Lecture description:

Encouraged by recent events around the world dance scene, in this article we discuss the growing media sexualization of minors, mostly girls. This media sexualization directly affects dance, as an aesthetic and sports branch, and as a branch that is nowadays almost everywhere - in films, commercials, whose stars become role models for children. We explain the possible impact of such behavior on children - dance school students, and children as a general population. We consider the role of dance educators on their students, through costumes, music they play, and even the choreography itself. We give direct advice on changing (if necessary in a specific case) the behavior and habits of dance educators, in order to protect children. We list the signals of sexual abuse warnings, statistics, as well as possible steps in case of suspicion. This paper is a step towards understanding how as parents, as educatos in aesthetic sports and as citizens we can take responsibility for creating a safe and supportive environment for understanding and exploring our children's relationships and sexuality - and ensuring they do so at their own pace. at the same time protecting them from sexual abuse and not promoting sexually provocative behavior at minors.

KEY WORDS: dance, education, children, sexuality, abuse