Royal Ballet.

Butterpup, I repeat - is gymnastics a sport?

I think when someone makes their own interpretation of movement to music it’s art.

*Meh. Dancing is just like this.

Or are all Mumsnetter kids in ballet?*

Dancing is categorically NOT "just like this". THe only style that is "like this" is freestyle. That's the one with the fake tan, hair extensions and horrifically inappropriate costumes. Any child doing tap, ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, or even acro would never be required to do any of that.

My daughter is a dancer. She's competing in the All England Regional Finals this week. Her costumes are entirely age-appropriate (she's 10) catsuit-style things. She has never worn fake tan in her life, and she competes frequently and does a lot of shows. I was rather baffled by the previous poster saying she pulled her daughter out of ballet becasue they wanted her to wear fake tan. No reputable dance school would require tan for ballet - it goes completely against the aesthetic required for the classical look.

Since the very showy style of dance seen on talent shows has become more popular then there's been an increase in kids competing in skimpier costumes, however that sort of thing is given short shrift at All England and similar competitions, where a lot of weight is placed on children dancing approriately for their age and being dressed appropriately.

I don't ahve a huge problem with the pics posted by the OP, but I tend to go for action shots for my daughter's dance pics, becasue its not about how she looks, its about what she does.

This is so confusing. When I look at the first photo I see a child lying on the floor - probably waiting for the start of the music before she "dances" waking up and getting up to dance.

My daughter's first lyrical dance (aged 10) started with a similar pose (before the All England ruled that there should be less floorwork in lyrical dance).

Yes, the leotard has lacy sleeves, and midriff (and to be fair my daughter dislikes lacy midriff costumes, as they do make her feel exposed) but the rest is covered.

I do agree that there are some dance costumes and poses that are age inappropriate, but I don't think the one OP has posted is one of them. Interestingly The dance comps my daughter used to enter always commented if the felt the dance moves or costumes were not appropriate to the age of the dancer, and marked down accordingly.

Ivanpee

I seem to have ruffled your feathers! Sorry about that.
However, dance is very much about image, not only image but I never said it was.

"the tiny skirts that in no way add to the sport are acceptable in hockey?"

Have you seen what girls wear nowadays to do athletics?

Actually, having said that, I went to a fee paying boarding school in the 80s and we had to wear an airtex shirt and matching pants for athletics. And I mean pants in the underwear sense (although we wore them over our normal underwear), not the American trouser sense.

Most dance is not a sport, it is an art. People watch dance as part of a performance in a theatre.

How many sports are there where the protagonists have to portray characterisation, emotions and expressive artistry, while at the same time be at the very limit of what the human body is physically capable of... and make it look easy?

I remember as an 11 year old I was selected for a commercial dance troupe supposed to be a young pans people (showing my age). I was very unimpressed by being asked to do sexy moves which I thought was silly. But sadly today the culture seems much more accepting of the sexualisation if young girls.

But out if context I can't really judge the pictures - not know ing the dancers or how the pictures are used.

I think when someone makes their own interpretation of movement to music it’s art.

So choreographed ballet, or examined dance of all genres, is not art, as it is absolutely NOT their own interpretation, but set choreography?

Or do you mean that all gymnastics performed to music is art, while all gymnastics not performed to music is a sport?

cantkeepawayforever

I agree with you it’s a grey area. Cirque de Soleil definitely art for me.

I think there are a lot of 'sporting activities' or 'forms of exercise' where categorisation is quite tricky, based on the definition given, btw:

Synchronised swimming
Zumba and many other forms of group exercise to music
Gymnastics
Most dance
Non-competitive running / jogging

The participants are often very athletic and fit, indeed often more so that participants in some recognised sports, but they don't fit the precise definition of a sport.

Rhythmic gymnastics at Olympic level? Trampolining?