Young Turks: Controversy Over Girls Doing Beyonce Dance (Video)

[CherylK]

Run time: 04:09 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIM3rQyv50w   Posted on YouTube: May 13, 2010 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 148611   Posted on DU: May 15, 2010 By DU Member: CherylK Views on DU: 2742

 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/14/AR2010051404324.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[Speck Tater]

1. The kids are super talented BUT they should find a more age-appropriate showcase for that talent nt

[HughMoran]

2. I've seen many of these dance recitals my girls were in and they had a lot more suggestive stuff

I was sitting here waiting for them to do something obscene - this was pretty mild IMO - at least compared to what I've seen and been a little embarrassed by.

[rocktivity]

3. SEVEN years old??? I would have been equally impressed if they'd been fourteen!

A little more clothing definitely wouldn't have hurt. But ...(w)onder(ing) what kind of dance teachers (paid by the parents) drilled them for hours and hours in the chilly perfection of a routine that feels so exploitative of their energy, innocence and charm is overkill. They looked like very enthusiastic Beyonce fans who probably copied her every video move. I felt no "chill" in their performance, just enthusiasm and teamwork.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[lumpy]

4. Not exactly Shirley Temple and the Goodship Lollypop.

What I will say this tho', At 7 years old I DID know what was sexually provocative. I knew what my neighbors were doing when I observed them playing under the blankets. Although I didn't have access to much sex-in-your-face, I had big ears and a thirst for knowledge.
Of course these little dancing girls are serious about their talents and success is their goal, not sex. Too bad there are all kinds of creeps out there who would slurp this up.

[KansDem]

5. Inappropriate

As a father of an 18-year-old woman who will be graduating high school next week, this reminds me of the difficult times her mom and I had in trying to find appropriate clothing for her when she was seven. It seemed like mostly everything was directed at the "Li'l Hooker" look.

Yes, these girls did an outstanding job, but if you want to see a bump-a-grind routine, go to a strip joint and leave the seven-year-olds out of it.

[lib2DaBone]

6. Fairly Tame..LOL Wait until you see the H/S Basketball Cheerleaders do...

"My Milkshake" by Kelis


My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard,
And their like
It's better than yours,
Damn right it's better than yours,
I can teach you,
But I have to charge

I know you want it,
The thing that makes me,
What the guys go crazy for.
They lose their minds,
The way I wind,
I think its time


La la-la la la,
Warm it up.
Lala-lalala,
The boys are waiting

[jotsy]

7. There was another way to pull this little number off.

Talented young dancers who would have been just as awesome and entertaining in wedding gown garb and choreography that displays some desire to preserve and protect the innocence of youth.

[alp227]

8. Skimpy? Cenk, go to Hawaii and watch a hula show.

And he has a good point about perverted guys. Ultimately the burden lies on the man to control himself.

[Kerrytravelers]

9. I'm with Cenk. Just a little bit more clothing. Otherwise, meh.

[frustrated_lefty]

10. Great dancing. Totally inappropriate.

[Tx4obama]

11. I think it's the color

If the clothes had been white and purple, it wouldn't have been as suggestive.
And actually what they are wearing covers up more than the bikinis that kids wear to the beach.
What's next, dressing up kids at the beach in the old 1920's bathing suits (from head to toe) just in case there's a man there looking at them?

[icee]

12. Just another small facet of America in Decline. Maybe next we'll

get 4-year-olds doing lap dances.

[Grassy Knoll]

13. Little miss sunshine, was my first thought...

[scentopine]

14. Man, this makes me ill, I don't see the talent here that other people do...

I don't get it - just a lot of sexual leg highs, hip grinding, ass shaking, etc. If the intent is to show that kids at that age can be sex objects just like 20 somethings, I guess its job well done. I think kids have enough to worry about at that age.

Its a freak show. At least they didn't strip to it. I guess that is next years routine.

[Dirigo]

15. Children Encouraged To Dance Like Hookers & Drug Crazed Druggies Is Crazy

I agree with some who question and ask where exactly is the talent here with children. Why in tarnation are parents allowing their young female children to dress like hookers and act like seedy roadside pole dancing women of the street. Why have the parents abandoned their responsibility as parents and depositing these young girls to be preyed upon by deviates and dangerous derelicts. No child can be safe when moronic parents encourage their children to act so shamelessly. I predict a sad future for these children who will be used and abused while their stupid parents bow and take their applause for allowing them in this sort of filthy activity. This is not healthy and I can't believe any child psychologist or social worker or police officer will ever find anything worthwhile in this form of entertainment at such a young age. I think the parents should be dragged before Family Court and made to explain why they have led their children into deliquency and put at such risk. I am no prude, but I raised two daughters and I find this conduct reprehensible and I hold the ones responsible accountable--the parents!

[Guilded Lilly]

16. Incredibly poor taste in costuming

takes away from the talent and joy these little girls show for their dancing. VERY tacky costuming...and therefore some of the moves, no matter how good they are in technique ( I feel some of the later moves were over the line in age appropriateness, period), come off as trashy.

Put them in cool, age appropriate dance costumes and you would be commenting on their talent instead of the really BAD choice in presentation.

REALLY WRONG outfits.
Really.

[Cowpunk]

17. I found that very difficult to watch

I seriously had to skip through it, it was so disturbing. I was physically revolted.

[anAustralianobserver]

20. Me too. I don't think TYT should have showed the whole act. nt

[WhoIsNumberNone]

18. Wow- those were 7 year olds?

I must have a high tolerance for what offends me, because I was not nauseated by the routine. I was probably too preoccupied with being amazed that 7 year olds could pull it off.

Now, as to whether they should have pulled it off- I agree that there are way too many pervs out there- some of whom are probably even now putting this video to unintended uses- to be dressing little girls up in those outfits and performing this routine.

[anAustralianobserver]

19. The lyrics, dancing and clothes are intended to be sexually stimulating, so obviously it's wrong.

In "If you like it...", 'like it' means sexually appreciate.

It doesn't mean you should freak out if a 7yo expresses some sexuality, but sexual behaviours should be calmly and clearly discouraged (with explanations) by adults until a child is old enough to understand responsible sexuality (ie becomes an adult).

[vaberella]

21. Too much. This is like those disgusting pageants--kids acting too adult.

They can be good dancers---but this instigates dramas. I agree with Cenk w/ on the kid thing, but I wasn't feeling the gyrating. I think the dance moves and song are in appropriate for kids.

[stlsaxman]

22. In the Ad world they're called "prosti-tots"

[onlyadream]

23. This is actually very common for dancers

I've been to many dance competitions and when I viewed the video I was more blown away by their dancing than anything else. With that said, I have sat in the audience (many many times) and wondered what the dance school was thinking when they chose a costume or a song. I've seen numbers that made my jaw drop. Some schools are ALL about winning with little regard to anything else.

[madmom]

24. I agree with some of the comments here. Being to many dance recitals I can

say these girls were fantastic in being able to pull off this routine.For those of you who don't "see" the talent think of more than just the dance, think of the timing, the team work (like in sports) the cohesion, for 7 year olds this is amazing.That being said, I agree the costumes are a bit much ( or less) for their age group.There are plenty of costumes that would have been just as good for the visual aspect of the performance.

For those of you who are worried about all the gyrating, I have 4 grand-daughters, ages 4 thru 11, I watch them dance, it happens, it's part of dancing at all ages, well except maybe over 70, then again I don't see many over 70 dancers :O)