Okay, The festival is over and the dance team did indeed pull out because we would not back down about letting them dance to that song. All day long, the Principal and I had people coming up and telling us we made the right call - even if their child would not be dancing with the younger group. They often also said that they had thought before that this particular studio did too many risque songs and dance moves. Can't say I'm big on what I call the stripper dance moves. So, we did survive and actually plan on inviting this studio back next year, but we're going to let them know up-front that we reserve the right to review and turn down songs we find unacceptable.
Song may be OK to many, might even be OK for me in my home and even for my kids in my home.
But with approximately 50 million (give or take a few million ) songs to choose from, why use a remotely controversial song at an elementary school family event? It's a no-brainer. Your principal (and your group if it's your event) have every right to set the rules in this case.
I'm guessing that you'll survive if the dance school boycotts the event. Hope dance school instructor realizes that her school (and her business) won't be invited back next year.
Kathie, your school is doing the right thing. The reaction of the dance instructors is childish, but it is to be expected. They have the same mentality as beauty pagent mothers who think it is ok to dress their 4 yo up as a high school senior on prom night.
And before any beauty pageant and dance team mothers begin heating up the tar to "tar and feather" me, I believe that you have every right to enter your child in beauty pagents and/or dance teams and dress them any way you please. I just don't think an elementary school is an appropriate outlet for that type of self-expression.
Okay, couple more details then I have to run to the school to help set up. Our school is an elementary, 300 kids K-6. The kids that would be dancing are all ages, however, the ones dancing to the "dirty" song are high school. And, coincidentally, we are having an in school talent show and the kids must audition first, just to make sure their songs/dances are not inappropriate. The song that the dance studio wants to do would not pass.
Kathie, funny story, this happened at our school. A dance studio in the same shopping center (long story) offered dance classes to our school as we didn't have a gym at the time. Several parents were....very mad (? [img]smile.gif[/img] ) about the music and the aditutde of the women running the studio. Unfortunatly these parents were the minority and the dance "ladies" kissed up to our principal so much she didn't know what to do. Our problem was solved by moving from the shopping center to our own building (a former KMart to add a little giggle irony). Not to our surprise, many of the dance parents didn't come with the move.....huh.
My husband and I go round and round about lyrics. He is upset (for example) WalMart will carry the edited version of Ozzy Osbourne (I know but he's a great guy otherwise ) not the full version therefore infringing on Ozzy's first amendment rights. I say "whaaa!" Not just that but I grow very tired of watching children dance the way some of these dance instructors think is "cool". I don't want little Suzie to learn how to shake her bottom like J.Lo!
Congrats to you for telling them NO! I really do give you a standing ovation!! BRAVO! Dieing to hear the out come!
) songs to choose from, why use a remotely controversial song at an elementary school family event? It's a no-brainer. Your principal (and your group if it's your event) have every right to set the rules in this case.
) not the full version therefore infringing on Ozzy's first amendment rights. I say "whaaa!" Not just that but I grow very tired of watching children dance the way some of these dance instructors think is "cool". I don't want little Suzie to learn how to shake her bottom like J.Lo!