- Jan 16, 2014
- 8,264
- 9,143
The following is a conversation I had with an angry viewer under one of my videos
Her: You just called dance teams "superficial' and no dance teams ever choose their girls based only off of looks. thats just not true at all and I think you should educate your self more on why a lot of dance teams have the "skinny' "sexy" persona besides saying what others say about cheerlearders. That was highly offensive. we work out just as hard, we put on makeup we do our hair etc etc. I really think you should just rephrase this whole video.
Me: I am not talking about studio dance teams. Yes, Dance favors girls with long, slender necks, legs and arms because they create beautiful lines, but the NFL and NBA pick their dancers based partially upon looks.
Her: I was talking about nfl/nba dance teams as well. Not all of them are based only off of looks. That's not true at all. I'm currently a professional dancer and you can be as sexy as you want to be but if the technique is not there you wont' be getting accepted. Especially for a team like DCC. In all due respect, I don't think you should speak on things you know nothing about.
Even if it is sometimes looks, that doesn't take away from how prestigious we are.
Me: Yes, they are very difficult dance teams to make. However I am sick of people tying their image to that of cheerleading, tainting it's nonsexual nature. Too many people believe that NBA and NFL dancers are cheerleaders and claim that what those dancers do (which has been sexualized for marketing purposes) is the same as what real cheerleaders do when it is not.
I am also well aware that selection is based partially off of dance ability (of course it has to be, or else what would be the point of picking the dancer, no matter how beautiful she is?).
Her: Dancers don't get chosen based off their sexuality. Even in the professional world (classically speaking) companies like dancers who have long arms and legs, short torso, round heads etc. It has nothing to do with the sexuality. That same criteria applies for the NFL/NBA teams. Has nothing to do with sexuality.
dancers have a lot prove. Keeping the respect in cheerleading, anyone can be a cheerleader if they have the passion for it. In dance, every day you're making a point, you can get cut from a team or a company from not having certain requirements that you cannot physically change like having two low of an arch for pointe shoes, or gaining weight when you're on your period and so forth. ANYONE can be a cheerleader because you have that independent side. Anyone can progress in cheerleading if they have the drive for it and anyone can be good enough for cheerleading if they have the passion for it. Its not like that with dance. I'm tired of cheerleaders thinking that dance is easier and its not . if you want to start a movement where only real cheerleaders should be in the NFL and NBA then do so! cause I'm tired of getting called a cheerleader when I'm not
Point is, you shouldn't make the assumption that dance team members get chosen based off of their sexuality and that's not true at all.
Honestly, we could all get along better as dancers and cheerleaders if people like you would stop thinking that dance is easier then cheer and vise versa. we each have our difficulties. neither sport or art is chosen based off sexuality
Me: I NEVER said that dance was easier. It isn't, by ANY means. I know that becoming a good dancer requires 1000s of hours of hard practice, and tons of strength and flexibility. I think you're completely misinterpreting me. I have immense respect for dance.
Her: Its the way you're saying it. Using the argument that dancers get chosen based of their sexuality is what upset me and what made me come to the conclusion that you think dance is easier then cheer. No NFL/NBA coach, or team member will tell you they get chosen based off their sexuality.
Me: And I never mentioned sexuality... it's sexual attractiveness and dance ability (as well as how well one fits in visually with the rest of the group, i.e. in height) that determines whether or not a girl makes it. Not their sexual orientation.
Her: sexual attractiveness has something to with sexuality. i didn't mean that by sexual orientation. As said earlier, i'm a professional dancer and have been for going on four years. Both experience in NFL and a classical company. I met all the requirements for my local NFL team and still didn't make it. So it has nothing to do with sexual attractiveness. I have the big voluminous hair, and the general body requirement and I was technically trained. It has nothing to do with that.
Me: Like I said, the teams are hard to make and no one is guaranteed a spot. Sometimes you have everything but just aren't the right fit.
Her: Which is why you shouldn't say that dancers get chosen based of the sexual appearance. If I would have said about that cheerleading I would have gotten jumped down my throat by multiple people. You do get judge in dance based off your appearance but not your sexual appearance. Its how well you fit in with the rest of the team members. not how sexy you look.
Me: My view is contrary to that, but we'll agree to disagree.
So my question is, do looks factor into the selection of NFL/NBA dancers? Based on what I know of it I say yes, but I wanted to hear from those of you that have done NBA/NFL dance.
