Dance Moms

Set in Pittsburg, PA, Dance Moms is a television show that airs on Lifetime Network Tuesday nights at 8:00 central time. Local mothers apply their daughters for a spot in the Abby Lee Dance Company as young as five and six years old. Because of the extensive work and exclusivity of the dance company, mothers dream of the chance to make their daughters dance stars. After one season of avoiding what appeared to be a disgrace of a television show, I finally gave in and watched an episode with my roommates.

Abbey Lee Miller is the owner and director of the Abby Lee Dance Company. Running a very strict and exclusive dance company, Miller, and the company, has become one of the most sought after dance institutions in the United States, and especially in Pennsylvania. As understood from the title, this show is not about the dancing or the company, but instead it revolves around the mothers. What sells television more than drama and competition? Nothing, and this is why Dance Moms has become one of Lifetime's highest rated television series.

Growing up a dancer myself, I enjoyed watching the routines and competitions of these young girls. The dance aspect is what initially caught my attention. This show not only broadcasts Miller's company but also contains segments of the competition's routines. What also surprised me is how this show seems to not affect the bias of the judges involved in the weekly competitions.

Although I enjoy the dance aspect, the drama involved with a little girl's dancing blows my mind. Who knew that mothers could stoop as low as caring if their daughter is the point of a formation? I had always heard of parents living vicariously through their children's lives, but this show takes that theory to a whole new level.

If the drama between the mothers, or between mother and instructor, could be taken out of the production, I think this show could emit a more positive light. Maybe I am biased because of the way I was raised, but I hope I never act the way these mothers act about my child's hobby. Little girls dancing as young as age five, in little to no clothing, and discussing their future "stardom" rubs me the wrong way. Dancing is a great hobby for little girls. Making dance a career before they hit double digits, no thank you.

For those viewers out there who enjoy the ins and out of drama, this show is waiting for you to sink your teeth into it. For those who are baffled by selfish parenting, this show is nowhere close to entertainment. I watched Dance Moms for two consecutive episodes, and do not think I will waste time watching it again. It is a mindless show. One thing I did seem to learn from my experience of watching Dance Moms is how I feel like I know what I will and will not do as a parent.

I had the opportunity to work with professional dancers/teachers for 2 years and they were great. Don't see how this so called teacher can give advise when she can't even perform the steps herself. Total disgrace to the teaching profession.

I am from Canada and started at 4 years old doing tap, jazz, and ballet until I 20.

I started with a small company where there was no body image issues or focused on. You could choose competitive, non competitive and with ballet I always had chances to move up grades with demonstrative exams.

I was in the Nutcracker ( I had to compete against a lot of girls throughout my province) and danced it for 6 years straight.

At 14, I was invited on full scholarships to the Royal Winnipeg in Canada too, a major ballet dance company. This school was intense but I was never demeaned or told I wasn't good enough

I left because of injury doing pointe ballet to my knee and retired at 20.

In my experience I have NEVER encountered all the negativity that gets spewed out this show. The adults are appalling and the teacher as well.

There will always be competition in the world of dance, but all my instructors would wear dance apparel and would actually do hands on teaching without pitting students against each other and constantly being yelled at.

Cool your heels lady, you're going break these young girls spirits and eventually they will lose their love of dance!

OK, I admit it, I spent a rainy day watching this show. I kept watching hoping I would see something positive, but alas, I saw abusive behavior aimed at children, with their parents approval and of course tacit public approval based on the fact that the show has been renewed for more than one season.

I find it especially sad that a TV channel like Lifetime, that claims to be "Television for Women" would produce a show that shows continual verbal, emotional and possibly physical abuse of young girls.

The fact that no one from any sort of Child Protect services has never investigated this woman amazes me.

The moms are worse, as they allow it to happen. Not only to they allow it, but they run back begging for more. And they have the most inappropriate conversations in front of those kids.

If anyone has children or has an interest in advocating for children they should avoid this show.

How can we as a society condone the behavior of one Abby Lee Miller? I get that dance is a tough profession and the directors are unforgiving, however, we must realize these young ladies are still STUDENTS! It is obvious that the producers want to exploit the fact that Abby Lee Miller is a dance instructor who does not know what she is doing and that the only talent she has is screaming at everyone and punishing her students if she hates their mothers. That's all this show is: PURE EXPLOITATION. It's obvious because let's face it, Collins Avenue, the producers of the show, are famous for creating exploitation television. Don't believe me Google "American Colony."