Outrage as children aged 4-12 take part in school pole dancing performance

Parents have revealed their outrage after watching children aged 4 - 12 perform in a school pole dancing routine, with some dads even walking out

pole

by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

The pole dancing display at Crockenhill Primary School, Kent, saw many parents outraged, particularly due to the fact that the children taking part in the performance were so young.

"How dare that man discuss my 11year old daughter in that way?"

One unnamed father-of-two expressed his outrage to the Mail Online, saying: "A lot of people were upset about it. They were performing a routine to music in inappropriate clothing and they had children doing it and I just thought, 'this is so wrong'.

"One of the ladies that was performing it was wearing a crop top with one of the shoulder sleeves missing - it was quite revealing.

"The shorts they had on showed more than they should and a lot of people were leaving as a result of it."

He added: "I don't think it would have been as bad if they had been more appropriately dressed.

"If it was a leotard, fair enough, but for what they were wearing, and having their faces made up, it just wasn't right. I felt like I was entering something quite unsavoury."

However Cat Ledbetter, 30, who owns Revolutions Pole Academy - a mother herself - has since told News Shopper that she feels the negative reaction to the girls' performance was completely unjustified.

Via News Shopper

She said: "It was a great fair and a lovely atmosphere, it's now got a negative shadow over it.

"The so-called complaint is a bit ridiculous really. People have mixed views and I am not saying what we do is for everyone.

"There were four students in this performance aged between four and twelve and two adults, myself and another girl dressed as a warthog and meerkat and we performed to the Lion King.

"I was really surprised when I heard about this because we never had complaints from parents at the fair and we had lots of helpers.

Miss Ledbetter added: "I am very proud of the children and they have been made to feel that the have something wrong,

"We are not like a gymnastics club, we are all about teaching confidence, exercise and keeping fit."

Anne Castell, a mum of one of the girls in the performance, agreed with Miss Ledbetter, saying on Facebook: "Sleazy and inappropriately dressed??!!

"How dare that man discuss my 11year old daughter in that way? So leggings and an off the shoulder t-shirt are no longer deemed as acceptable public dress? Seriously what era is this man from?"

Sarah Warshow, headteacher of the school, added: "The Crockenhill School Association has a history of inviting organisations with an association with the school or the wider village community to perform at our fairs.

"All of this was entirely appropriate for young children and families."

Do you agree - are circus skills and pole dancing a great way for children to stay fit and express their confidence? Or do you feel it was inappropriate for a school performance?

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