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. Dancing and being in the film and TV Industry for over 40 years I will be talking with those who who have inspired me and we will share our knowledge on what worked, what didn’t and why. Growing up a young feminine boy who loved to dance was extremely challenging in a lot of ways. Now as gay man I will have some heartfelt meetings with people in the LGBTQ community to share about this and the suffering that goes on currently with adults and kids and how we can help and most importantly heal it.
Put your dance shoes on every other Friday when this podcast comes out! Listen. Be Bold. Be Fierce.
Sincerely, John Corella
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Données mises à jour le 12/10/2026
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EP 59: Before Dance Moms there was Julie's Jazz Pizzazz
Épisode 61
jeudi 8 octobre 2026 • Durée 01:06:20
Julie Renn spent years telling her students anything was possible. Then the industry hardened her, and the day she talked her own daughter out of an audition showed her what that had cost. Her story offers an honest look at how to inspire young dancers without letting fear do the teaching.
On Dance Dad, host John Corella, co-creator of Dance Moms, sits down with the choreographer and producer behind Julie's Jazz Pizzazz. As a competitive dance studio owner, Julie opened her first studio at 17 and went on to put about 35 groups on Star Search. John grew up watching those groups from the competition floor, and he still credits them with the magic that pulled him into dance.
Julie shares what producers told her after she arrived at the show with ten brand-new routines, and how that advice changed her approach to dance competition choreography. She opens up about dealing with dance moms and the parent rivalry that never really goes away. She also tells the story of a shy student, a pair of scissors, and a night in the studio bathroom that set him on an unexpected path.
For teachers and parents who care about inspiring kids, Julie's answer to how to inspire young dancers is simple to say and harder to live. Listen now to hear what she would teach differently today and why she calls dance the car that never runs out of gas.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Dance Dad with John Corella and Guest Julie Renn
03:01 Opening a Dance Studio at Just 17
09:04 Julie's 35 Star Search Groups and Champions
14:44 Why Producers Told Her to Reuse Choreography
19:55 Why Competition Dance Became Too Expensive
26:39 How to Inspire Young Dancers to Dream
35:04 Former Students Who Reached Broadway and Hollywood
41:57 What Julie Really Thought About Dance Moms
45:33 Why Julie Speaks Out for Equality
1:01:28 The Haircut That Changed a Young Dancer's Life
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
EP 58: Dörte Thümmler: Olympian and World Champion — My Survival My Voice
Épisode 60
jeudi 24 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:30:55
Dörte Thümmler won a world title at 15. She learned what had been done to her body years later.
On Dance Dad with John Corella, host John Corella, co-creator and executive producer of Dance Moms, sits down with Dörte, a 1987 world champion on uneven bars and 1988 Olympic medalist from East Germany. John brings his own history as a competitive dancer to the questions. This Dörte Thümmler gymnast interview gives a firsthand account of the East German gymnastics doping scandal, told with a translator beside her.
Dörte started in a sports kindergarten at age three and later trained at SC Dynamo Berlin. She choreographed her own floor routines but never got to choose the music. Then a new coach arrived and everything about training changed.
Listen for why she believes positive motivation would have won her more, and what she learned in 1998 about her own family. She also shares what speaking up cost her when most girls around her stayed quiet.
Her Olympic gymnast abuse story includes Dynamo Berlin gymnastics doping and GDR state sponsored doping. Today she stands with East German doping program athletes who are asking the German government for a monthly pension.
Press play to hear what Dörte wants coaches and parents to understand about the east german gymnastics doping scandal and why speaking up still matters. Her answers on how to keep young athletes safe are plain and worth hearing. This conversation includes accounts of childhood abuse, so please listen with care.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet Olympian Dörte Thümmler and Her Translators
06:00 Starting Gymnastics at Three in East Germany
10:26 Alyssa Liu and Leaving Toxic Coaching
EP 57: Men's Gymnastics is So Gay with Andrew Chupp
Épisode 59
jeudi 27 août 2026 • Durée 01:10:55
Andrew Chupp’s Britney Spears mashup went viral, even catching the attention of longtime Britney Spears choreographer Brian Friedman. But the routine also drew hundreds of angry comments from strangers furious about a man competing in women’s gymnastics events. Host John Corella brings on Andrew, an adult gymnast, photographer, and coach with more than a decade of coaching experience who now specializes in optional-level gymnastics, for a conversation on Dance Dad recorded ahead of his trip to the 2026 Gay Games in Valencia.
