If you don't already know the show "Dance Moms" with the famous Abby Lee Miller and her dramatic crew of middle-aged women who love nothing more than to start drama then are you really living in the 21st century? "Dance Moms" became pretty popular a couple years ago and was really hot among two specific crowds, dancers and their mothers. Having been exposed to that industry for multiple years, I have seen quite a lot of different situations that make you wonder if you're living in that reality show.
I started dancing pretty young and danced for about 12-13 years. It was my life all through grade school and was a very big passion of mine. My dance studio was my second home and my dance friends were like family. We spent about 5-6 days a week after school together training and working to become prima ballerinas. We dreamt about being the very best of the best and it was something we all worked very hard for. On the weekends, we would dedicate our weekends to dance competitions in the surrounding states to dance against other studios and girls. Growing up that was mostly my life and I loved every second of it.
The dance competitions were truly something unique to witness and be part of. It was a chance to meet and see other girls and boys perform things they have worked so hard and so many months on. There would also be people who were hidden gems as well. I have never seen so much talent like I have at these weekend dance competitions. Not to mention some now big names as well. I remember specifically watching Kent Boyd dance from the wings backstage at a competition in Ohio. And I danced alongside a girl who now is part of the American Ballet Theatre.
Now the real question, are these dance competitions really like the hit TV show "Dance Moms"? In some ways yes and in other ways no. They are pretty packed and busy, but in reality no girl is in more than about five to six dance routines. Even that amount of dance routines is a lot for one weekend. So honestly most of the down time is spent hanging out with friends, eating a snack, watching other performances, or practicing upcoming routines. The truth behind the drama, I have seen some very dramatic mothers. No one in my dance studio had moms that were into starting drama but I would remember mothers in the dressing rooms telling their daughters to practice that move again or to point their toes more. Personally I have never witnessed moms yelling at each other at dance competitions, so I would say that some of what you see on TV is over-exaggerated but I'm not saying it couldn't happen either.
More often most parents just want to get in, see their kid perform, and get out-- drama free. So most likely there will not be some big cat fight you might be expecting. Sorry to burst your bubble but it's just not true.
