Girl, 7, Wins Dancing Queen Title; Generates Outrage in Brazil
Categories: Kids 5-7, In The News, Weird But True, Extreme Childhood
Tiny dancer Julia Lira, 7, busts a move in Rio. Credit: Felipe Dana, AP
A 7-year-old Brazilian girl has won the coveted title of drum corps queen of a top samba school for the annual Carnaval of Brazil.
And, now, children's rights activists are outraged. The girl's father, however, sees nothing wrong with people watching his daughter dance in one of the scanty, sequined costumes associated with samba music and Carnaval.
"Any man who looks at a 7-year-old child and feels any sort of excitement should go see a doctor," Marco Lira tells the BBC, Britain's national television network.
Lira is the president of the Viradouro Samba School that chose his daughter, Julia, as its Carnaval queen.
The Carnaval of Brazil (which is the Portuguese spelling) is held 40 days before Easter each year. It is a massive celebration that practically brings the country to a standstill for several days.
Leaders of Brazil's Council for the Defence of Children and Adolescents tell the BBC that Julia's participation in the 80-minute Carnaval parade would "increase the treatment of children as sexual objects in Brazilian society."
Carlos Nicodemus, the council's director, tells the BBC that children's rights activists are not against children participating in Carnaval per se.
"It's a part of Brazilian culture," he tells the network. "What we can't allow is putting a 7-year-old girl in a role that traditionally has a very sexual focus."
Samba school officials, in turn, tell the BBC that Julia's outfit will be appropriate for a child, while enabling her to endure 80 minutes of dancing in the summer heat.
Traditionally, provocatively dressed female samba dancers represent muses at Carnaval. Not Julia.
"We're taking the necessary precautions because she isn't going to be a muse," Edson Pereira, the school's artistic director, tells the BBC.
The BBC reports a family court in Rio de Janeiro is expected to rule this week on whether Julia can participate in Carnaval events Feb. 13 to 16.
According the network, being named queen of a Rio samba school is one of the most sought-after roles in Carnaval. But, the network reports, it is more often associated with scantily clad women -- for whom a little plastic surgery is not uncommon.
Marco Lira tells the BBC his daughter was clearly not chosen for her sex appeal. It's all about her talent.
"She has the aptitude to be drum corps queen," he tells the network. "She has a seriousness inside of her when she is on stage."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tonto 2-08-2010 @ 5:18PM
Me not sure why, but me outraged too!
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Jim 2-08-2010 @ 8:24PM
I watched the video to see what the fuss was. None of the dancing in the video was even close to provocative. Neither was her outfit revealing.
Worse is done during children's beauty pageants here in the US.
Reply
CLM 2-09-2010 @ 12:59AM
And there was absolutely no favoritism being shown in this choice at all. Nooooo. I'm sure the fact that her father is president of the school had nothing to do with this. Sheesh.
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LS 2-09-2010 @ 10:04AM
There are two separate issues here, as I see it.
First, the father has a point when he says, "Any man who looks at a 7-year-old child and feels any sort of excitement should go see a doctor." This should apply to any kid, regardless whether she's wearing jeans and a t-shirt or a dance costume.
The second issue is the more important one here.
It has been made clear by the event organizers that the role of Queen is an adult role. They should amend the rules and set an age limit.
And Daddy needs to get a grip. It's wonderful that his daughter is so talented. More power to her. And I get how exciting it is for her to be in a big parade like that. But there are some things in life that are reserved for different ages. It's a fact of life. He needs to let his daughter grow up, and have a few goals. If it's one of her aspirations to be the Queen when reaches the required age, then good for her.
I liken it to the Olympics... As much as they want to, gymnasts can't compete in the Olympics until they're 16 years old, and for good reason. So, unless you're Chinese, you have to work toward that goal. If this young lady wants to be the Brazillian Queen, let her set that goal and work toward it.
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SKL 2-09-2010 @ 1:29PM
I totally agree with the statement that "any man who looks at a 7-year-old child and feels any sort of excitement should go see a doctor."
Regarding the age limit, you have a point, but if the rule wasn't there during this year's competition, it really isn't fair to implement it after the fact. Maybe they should set an age limit for future years. (Though if it's a matter of health risk - all that dancing in the hot sun, if she's not used to it - I might feel differently.)
Surely they can figure out how to dress and choreograph this child so she doesn't offend.
There will still be women dancers to watch; they just won't be the "queen" for that school. If the concern is that this is not appropriate for a child to be around, well, I am pretty sure she, and many thousands of other children, would have been watching the show in any case. The relative nudity at this festival is just an accepted part of that culture.
Not sure whether there was bias for the president's daughter or whether she is just super experienced and talented for her age. But that is not for me to complain about.