Apology and Promise of Action
Wallace Aristide, principal of Miami Northwestern Senior High School, issued a public apology after a video of the dance team’s performance went viral. The video, uploaded by FlyHeight.com, showed the team in racy costumes. Aristide promised to take action following the controversy.
Controversial Costumes
In the video, the dance team performed on the football field sidelines wearing glittery blue and black bodysuits, lacy pantyhose with garters, and high black boots. This sparked outrage, with many criticizing the school for allowing teenagers to wear such revealing outfits.
Parental Approval and Apology
Aristide revealed that the dance team members’ parents had approved the costumes. He stated, “While all the parents of the dancers who participated in the event approved of the attire, we understand the concerns that have been raised and sincerely apologize for any offense this may have caused. Looking ahead, we will implement a more comprehensive and stringent uniform approval process to ensure an appropriate representation of our school.”
Criticism of the Dance Routine
The dance routine, which featured hip gyrations and waving fans, also faced criticism. The video showed the team, each girl in full makeup and high ponytails, performing as the marching band passed by.
Community Reactions
The video, captioned “Is This Appropriate?” by FlyHeight, received over 18,000 views on the site and tens of thousands more on Facebook, drawing mixed reactions from the community.
Mixed Opinions
Debbie Frasier, a grandmother from Miami Northwestern, told Local10, “If they’re dancers, they’re entertainers. So if you have the same problem, you have the problem with Beyoncé or young child stars who dress that way on national television.” However, many others slammed the skimpy costumes. One Facebook user commented, “I think for a high school they totally could have done without the garter belts. It’s definitely other ways to jazz up a dance uniform.” Another wrote, “This is a high school dance team! How in the hell did the adults think this was in the least bit ok?”
