3. A person is sexually objectified — that is, made into a thing for others’ sexual use.

4. Sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person.

If we apply the association’s criteria to dance studio choreography, we find some imposed movement patterns. Examples are booty pops, lip-licking, finger licking/sucking, breast or groin stroking, patting or pointing toward breast or genitalia, crotch-grabbing, obscene gestures, suggestive grinding, and seductive props and looks. These can be seen on TV and in some dance studios.

Unhealthy sexuality as defined by the association’s report has become normalized.

Here’s how it works: Someone watches a well-known media figure and their sexual choreography.

They begin to imitate them, bring those moves to the dance studio  and teach them to their students.

This trend in dance hijacks a treasured art form. Objectified movement isn’t the art of dance, and doesn’t promote artistry or creativity.

Actually, this is hypersexualization and hurts the art of dance throughout our culture.

My awareness about this issue began years ago.

A young friend invited me to go to a college dance concert she was in. I was thrilled. I was also totally surprised. There was a lot of hypersexualized dance. It startled me, but I thought, “Oh, well, it’s an aberration. Anyway, they are all 18 and over.”

Until I saw the same hypersexualized dance in high school dance recitals. Then I began to see this kind of dance in junior high recitals. Next I saw it in elementary school students, complete with adult costumes, choreography and music. And then I began to see it in preschool girls.