EP 36: Our First Official Dance Dads

Three dance dads pull back the curtain on competitions, parenting in a female-dominated world, and the unexpected friendships that keep them coming back.   In this episode, John Corella brings together Jason, David, and Nick, who are three longtime dance dads who’ve spent years supporting their daughters through the highs and lows of competitive dance. What begins as a casual conversation over Mickey’s beers quickly opens into something more honest. They reflect on what it means to be an involved dad in a space where men are often absent, and how they’ve found connection, humor, and purpose in a world originally built around Dance Moms. There’s plenty of laughter and storytelling, but woven through are deeper questions: How do you stay grounded when competition weekends run 14-hour days? What happens when your kid doesn’t place? How do you handle Dance Mom drama without getting pulled into the chaos?   The episode also takes on the bigger picture: the dads speak openly about the financial and emotional weight of dance, their respect for the artistry involved, and what it’s like to raise daughters within a controversial dance community that includes drag performers, queer choreographers, and bold expressions of identity. Rather than shy away from those dynamics, they lean in with curiosity and support. And yes, by the end, they each imagine their own Dance Dad solos, offering a rare glimpse at what fatherhood looks like when vulnerability and celebration go hand in hand.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Meet the Dance Dads 05:46 The Real Cost of Competitive Dance 11:42 How Dance Builds Unexpected Friendships 20:41 Dance Dads vs. Dance Moms 29:21 Protecting Daughters in a Controversial Dance Community 32:40 Teaching Resilience Through Defeat 35:28 Diversity, Inclusion, and the Future of Dance 41:10 Misconceptions About Dance Dads 44:10 Could a Dance Dad Reality Show Work?   Links Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheonlyDanceDadwithJohnCorella Website: johncorella.net Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm