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Derek Hough and Mark Ballas Slam Dance Moms For “Child Abuse”

Truth rating: 10

12:03 pm, February 23rd, 2012

(GettyImages.com)

“Dancing With The Stars” pros Derek Hough and Mark Ballas are speaking out against the TV show “Dance Moms” for what they believe is “child abuse.”

Both professional dancers went on Twitter rants this week, slamming reality star Abby Lee Miller for how harshly she treats her kid students on the Lifetime show.

Miller is often seeing yelling at the young participants during her televised classes to the point of making the girls burst into tears.

That, say Hough and Ballas, is just unacceptable.

“There’s a difference between being strict and being abusive,” Hough tweeted on Wednesday, adding he believes “in discipline and a strong work ethic.”

“But,” he said, “there is nothing productive about screaming and making little girls cry over being on the wrong foot .”

Hough, who grew up dancing with Ballas, labeled the show “straight up abusive.”

Ballas, who said on Twitter that Miller should be fired, pointed out that “kids are impressionable and I don’t want young children being afraid to take up dance because of this lady.”

“Correct teaching is patience, discipline, confidence building and love,” Ballas added. “She needs a reality check.”

Miller and Lifetime have yet to respond to the allegations.

Watch a clip from “Dance Moms” below and tell us what you think.

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  • Krissu

    Thank you, guys!

  • http://twitter.com/Mgon Mgon

    Well said!

  • http://twitter.com/kylew1973 Kyle Willard

    That women is a tyrant. It’s about time someone took notice.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Patterson-Stone/100002606697692 Patterson Stone

    Thanks to both of you for speaking out for the children.

  • Afruen

    Thanks so much for speaking out…now where are other dance teachers, students and moms, especially those who became successful dancers without all the abuse and pushy moms!

  • Brianna

    I was in ballet for a while when I was younger, and this is totally unacceptable. She shouldn’t yell at her students that way. My mom would not have tolerated this. I watched this show once, and it’s just terrible!

  • Priscilla52782

    I do watch the show and have been shocked many times by the behavior of the teacher but I figured if it was that bad then the parents would probably change studios.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000551642426 Angel Davis Powers

    I agree with you 100%. I would of already knocked ms. abby miller out for making my child cry and yelling at her..These little girls should be having fun..and not competing against each other as they are. Take them out of this dance studio..If i was these little girls, It would totally turn me against dancing forever.

  • Regina1180

    Why are shows like this even in the air? Have we run out of shoes to watch that we’ve been downgraded to seein children being abused?

    Shame on you for making shows like this acceptable. And by us, I mean those that give these networks the ratings.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000551642426 Angel Davis Powers

    Agreed, I must admit I have watched the show a few times in hopes one of them moms would tear into abby..and they never did…I seen abby on wendy williams,,she was very nice to her while showing her a few dance moves..I thought,,Dang, shes not like that with them little girls….lifetime can do much better…

  • Mercy Manson

    I could not believe what I was seeing when I was channel surfing one day. It was like a horrible train wreck I couldn’t stop starring at! I can”t believe that the MOTHERS of these beautiful, talented young ladies, sit by and let that fat cow scream at their babies! That show NEEDS to come down. It’s gonna haunt the girls forever!

  • Pathos57

    I remember when I was a young student if a teacher yelled, I just shut down. As an adult teacher, I can always tell when another adult has entered the class next to mine because the teacher’s tone, completely changes & she stops yelling. (Certainly, even young students realize the hypocrisy.) I treat my students with the same respect I expect from them and I NEVER have to yell. I’m strict. My goal is to give them the tools they’ll need for their own success. Yes, Abby (whose size has NOTHING to do with her poor behavior. Abusive language is LEARNED.) is abusive. The Moms are ridiculous and are MORE responsible for the abuse. They ENABLE it. Kudos to Hough & Ballas for speaking out.

  • Jeg10152000

    Hmm, this site’s “tell us what you think” video clip happens to be the dance instructor at her very best behavior… that is rare! This bias is irresponsible. Shame on you, gossipcop. How shallow and narrow-minded can our society be to accept a show detailing the emotional abuse of children?

  • JL

    This show is total abuse and with the burlesque “nude” costumes, borders on child pornography as well. The fact that these mothers let their children participate is beyond me and they are abusive in their complicity. They are screwing their children up for life. This show should be stopped – by a children services organization. It is an outrage.

  • Lorraine

    If people would stop watching this idiocy the show would be canceled. I would withdraw my child from that class and take her to another one. That lady and the parents are teaching their children the wrong values by continuing this.

  • Justsayn

    I blame these mothers. In my opinion they are teaching their young daughters to tolerate an abusive relationship. I ask myself why these young girls want to be there….but as I’ve said it’s a cycle of an abusive relationship. I am so ashamed of these mothers. Abby sucks as a teacher.

  • Ron Spacey

    The mothers allow it because they’re fame whores! I stopped to watch it once when one of the mothers said she’d had enough and that she was leaving…and I thought…well, that’s good that a mother sees how bad this environment is…..only to see her in the car talking to her daughter, which meant that that , unless the woman got an inboard camera as an option when she purchased her automobile, that that whole “leaving” scene was just another part of the scrip too!
    And when one of the mothers does “leave” for good to bring her daughter to a “better” dance studio, without all the nonsense, does she go to one of the thousands of other choices of studio? NO …she goes to Candy Apples, which is the other “rival” dance studio featured on the show….so , that “leaving” sequence was…of course…. scripted.
    And of course… the mothers can’t sell any of the fake drama at all, because they suck at acting ….which is why the no talent hags are on the show exploiting their kids in the first place!!!!!!! Their kids are the only way they would ever get on television.
    The girls are cute and talented and try their best and its a shame that they will never learn sportsmanship , trying ones best, or how to lose gracefully because their overbearing teacher has the anti sportmanship philosophy of “coming in second is the first loser”! and their fame whore mothers are two faced and petty when their child loses out to one of the other children in the show.
    Its a mess and I can’t believe that they have allowed children to be publicly abused and exploited for ratings and face time for their untalented hag mothers!!
    Someone needs to step in and shut down these reality shows featuring children!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/dave.kanofsky Dave Kanofsky

    Couldn’t agree more. This piece of garbage is nothing more that child exploitation. This program is kept alive by the people who watch it and are there for just as guilty as those who are in it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/melody.richardson.50 Melody Richardson

    HELLO!!! The blame is NOT on Abby, IT LIES WITH THE PARENTS!!!!! Where are the Father’s? These children would NOT be able to be in Abby’s class AND exploited on television without the permission and promotion of THEIR PARENTS! HUGE Parenting FAIL guys. Let’s wake up. Let ADULTS entertain ADULTS and let the precious children remain just that; CHILDREN until they gain the maturity, wisdom and discernment to decide for themselves to enter into worlds such as Abby’s as well as the public eye. Children are our future. What kind of adults are we raising right NOW? Peace and Blessings to all.

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