Dance Dad With John Corella

John Corella, co-creator and executive producer of Dance Moms, takes a moment to thank listeners and share some heartfelt reflections. He announces a brief break before returning for Pride and stresses the importance of taking time to relax and just be. John shares how he reminds his niece that our worth isn’t tied to constant activity, but in simply being. Tune in for a message of gratitude, refl...

“I teach people to be themselves,” says legendary acting coach Howard Fine, founder of Howard Fine Acting Studio and author of the newly revised “Fine on Acting: A Vision of the Craft.” Howard joins the Dance Dad podcast to discuss how acting puts us in touch with who we really are and, when we approach it with pure intentions and do the necessary work, can set us free.    On today’s episode, he’l...

Today’s episode of Dance Dad is taking us to church! Reverend Dawn Lynn Check, a Dance Moms “Pre-OG OG,” joins host John Corella to talk about Jesus, the Bible, and the importance of reading between the lines.    Many people misinterpret Jesus as “kumbaya,” explains Dawn (as she prefers to be called), forgetting that he was a human with a variety of emotions, including anger in the face of injusti...

“It’s about making the audience feel something. What joy are we bringing to the world?” Sarah Christine Smith brought joy to a generation with her dancing, singing and acting. Part of the New Millennium pop craze, she was there for Britney Spears’ rise to fame, performing as a backup dancer on Britney’s early tour and in the iconic video for…Baby One More Time. Sarah later scored her own hits as a...

“There are still ways to have these children feel safe and in control while under pressure, as long as you teach them to go inward,” says Lisa Mitzel, mental health coach and author of “Focused and Inspired: Keeping Our Athletes Safe in a Win-at-All-Costs World.” Lisa returns to Dance Dad for Part Two of her discussion with host John Corella. She explains how parents and coaches can best support t...

“Emotions mean that you’re human. It’s very normal,” says Lisa Mitzel, mental health coach and author of “Focused and Inspired: Keeping Our Athletes Safe in a Win-at-All-Costs World.”    As a six-time NCAA Gymnastics champion, Lisa knows that competitive dancers and athletes have all sorts of emotions ahead of competition, yet, only some of them are acknowledged or encouraged by their coaches and...

“It just kind of happened,” says John Corella about creating the Dance Dad podcast, “Like anything I’ve created that I love, I thought, ‘This will be fun’.” Today, John turns the tables and lets guest host Eva from On the Spot Interviews ask the questions about his plans for the show and his mission–or, as he poses it to all of his guests–his ‘why.’ He talks about creating a safe space of healing...

“I just met the second coming of Michael Jackson,” says Frank Gatson, famed choreographer and Dance Dad to the stars, of meeting Beyonce for the first time in 1997 when she was just 15 years old. And Frank would know—his first major job was working with MJ on the 30-day shoot for Jackson’s iconic “Smooth Criminal” video. Since then, he’s worked with acts such as En Vogue, Usher, Toni Braxton, Bran...

“You’ve been training your whole life for this moment, don’t doubt yourself now that the moment is here,” Darius Hickman told himself while he was dancing in front of 95,000 people as part of Beyonce’s spectacular ‘Renaissance’ tour. Being in the moment, staying present, has not only allowed Darius to keep his cool under pressure, but it has also allowed him to be his most authentic self, one that...

Dive into the dazzling world of Jay Jackson, also known as Laganja Estranja, where the art of dance meets the boldness of drag, creating a spectacle of talent and transformation. In this episode, host John Corella and the renowned drag queen and choreographer explore a myriad of topics, from dance and television to the vital intersection of LGBTQ issues within the dance world.   Laganja opens up a...

Christi Lukasiak, our ultimate dance mom, shows that sometimes the most impressive moves are the ones we make towards forgiveness and understanding, both for ourselves and others. In the first episode of this captivating podcast, host John Corella, co-creator and executive producer of Dance Moms, engages Christi in a heartfelt discussion that spans a variety of topics, from the drama of the dance...

Have you ever wondered about the personal journeys of those in the dance world, especially when it involves embracing one's true identity? How does the dance community support its members through these transformative experiences? This episode of "Dance Dad," hosted by John Corella, known for his role as a co-creator and executive producer of Dance Moms, delves into these questions. John brings his...

As one of the co creators/executive producers of the hit reality show Dance Moms, this podcast will be a safe space to talk about all things Dance. I will have meaningful conversations with guests from the show Dance Moms, as well as discussing the colorful, magical Dance competition world that I grew up competing in and am still a part of teaching and choreographing for.  Put your dance shoes on...