Dancing Through Life: Allen Genkin on How Grief, ADHD & Adversity Can Become Your Greatest Strength

Most people know Allen Genkin from the dance floor, but dance was never really the story. In this deeply personal episode of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with professional ballroom dancer and Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro competitor Allen Genkin, whose family has been family to hers since the day he was born. Behind the television lights and the trophies is a story of extraordinary resilience: losing his mother at just 15, growing up with ADHD and as an ESL kid, and battling cancer as a young adult. Allen opens up about how dance became his therapy, what kept him moving through his darkest chapters, and why he chases the dream instead of the accolades. Together they talk about grief, identity, perseverance, and what parents raising kids with ADHD, loss, or adversity most need to understand. This one is about turning pain into purpose, dreaming after loss, and finding the courage to keep dancing through it all. If you have ever faced a hard chapter, or you love a child who has, this conversation is for you.Allen Genkin on Instagram: @allengenkinAllen Genkin on TikTok: @iamallengenkinConnect with Luba on Instagram: @lubapatlakhGet a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.comLuba's website: lubapatlakh.comThe Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.comJoin the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 01:33 Meet Allen Genkin 02:36 Growing up as family 05:10 From hockey to dance 07:46 ADHD, ESL, and finding his footing 12:35 Losing his mom at 15 14:13 Dance as therapy 19:01 Beating cancer 22:19 Chasing the dream, not the trophies 28:08 Raising resilient kids 30:55 Lightning round + advice to a struggling kid