I don't think dancing or cheerleading (for most normal folks) can be compared to Dance moms. Those bitches are crazy and Abby is the worse. Those moms expose their kids to verbal abuse and shame every time they step in that studio. Forget about the other shit......just the way Abby is with them is enough to make most normal folks rip their kids out of that program in a heartbeat.
Personally, I'm glad both my girls were never into that stuff. My oldest was the marching band girl.
Both my nieces do dance, gymnastic, and cheerleading. I think all 3 kind of them go together now. They are way older looking than they really are. The outfits are tacky and mom spends a small fortune on that mess. One of the girls is in high school and I know mom just spent around 1000 for her daughter to go to some week long camp- that was required. Plus...all the membership fees she spends every month on gymnastic, dance, and cheerleading.
My BIL complains all the time. Without a doubt.....my SIL is living her life through them girls. That's why she's always involved with some type of "dance mom" drama with the other moms.