High School Apologizes After Video Of Dance Team’s Costumes Spark Controversy
A performance by the dance team of Miami Northwestern Senior High School ignited intense debate after a video showing the students in revealing costumes went viral online. The school’s principal, Wallace Aristide, later issued a public apology and pledged to review policies following the controversy.
The footage, uploaded to the website FlyHeight.com, captured the team performing on the sidelines of a football game. The dancers were dressed in glittery blue and black bodysuits, lacy pantyhose with garters, and high black boots — attire that quickly became the center of public criticism. Many viewers questioned how such costumes had been approved for teenage performers at a public high school.
Aristide responded with a formal statement acknowledging the concerns and clarifying that the students’ parents had consented to the outfits. “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.”
Despite parental consent, the video sparked widespread outrage. Commenters described the costumes as inappropriate for high school students, while others defended the dancers as performers expressing their art. The debate quickly extended beyond the Miami community, with thousands weighing in on social media platforms.
FlyHeight captioned the video, “Is This Appropriate?” — a question that drew more than 18,000 views on its site and tens of thousands of additional reactions across Facebook. As opinions continued to divide, the principal’s apology aimed to ease tensions and reassure the public that future performances would undergo stricter oversight.