Andrew explains how he answers the people who say beam is not his to use, and what changed the night he had a dream that sent him back into training after years away from the sport. He also shares the comments he hears whenever he posts himself on beam and the tools that help him keep online backlash in perspective, plus the injury that had him nervous about being ready for Spain and the Gay Games.
John and Andrew talk about what happens when male gymnasts challenge old ideas about masculinity and femininity, why more gyms are making room for adult gymnastics, and how organizations like AAU, NAIGC, and NGA are creating ways for adults to compete, and what it means for LGBTQ+ athletes in sports to compete without hiding who they are. Andrew has become one of the more visible faces of adult gymnastics and of men competing in women’s gymnastics events, and he does not soften the parts of the conversation that make people uncomfortable.
Press play for a conversation about beam, boldness, and what it actually costs to stay in a sport that was not built with you in mind.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcoming Andrew Chupp To The Meet
02:02 Previewing The 2026 Gay Games In Valencia
04:51 A Man Competing In Women's Gymnastics Events
05:35 Andrew's Childhood Gymnastics and Being Forced Into Boys’ Events
EP 56: Dance Moms Star’s Experience With Racism in Dance with Nicaya Wiley
Épisode 58
jeudi 13 août 2026 • Durée 01:03:24
The racism in the dance competition world doesn't always show up as outright hostility. Sometimes racism looks like a studio owner quietly leaving your name off the audition list.
Nicaya Wiley spent seasons two through seven on Dance Moms, and on this episode of Dance Dad with John Corella, she gets honest about what the experience cost her. Growing up as a Black dancer in a predominantly white studio meant rarely receiving corrections in class, questioning whether her body was built for this, and getting body shamed on national television before she was old enough to process what was happening.
Her mom is central to everything. She submitted Nicaya directly to casting when the studio tried to quietly leave her off the list. She faced racial slurs in the dressing room, none of which made the air. She came out as gay on the show, which Nicaya calls the boldest thing she has ever witnessed. And she raised a daughter who eventually learned to stop apologizing for the body she was born in.
Black dancers and body image in dance training is something the industry still doesn't talk about enough. Nicaya reflects on what changed for her after studying with the late Judith Jamison and what diversity in professional dance feels like now, performing aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship with castmates who finally look like her.
If you've been wondering about the Dance Moms cast and where they are now, Nicaya Wiley is still dancing, still growing, and still the person her mother raised her to be.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Nicaya Wiley on Racism in the Dance Competition World
01:32 The Four Questions With John and Nicaya
03:14 Training With Judith Jamison at Alvin Ailey
05:39 Learning to Never Apologize for Who You Are as a Dancer
EP 55: Countdown to LA28 with Olympic Gold Gymnastics Champion Daniela Silivas
Épisode 57
jeudi 30 juillet 2026 • Durée 54:38
The countdown to LA28 has officially begun, and there's no better way to kick it off than looking back at the gymnast who made history in Seoul. Three-time gold medalist Daniela Silivas joins Dance Dad with John Corella to explain how ballet training shaped her gymnastics long before LA28 was even a headline.
Daniela grew up training in communist-era Romania, where her first year of gymnastics consisted entirely of ballet, flexibility, and strength training, seven days a week. She breaks down how gymnasts use dance training to build the control that shows up later on beam and floor, the same foundation today’s LA28 hopefuls are building, whether they realize it or not.
She also revisits her floor performances at the 1987 World Championships, where she earned three perfect 10s across the competition, and the story behind the skill now known as the Silivaș mount on balance beam. That routine helped carry her to Seoul, where she medaled on every event and became one of the most decorated gymnasts in Olympic history.
As the world turns its attention to LA28, Daniela's story is a reminder of what it takes to get there. Listen to the full episode to hear how a ballet training that began when she was five years old in Romania turned into three Olympic gold medals, and why the fundamentals still matter more than the flash.