Her: You just called dance teams "superficial' and no dance teams ever choose their girls based only off of looks. thats just not true at all and I think you should educate your self more on why a lot of dance teams have the "skinny' "sexy" persona besides saying what others say about cheerlearders. That was highly offensive. we work out just as hard, we put on makeup we do our hair etc etc. I really think you should just rephrase this whole video.
Me: I am not talking about studio dance teams. Yes, Dance favors girls with long, slender necks, legs and arms because they create beautiful lines, but the NFL and NBA pick their dancers based partially upon looks.
Her: I was talking about nfl/nba dance teams as well. Not all of them are based only off of looks. That's not true at all. I'm currently a professional dancer and you can be as sexy as you want to be but if the technique is not there you wont' be getting accepted. Especially for a team like DCC. In all due respect, I don't think you should speak on things you know nothing about.
Even if it is sometimes looks, that doesn't take away from how prestigious we are.
Me: Yes, they are very difficult dance teams to make. However I am sick of people tying their image to that of cheerleading, tainting it's nonsexual nature. Too many people believe that NBA and NFL dancers are cheerleaders and claim that what those dancers do (which has been sexualized for marketing purposes) is the same as what real cheerleaders do when it is not.
I am also well aware that selection is based partially off of dance ability (of course it has to be, or else what would be the point of picking the dancer, no matter how beautiful she is?).
Her: Dancers don't get chosen based off their sexuality. Even in the professional world (classically speaking) companies like dancers who have long arms and legs, short torso, round heads etc. It has nothing to do with the sexuality. That same criteria applies for the NFL/NBA teams. Has nothing to do with sexuality.
dancers have a lot prove. Keeping the respect in cheerleading, anyone can be a cheerleader if they have the passion for it. In dance, every day you're making a point, you can get cut from a team or a company from not having certain requirements that you cannot physically change like having two low of an arch for pointe shoes, or gaining weight when you're on your period and so forth. ANYONE can be a cheerleader because you have that independent side. Anyone can progress in cheerleading if they have the drive for it and anyone can be good enough for cheerleading if they have the passion for it. Its not like that with dance. I'm tired of cheerleaders thinking that dance is easier and its not . if you want to start a movement where only real cheerleaders should be in the NFL and NBA then do so! cause I'm tired of getting called a cheerleader when I'm not
Point is, you shouldn't make the assumption that dance team members get chosen based off of their sexuality and that's not true at all.
Honestly, we could all get along better as dancers and cheerleaders if people like you would stop thinking that dance is easier then cheer and vise versa. we each have our difficulties. neither sport or art is chosen based off sexuality
Me: I NEVER said that dance was easier. It isn't, by ANY means. I know that becoming a good dancer requires 1000s of hours of hard practice, and tons of strength and flexibility. I think you're completely misinterpreting me. I have immense respect for dance.
Her: Its the way you're saying it. Using the argument that dancers get chosen based of their sexuality is what upset me and what made me come to the conclusion that you think dance is easier then cheer. No NFL/NBA coach, or team member will tell you they get chosen based off their sexuality.
Me: And I never mentioned sexuality... it's sexual attractiveness and dance ability (as well as how well one fits in visually with the rest of the group, i.e. in height) that determines whether or not a girl makes it. Not their sexual orientation.
Her: sexual attractiveness has something to with sexuality. i didn't mean that by sexual orientation. As said earlier, i'm a professional dancer and have been for going on four years. Both experience in NFL and a classical company. I met all the requirements for my local NFL team and still didn't make it. So it has nothing to do with sexual attractiveness. I have the big voluminous hair, and the general body requirement and I was technically trained. It has nothing to do with that.
Me: Like I said, the teams are hard to make and no one is guaranteed a spot. Sometimes you have everything but just aren't the right fit.
Her: Which is why you shouldn't say that dancers get chosen based of the sexual appearance. If I would have said about that cheerleading I would have gotten jumped down my throat by multiple people. You do get judge in dance based off your appearance but not your sexual appearance. Its how well you fit in with the rest of the team members. not how sexy you look.
Me: My view is contrary to that, but we'll agree to disagree.
So my question is, do looks factor into the selection of NFL/NBA dancers? Based on what I know of it I say yes, but I wanted to hear from those of you that have done NBA/NFL dance.
