Dear Abby,
I can't imagine that your show has gone on six years without a complaint like this, but if it has, I'm happy to be your first. Now, I will be the first to admit that I do watch your show. My mom and I love watching the different competitions together and guessing who is going to be on top of the pyramid. But we don't watch for you Abby, oh no. We watch to see if one of these days, one of those girls will stand up to you. I have to be honest with you, you have extreme talent. The dances you come up with are incredible and you really produce amazing dancers. You have such a beautiful eye and vision for dance that it is truly sad that you are so confused on how to be a real teacher.
You are correct that you see results. There's no denying that. Your girls win, they are good, but not for the reasons they should be. They win because they are so afraid of what would happen if they don't win. They are terrified of you. That is no way to live and you can't sit there and tell me that you get up every day and want these kids to be afraid of you. A true teacher is supposed to inspire and push children to be better everyday, not have them fearing for their future if they lose one competition when they are seven. Newsflash: that competition is not going to make or break their career at all. Chances are, people won't even remember this show 20 years from now. It makes me sick how okay you are with how you act around the children. It must be absolutely traumatizing watching your dance teacher scream at your mother over unnecessary things. Have you ever thought about the scars you are creating? How many therapy sessions you are going to send them to? How many abusive relationships they will endure because they think this is normal?
There's no denying that you have good intentions, but there is a difference between pushing children to reach their fullest potential and pushing them so far that they cannot possibly endure it anymore. Nine years old are way too young to be having panic attacks over an extra-curricular activity. Children their age should be in school, making friends, and doing homework -- not being homeschooled, dancing until they cry, and listening to their mother and their dance teacher fight right in front of them.
“Why she was crying, I don’t know. Kids should cry when their arm is broken and it’s hanging off or somebody died.”
"Are you crying? No tears. You save those tears for your pillow, in your room, alone. You’re going to humiliate yourself in front of everyone in this dressing room. Do not cry. Suck it up, kid. You are here, you’re healthy, you are one lucky little girl. Act like it.”
“I could make you or I could break you.”
Does this sound like a supportive teacher to you? I think not.
Check your attitude Abby, because I have got news for you: everyone's replaceable, and so are you.