10:59 Why Ballet Comes Before Gymnastics In Romania
16:24 Performing Compulsory Routines For Judges And Crowds
20:27 Throwing A New Skill At The Olympics
27:33 Falling In Love With Gymnastics At Five
EP 54: Dear John: Happy 15th Birthday Dance Moms!
Épisode 56
jeudi 16 juillet 2026 • Durée 29:12
Nationals season exposes how dance families handle pressure, pride, and time together. On this episode of Dance Dad with John Corella, host John Corella shares hard truths about dance competition nationals and why Nationals are not a vacation for dancers, teachers, or parents. He explains why dancers should aim to peak later in the season instead of too early, why rest matters once the season ends, and why over-planning often comes from fear rather than love. Families heading into dance competition nationals will hear advice on staying focused when the pressure hits hardest.
John also gets personal about safety and identity inside the dance world. He states plainly why dance is gay at heart and why LGBTQ+ representation in dance still falls short. He makes the case to stop hiring straight actors for gay roles and to give gay performers room to tell their own stories. He also addresses dance parent burnout and the quiet cost of chasing perfection instead of presence with your child.
John draws on decades inside the competition world to remind families how fast the years pass. This episode feels like a coffee chat with a friend who tells you the truth. Tune in to Dance Dad with John Corella for straight talk on competition season, identity, and presence with your kid during the moments you never get back.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcome Back to Dance Dad With John Corella
02:27 Recapping Past Guests and Community Stories
04:56 Staying Focused During Dance Competition Nationals
07:16 Why Rest and Intensives Matter After the Season Ends
09:42 Letting Go of Over-Planning and Fear
12:08 Feeling Safe as a Gay Man in the Dance World
14:11 Healing Through Internal Family Systems Therapy
21:28 Calling Out Studios That Use the LGBTQ Community
EP 53: The Agent Conversation Every Dance Mom Needs to Hear with Lisa Lindholm
Épisode 55
jeudi 2 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:10:32
Getting a talent agent is one of the most misunderstood steps in a young dancer's career, and most families are going in blind.
John Corella sits down with Lisa Lindholm, vice president of Go 2 Talent Agency, for an honest conversation about what it actually takes to get a dance agent, what agents are really looking for, and how parents can support their kids without getting in the way.
Lisa breaks down the difference between competition dance vs commercial dance, and why the tricks that win trophies are not always what books jobs. She talks about how to get a dance agent from the ground up, including what makes a strong submission and why you should always verify an agent through the SAG-AFTRA or ATA websites before signing anything.
The conversation also gets real about the mental health side of the business. Lisa shares how she supports clients through burnout and career breaks, and why open communication with your agent is not a weakness. She also calls out the green flags agents bring to the table, what parents should look for when evaluating representation, and why you should never pay to sign with anyone.
For dance parents researching agent submissions and dancers looking for dance audition tips for kids, this episode of Dance Dad with John Corella is the resource you did not know you needed.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet Lisa Lindholm of Go 2 Talent Agency
06:21 What Agents Look for When Signing Young Dancers
08:17 Why Kids Need to Stay Kids in the Entertainment Industry
11:04 Lisa's Dance Background and Path to Los Angeles
19:02 Competition Dance vs Commercial Dance Explained
22:24 How to Get a Dance Agent as a Submission
EP 52: Nothing Scares Men More Than A Feminine Boy Who Dances with Bronson Arrivillaga and his Dance Mom Katlyn
Épisode 54
jeudi 18 juin 2026 • Durée 58:06
Bronson Arrivillaga is only 10 years old, but he already knows what it means to take up space.
He has performed in the Super Bowl halftime show with Bad Bunny, landed a role on The Pitt, and competed on stages where confidence is not optional. Yet what stands out most about Bronson is not the size of the opportunity. It is the way he talks about dance as a form of storytelling, self-expression, and connection.
In this episode of Dance Dad, host John Corella sits down with Bronson and his mom, Katlyn, for a conversation about what it means to be a boy in dance, especially a boy who refuses to shrink himself to make other people comfortable.
