Parenting Fail: The Right And Wrong Way For Kids To Dance In Public
March 3, 2010 No Comments
It’s no surprise that kids like adult music. I mean wouldn’t you pick Rihanna over Raffi?
But there is a difference between dancing to grown-up music, and dancing like a grown-up. Especially in a public sphere like television or YouTube.
It is every girl’s dream to dance on stage like the stars on TV. Yet that dream becomes a problem when the singers in the music videos are rolling around like a cat in heat.
Brazilian Laura Fontana, 8, did a Lady Gaga routine on Qual é o seu Talento? wearing a leotard but no pants. She looked adorable. During Paparazzi she pranced around the stage to the music looking just like a talented 8 year old.
However during Bad Romance she channeled a hip-hop back-up dancer. It was disturbing enough when she wiggled her butt and showcased her hip thrusting routine, but when she got down on all fours, crawling to the judges with her ass in the air there was no doubt that this was wrong. Why can’t an 8 year old dance like an 8 year old?
Then we have 12 year old Avery who decided to strut her stuff to Ke$ha’s Tik Tok. I found this video much more engaging because instead of trying to look like a record company doll, she looked just like herself. And she was even more adorable for it!
Of course views are mixed about what is appropriate for these girls. Over at Broadsheet, Mary Elizabeth Williams seems a little horrified that Avery’s parents would submit her to the comments of the viewers and Jessica Coen at Jezebel just doesn’t know what to say.
What do you think? Is Laura being pushing into routines before she is ready, or is she just expressing where she is as an 8 year old? Should Avery’s parents have protected her from looking like a bit of a spaz?
Also read:
Brazilian Waxes For Ten Year Olds And Other Sexy Australian Milestones
