Keep on Dancing

2024-02-13T18:39:04+00:00January 30th, 2024|Guest Blogger|

My dance journey started at the early age of three at a parks and recreation mommy & me ballet class. It was affordable and I loved it! I continued to take tap and ballet classes there until I was 5 years old. At eleven years old I was inspired to dance again when I competed

A Counselor’s Perspective on Confronting Hypersexualization: Raising Awareness and Fostering Change

2024-01-30T04:12:44+00:00January 30th, 2024|Guest Blogger|

Introduction In our hyperconnected world, where information is just a click away, people have become increasingly desensitized to an issue that permeates modern society. With the advent of the internet and the proliferation of smartphones, we are constantly bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information from various sources. Over the past decade, a noticeable cultural

Confronting the Comparison Game and Porn Culture in Children’s Dance

2024-01-30T04:06:34+00:00January 30th, 2024|Guest Blogger|

The enchanting world of dance: It's where kids get to express themselves, communicate feelings, and celebrate their journey of growth. Watching little dancers move is like witnessing pure magic. But you know what’s not so magical? The comparison game. The pressure to be younger, fitter, and sexier is everywhere. Author Jen Ferguson, mother of two

Preventing Child Sex Abuse

2023-09-27T06:04:59+00:00September 27th, 2023|Guest Blogger|

Guest Article: Cordisco & Saile LLC; a law firm that is dedicated to helping victims of child sex abuse. Below is an excerpt from an article they wrote about protecting children from Sexual Abuse. Preventing Child Sex Abuse The responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse falls to all adults around them, including counselors, teachers,

How Hyper-Sexualized Children Can Become Sexually Addicted Adults – The Connection Between Hyper-Sexualization and Porn Addiction

2023-09-27T06:10:44+00:00September 27th, 2023|Guest Blogger|

Guest Blogger: Tamara Kelly Hyper-sexualization and porn addiction are two issues that are becoming increasingly prevalent in our society. The hypersexualization of women and children in media and advertising has become so normal that it is often not even noticed or questioned.  This has led to a culture where women and children are objectified and

Protecting Our Children: How to Identify and Address Hypersexualization in Dance

2023-09-27T04:58:15+00:00September 27th, 2023|Guest Blogger|

Guest Article: Artem Maksimenko Childhood is a time of innocence, exploration, and discovery, and this should extend to all areas of a child's life, including dance. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing trend toward the hypersexualization of children in dance. As parents, educators, or concerned adults, it's essential to understand how to

Healthy Versus Harmful Dance Environments: Stopping Harm and Supporting Joy Through Effective Challenges

2023-09-27T22:00:00+00:00September 27th, 2023|Guest Blogger|

Guest Article: Erin Sanchez How can we ensure as teachers that we create healthy environments for young dancers who want to dance as a professional career? I believe that all of us who are working with dancers have a responsibility to create environments that will not only protect them from harm but will also give

How Upholding and Teaching a Comprehensive Understanding of Consent Protects Our Children from Coercion and Exploitation

2023-05-24T05:21:08+00:00May 24th, 2023|Guest Blogger|

“It changed; this is what you are wearing now” the assistant said… “It was me, by myself. I had no one to advocate for me… So, I cleaned myself up, wiped away my tears and went out and did a show” (Chand, 2021). Consent. It is a concept that has always been and continues to

Healthy vs. Harmful Children’s Dance

2023-05-24T04:52:22+00:00May 24th, 2023|Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited, Guest Blogger|

At the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation USA (NCOSE) 2021 Conference, Mary Bawden, Founder of DA:NCE, presented a talk called ‘Healthy or Harmful Dance: What Do the Experts Say About Hypersexualization?’ At the 2022 Conference, Mary Bawden spoke on a panel about ‘Wholesome to Hypersexualized: What Happened to Children’s Dance’.  Our friends at NCOSE generously

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