Bronson also talks about the harder parts. Dance moms bullying, negative online comments targeting his videos, and being questioned just for showing up as himself. His response every time is to walk back to his people and keep going.
From wearing Tiger Friday with zero apology to competing in multiple group dances and solos this season, Bronson is clear about one thing. Anything you do should make you feel happy and powerful. Katlyn's steadiness as a parent runs through the whole conversation and makes it clear why Bronson moves through the world the way he does.
His dreams are already becoming his life. He is playing characters on network TV, performing on the biggest stages in the world, and he is just getting started.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet Bronson Arrivillaga: Boy Dancer Inspiration Behind the Super Bowl Halftime Show
03:15 Finding Happiness and Purpose Through Dance
07:09 Why the Family Moved From Indiana to LA to Chase His Dreams
EP 51: Pride or Problematic: Is Heated Rivalry Good for Gay Men? | Jake & Kendrick, The JK But Gay Show
Épisode 53
jeudi 4 juin 2026 • Durée 01:26:50
Jake and Kendrick came on Dance Dad to talk about Heated Rivalry. They ended up talking about something much harder: what gay men are taught to hide from themselves and each other.
John Corella, host of Dance Dad and co-creator of Dance Moms, sits down with Jake and Kendrick of The JK But Gay Show for a Pride Month conversation about body image, masculinity, friendship, intimacy, and the stories gay men carry into adulthood. The episode starts with a debate about Heated Rivalry, but it quickly becomes more personal than anyone expected.
John came in skeptical of the show. Jake and Kendrick came in as fans. What they work out together touches on gay body image issues, whether therapy changes the way you consume media, and whether a show can be pure entertainment and still carry a real responsibility to the people watching it. Nobody wraps it up neatly, and that is what makes it worth listening to.
The conversation gets personal fast. Jake talks about growing up where crying was not acceptable and what that cost him. Kendrick shares a coming out story that started during confession at the Vatican. John reflects honestly on why he kept falling for emotionally unavailable men. LGBTQ masculinity is not treated as a talking point here. It comes up the way it actually lives, inside specific memories and patterns that took years to name.
Underneath all of it is the thing Jake and Kendrick built together. Real gay male friendship is rarer than it should be, and they started their show because they knew that. Gay men and emotional maturity, platonic loyalty, and what it looks like to grow alongside another person are not side topics here. They are the whole foundation.
This is one of those episodes that stays with you.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcome to Dance Dad with John Corella
EP 50: Gen Z Men Redefining Dance with Rahja "King" Fuller
Épisode 52
jeudi 21 mai 2026 • Durée 01:23:32
Rahja Fuller did not luck into the Brandy and Monica Tour. He trained for it, prepared for it, and walked into the audition like he belonged there.
On Dance Dad, host John Corella talks with dancer, singer, actor, and former Pop Money member Rahja Fuller about how to become a professional dancer with focus, humility, and real industry awareness. At just 19, Rahja has already moved from competition dance to major stages.
Learning how to become a professional dancer is not only about being talented. It is about doing the small jobs before the big ones, taking unpaid opportunities when they build real experience, and understanding that relationships matter. Walk in like you belong there. Let your personality show. Stay present in the room. Focus on what makes you stand out instead of worrying about who else might book the job.
This conversation also gives space to a thoughtful discussion about Gen Z, masculinity, and the expectations placed on young men in dance. Rahja speaks openly about ballet, contemporary, hip hop, breakdance, and the way masculinity and male dancers are often talked about from the outside. His take on masculinity is rooted in confidence, discipline, self-respect, and comfort in your own skin.
For young dancers, parents, teachers, and anyone trying to understand what it really takes to build a career in entertainment, this episode offers more than a success story. It is a clear reminder that preparation matters long before the audition starts. Rahja is young, driven, and already thinking like someone who wants to bring people with him. Work hard. Stay ready. Know your history. And when the room opens, dance like you already know why you are there.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Dance Dad with John Corella and Guest Rahja Fuller
02:56 How Rahja Booked the Boy Is Mine Tour Audition at 19
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