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Your Mama Don't Dance

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Cris Judd, Ian Ziering, Ben Vereen, Where to watch: Lifetime Television, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Everybody wins in kid-parent dance competition.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Even though the teams are competing for cash and prizes, the show focuses more on their chance to build a stronger adult child-parent relationship. The interviews touch on issues like dysfunctional family relationships, divorce, depression, suicide, bipolar disorder, and homophobia but are presented as obstacles that have been overcome. One father is gay, as are several of the dancers. The pairs come from a variety of racial/ethnic backgrounds.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Occasional mild verbal arguments between parents and their adult children. Some of the family stories include some subtle references to dealing with violence, but these incidents aren't discussed in depth.

  • Sex:

    Mild shaking and thrusting are a part of some of the choreography, but it's all more artistic and/or funny than suggestive. Some of the dance costumes reveal bare midriffs.

  • Language:

    Extremely mild; words like "hell" are heard only very occasionally (usually during frustrating rehearsals).

  • Consumerism:

    Features mixes of familiar contemporary and classic tunes, ranging from Britney Spears to Luther Vandross. The show's theme song, "Your Mama Don't Dance," is written and sung by Kenny Loggins.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The pairs' background stories include subtle references to drug/alcohol abuse, but it's not discussed in detail.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Your Mama Don't Dance

Parents need to know that although this reality show -- in which young professional dancers live, train, and perform with a parent -- involves a competition for cash and prizes, a major part of the series centers on the relationship between the parents and their adult kids. While the show is largely family-friendly, it does touch on issues like divorce, parental abandonment, mental illness, and homophobia. These issues are presented as obstacles that were overcome and aren't discussed in great detail.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the growing popularity of dance competition TV shows. Do you think these competitions challenge or maintain existing stereotypes about men and women who dance? How? Families can also discuss how parents can participate in their kids' favorite activities. Kids: What things do you do that you'd like to see your parents try? Parents: Are there things that your kids do that you admire and would like to learn? Would you ever want to try any of them on television?
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