Dance Moms Recap: Did Showgirls Routine Go Too Far?

Latest episode of the Lifetime reality series finds the young ladies performing a Vegas-like number while wearing next-to-nothing

By Peter Gicas Mar 07, 2012 4:52 PMTags

Hmm, maybe Katherine Heigl was on to something.

On last night's episode of Dance Moms, the tween girls took the stage during the Fire and Ice competition in Pittsburgh and performed a rather risqué Vegas showgirl-like routine—complete with skimpy outfits and feathery fans.

But did it go too far?

Not in the eyes of dance coach Abby Lee Miller.

"The idea of the fan dance is you give the illusion that you're nude underneath the fans, which, c'mon, we all know you have tan bras and tan tights on," said Miller during the program. "Everyone in the industry knows that the girls are completely covered and everything is harmless."

Perhaps. But such a viewpoint, nevertheless, could arguably validate Heigl's remarks a few weeks back when the actress called the show "demeaning" and "belittling" on her iVillage blog.

"I watched with open-mouthed amazement as girls as young as seven were encouraged to dress provocatively and shimmy around a stage doing a dance performance that could [have] just as easily been a burlesque routine," she wrote back in January. "I kept think all these girls were missing is a pole!"

Sure enough, not only were several of the moms taken aback by the revealing outfits, but so were many of the young ladies themselves.

"I guess all the girls and I feel kind of nervous because we feel kind of naked," said Chloe before stepping out to dance in front of the equally uncomfortable judges.

So what do you think? Check out the clip above and sound off in the comments!

PHOTOS: Top 10 Reality Shows of 2011