I think this is just as bad.


Hi Mommy! I am going to grow up to be a stripper, just like you!
What kind of parent lets their kid do this?

I think that's an overreaction. Sure the outfits are skimpy, but it wasn't all stripper moves. It was just a bunch of pretty talented dancers, dancing to a song that's currently popular.

I agree with Taborcarn, all those girls are very talented. The outfits could have been 1 pieces and still kept their movement unrestricted.

So sure, you can blame the parents for allowing their kiddos to learn how to dance, but anywhere you go they are going to teach about popular music. Emulating Beyonce is an easy way to get noticed since her music is easily identifiable by most people, plus they incorporated traditional dance moves into it which is pretty cool.

Sexualizing kids is not a good thing by any means and it's a little sad that they felt they needed to do that to be noticed here...that's "the business" though I guess.

^ Obligatory video response to this thread.

My daughter takes dance, but I would NOT let her participate if they used outfits like that. I guess that is why we use the dance studio that we do.

Wow, those are some talented kids! I don't like the outfits either, or even some of the dance moves. I guess I'm old fashioned on this subject.

I think the costuming and some of the moves were over the top. Sadly, though it is what is being fed to children today by popular media. As much as I hate the whole Disney-packaged 'musical artists' I do see a need for them today (and then I start wondering if my reaction is similar to initial objections to Elvis, and then I say nah...).

I really don't see a problem with it to be honest. The only parts exposed are the stomach, legs and arms, parts that we as a society really have nothing against being shown to the public. And the dance moves are obviously done without a shred of sexual intent.

Sure, there are gonna be creeps out there that will watch it to get themselves off, but no more so than the number of creeps that would do the same if they were all swimming in a pool or doing any number of other innocent activities.

I think that costumes more similar to the leotards from the original video would have been more tasteful, but part of the consideration I'm sure was having the audience in the back being able to see the girls dance.

I didn't have the same visceral *squick* watching this that I get from little girl beauty pageants. I think it is a context thing.

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Hope is the new black.

- that video and the dancing associated is sort of a landmark in dance...
- there's nothing really sexual about it
- the costumes are what they are. It's not the 50s anymore
- it's obvious those girls are really talented

I never got that...I watched the video and promptly wondered why people said it was so great. Just because Kanye said so?

It's wrong on so many levels.

They shot that entire video in one take.

Joxur, I don't think anyone is saying the little girls aren't talented but that their talent could have been showcased without the sexuality, and should have been.

Yeah, I'd have an issue with a daughter of mine appearing in that.

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I have a problem with the lingerie appearance of the outfits. I don't think the dancing is overly sexual, though.

That doesn't make it a landmark in dance or music. Or even production for that matter, it's not like its the first video production to be shot in one take.

The old spice video was one take! Even that amateur video shot in the school that someone posted here a long time ago was one take, and I'd dare to say the settings were a lot more complex than the Single Ladies set.

But this is an argument for another thread I guess. I agree with Shareef here, there's no reason for the outfits to look like that on little kids, it's just over the top. Adults wear outfits like that for one reason, to look sexy. That's basically it.