About Dance Kids and Makeup

      I've been having a hard time recently deciding what I want to rant about. My life has been busy with work, but nothing much else. So, when all else fails, go to your favorite pizza place! Did I lose you? Sorry. 

      I learned a very valuable lesson the other night. If I'm ever in a writing slump all I have to do is go to my favorite pizza shop and many stories will come to me. I've been known to enter, place order, and put pen to paper. Some times the words flow so freely that I don't want to leave. Fortunately I live only a few blocks away, so my creative flow doesn't really get interrupted.  Luckily.

      For example, I didn't have much to talk about for this blog. Charmed and I went out on Tuesday night, knowing it wouldn't be very busy, and BAM, suddenly stories emerged. First of all we had to wait for a table. Why? There was some sort of dance competition going on. Which brings up my first story...

      WHY, IN THE HELL, DO THESE PARENTS CAKE MAKEUP ONTO THEIR CHILDREN FOR A DANCE COMPETITION? I don't understand. These children are on stage, with a reasonable distance between them and the audience. IMO there is no reason for all of this unnecessary adultness to be added to a child. People are supposed to be watching the dance, not the faces, right? Am I wrong? Am I missing something? I used to take ballet lessons, and never once did any of the girls wear pounds of makeup. Not for a competition. Not for a recital. NOT. EVER. What makes these young girls different?

      Has anyone ever seen Mikhail Baryshnikov? He is one of the best dancers I've ever seen. And his face has many blemishes. He is a man of many talents, not just ballet. He may wear makeup when he performs, but he is a grown man. A Grown Man. Not a 6-10 year old girl. There is such a thing as appropriate. And I am a firm believer that caking a seven year old with five pounds of makeup is very inappropriate. How does that even help ones self esteem? 

      To me, nothing says that you think your child is ugly by applying pounds of makeup to them. When they look back to those pictures or videos what do you think they will think? I know I'd be saying, "Why did you make me look like an adult when I was only a child?"

      Yes, this has me riled up. Yes I think its wrong. Yes I think there are many things wrong with this whole thing. And it has me thinking that it is the parents who need their heads examined. Because I think it is totally wrong to do this to a child. 

      I really don't think there is a worse example of a way a parent can demean their child. They might not realize it at the time, but trust me, they will later on down the road.

      I'm getting down off my soapbox now. And by the way, I'm thinking of changing the name of this blog to 'Rants Chants, or Rant Chat. What do you think?

      Have you ever seen a dance child? Am I wrong? Do you encourage your children to participate in extra curricular activities?