Dance Moms on Lifetime

[prhoshay]

It was kind of scary/crazy that it looked like Black Patsy was traveling with a posse! There was one guy, but he just looked at the women BP was screaming at, but he never said a word....but he had a look on his face that looked like he might, at any moment.

[jenniferboston1]

She's nasty. She is so jealous of "DOCTOR" Holly, why doesn't she get off her ass and go back to school and get her own degree?? AND to compare herself to Patsy Ramsey? What an absolute moron!

Black Patsy is filled with extreme anger and bile. I'd hate to see what she is teaching her daughter through her behavior. The woman has issues.

[Tilden]

How did the dog die? Do you think he(?) would not have died had he been with her?

I didn't catch how the dog died, because I deliberately avoided watching the first half of the show so I wouldn't have to deal with the dog's death, but at the end of the show, they indicated the dog's birth and death dates, and I believe the dog was sixteen. That's fairly long lived for a dog, even a smaller one, so it could have been any number of things related to the dog's age. Or it could have just been some freak accident, like the dog getting into something she shouldn't have. All kinds of things are dangerous for dogs to ingest, and they can be awfully determined to taste them anyway.

I also really don't mean to be unkind, but Broadway Baby appeared to be fairly heavy for a small dog, and extra weight on a dog can sometimes complicate any other health issues the dog might have.

[prhoshay]

"Baby" died from renal failure. Sounds like it came on fairly quickly because Abby hadn't seen a need to take her to the vet before the dog got sick. Once I heard the age, the cause of death was not really surprising, and the weight of the dog was certainly no help. I'm sure Abby's feeling of guilt was/is through the roof. I know she would have had Baby checked out if she'd had any inkling of trouble. Of course, not being a dog-person, I'm not totally sure. It was all just a very sad situation.

[cavendish]

I really felt for Abby when she was grieving about Broadway Babe and talking about how happy the dog made everyone happy, and how much it make everything okay when she got home-- and how lively it was. She seems to have a lonely life--

I think people really get too down on Abby and don't remember that she's taking care of her older mother, who's had some health issues. She's incredibly dedicated to her students, whatever else you want to say. And whatever her contribution to it, the Mothers treat her so disrespectfully and behave so crudely to her and to one another, that the studio must be a very stressful place. I think she does love the kids and is trying to do her best for them.

I know a lot of professional dancers; and they face rejection, constant criticism (preferably constructive, but often harsh and hurtful), and an amount of hard work and physical discomfort --and are expected to work with a lot of physical pain -- Most of us can't even imagine this in our daily lives. It's an incredibly gruelling, but rewarding life-- if dance is what you love-- I'm sure Abby's aware of this, and I think in her own way, perhaps not too well, is trying to prepare them for some of the strenuousness of that life. The test of a good teacher is that the students listen to and remember her words. While the show, as these shows often do, is straining the relationships of the people in it, there is a lot of affection and respect left between her and the students. There's probably a lot of editing involved in the way she's portrayed as totally favoring Maddie. I'm sure too that she does favor her-- but that's part of being a dancer too-- it's a very stratified and competitive environment, and while the relationships seem to be very intense and supportive at times, their world is very much one of a few lucky ones, and a lot of talented people who live on the edge and never make it. despite all the hard work and effort.

So I guess I see the show from a different perspective-- which isn't to say that I don't think Abby lets herself take things out on the kids in ways that are awful at times-- but I also think she knows what's facing them if they move into the professional dance world.

[sparklete]

I thought I heard them say renal failure, which is what my little dog died of also. She was about as old as Baby. It does come on rather sudden and there is really nothing they can do for it.

[prhoshay]

I know that, in people, renal issues don't really show symptoms unless you really go looking for, expressly, that. My doctor told me that. Seems like they would. They get a hint from watching bloodwork and then decide whether you need to see a kidney specialist. When asked about symptoms, my doc said, "There are none".

Abby definitely does not mollyfy her students but, if I were a determined and serious dancer, I'd rather be prepared for the real world than babied and have my feelings destroyed later, after all of my hard work. Mom can hug me and dry my tears....and if I'm really not cut out for that world, I'll quit and find something else. When I saw Abby on some other show, she explained why she was coming down so hard on her students. She said that, by the time we were seeing the footage, it was usually after the dancers had been told "about 50 times" about making specific corrections. I think that put it in better perspective. And, yes, there are definitely some things that she should bite her tongue before saying, but that applies to everybody.

[Starbucks880]

I know that, in people, renal issues don't really show symptoms unless you really go looking for, expressly, that. My doctor told me that. Seems like they would. They get a hint from watching bloodwork and then decide whether you need to see a kidney specialist. When asked about symptoms, my doc said, "There are none".

Abby definitely does not mollyfy her students but, if I were a determined and serious dancer, I'd rather be prepared for the real world than babied and have my feelings destroyed later, after all of my hard work. Mom can hug me and dry my tears....and if I'm really not cut out for that world, I'll quit and find something else. When I saw Abby on some other show, she explained why she was coming down so hard on her students. She said that, by the time we were seeing the footage, it was usually after the dancers had been told "about 50 times" about making specific corrections. I think that put it in better perspective. And, yes, there are definitely some things that she should bite her tongue before saying, but that applies to everybody.

I agree with you. I also read somewhere where she said they also do disrespectful things such as eye rolling. That kind of behavior when my kids do it irritates me, so combined with them not listening to corrections and that behavior, that does put things in perspective. I really do like that Abby doesn't coddle the kids. I do think her delivery at times is apalling and I do wonder how much she plays it up for the cameras. I would be interested in how she acts when the show isn't filming.

[jenniferboston1]

Actually, Abby told her mother about the girls eye rolling. I remember distinctly, because I have never seen any of the girls roll their eyes! Of course I am not there, so who knows?

My heart broke for Abby and her mother...but lately I wonder what if one of the girls lost a pet, would Abby be sympathetic? I'd like to think so, but who knows?

OH! I have a question if anyone knows~ Why did only Black Patsy get kicked out of the competition and not Jill? Was it the profanity?

I agree with you. I also read somewhere where she said they also do disrespectful things such as eye rolling. That kind of behavior when my kids do it irritates me, so combined with them not listening to corrections and that behavior, that does put things in perspective. I really do like that Abby doesn't coddle the kids. I do think her delivery at times is apalling and I do wonder how much she plays it up for the cameras. I would be interested in how she acts when the show isn't filming.

[Critical]

It doesn't matter if they roll their eyes at Abby or whatever else. They're little kids. Nothing justifies yelling at them, insulting them and calling them stupid. Nothing. If Abby isn't able to deal with them doing what kids just DO sometimes, she needs to get out of the business. However you look at it, it's verbal abuse and it's not okay.