In this week’s episode, we talk about how many studios and dance organizations use social media to promote their business and their dancers. I understand why studios want to highlight their top performers and attract new talent. However, when the same handful of dancers are featured 24/7 across social media channels, it can send the wrong message.

There are countless “unsung heroes” working in the shadows—dancers who are grinding every day to improve—and they deserve time in the social media spotlight too. I also share an example of a studio that has, in my opinion, unlocked the cheat code for how studio social media should be run.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com

Back in episode 7 of our podcast, we talked about how my son recently completed the winter intensive at the CLI Conservatory in Massachusetts. In addition to getting a ton of dance experience, my son had the opportunity to participate in the creation of a music video. He gained a new appreciation for all the production that goes into the piece - not just from a dance perspective, but an audio/video perspective as well. He also noted they had to clean up the “snow” many times and do many takes to get the video just right. Have a look - I think it turned out awesome!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com

This week we talk about a new partnership we started with a dance consultant - someone who works specifically with dancers my son’s age to take their dancing to the next level. The decision to engage with a consultant came as a few different pieces were falling into place:

* My son stepped away from studio dance earlier this year and was essentially a “free agent”

* He started working with a dancer/choreographer on a new solo piece (discussed in episode #6)

* He had just wrapped up a high school dance production (discussed in episode #4)

* We were wanting to find a way for him to work on his skills on a more regular cadence (i.e. weekly)

His first meeting with the dance consultant to work on his solo was awesome. Here are some things we learned:

* It’s important to have a stretch routine that is tailored to your body and dance goals.

* The judges are judging from the millisecond you become visible on stage. So even when you’re just walking to the stage and waiting for the music to drop, you need to present yourself with strength and intentionality.

* When in the middle of a bunch of turns (or any move), you need to stay present until the absolute last millisecond, and only then do you transition into something else. Our consultant could tell by my son’s face and body language that while he was in the middle of move A, his mind/body were already thinking about and preparing for move B.

Deciding whether or not to partner with a dance consultant is a big decision, and a big investment. But is it worth it? (Spoiler: in our opinion the answer is yes, but please listen to today’s episode :-)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com

This week’s episode is all about the awesome winter insensitive our son attended at the CLI Conservatory in Southampton, Massachusetts (you can read more about CLI and the origins of the studio/conservatory here). You’ll get to hear from Atticus directly as he shares his favorite moments - which include a lot of dancing, practicing mock auditions, and even filming a music video! And from a parent point of view, I’ll share some things we will do differently in the food and lodging department when we go back for the summer intensive in 2026. Next time we’ll:

* Stay in a hotel/BNB/etc. closer to CLI

* Buy our own food instead of eating out at restaurants (the restaurant food was super expensive and not good in general)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com

In today’s episode, I’m excited to share a new adventure my son started in working with an independent dancer/choreographer. It has been a fun and collaborative project where we’ve had more input on both the music and choreography - something that wasn’t always the case in studio dance. Perhaps the best thing from my perspective is to watch my son relax into the experience, and not have a competition deadline right around the corner (we’re thinking of competing with the solo in 2026).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com

This week I try to answer the question “How can your dancer get to the next level?” When my son danced with a competitive studio, he was (naturally) interested in moving up to the higher-level teams. The path to get there, however, was shrouded in mystery. So we discuss:

* Insisting on feedback from teachers/coaches on specific goals your dancer should pursue

* Exploring a variety of opportunities outside your normal dance bubble/network (classes at other studios, weekend conventions, summer intensives, etc.). In other words: get your dancer in front of as many dance gurus as possible!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com

Hello friends. Today I talk about how my son’s first high school dance production gave him several valuable experiences that he didn’t always get in the studio dance world, including:

* The opportunity to work on a project that has completely original music/choreography (the dance director and her father created the project from scratch over the summer!)

* Focusing on the acting part of dance - and understanding what is happening with his character and the story (not just the “smile big for the judges!” guidance often taught in studio dance)

* Being part of an ensemble that supported each other and wanted each cast/crew member to be their best every night (a refreshing change from the sometimes cut-throat dance competition weekends).

* Getting the chance to perform a production three times in a weekend (he is used to dance competition weekends where you get one shot to perform a piece).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com

In today’s episode, I talk about the doubts I had when I sent my son to a performing arts high school. I walked into orientation with a bunch of questions and assumptions burning in my mind:

* What’s the schedule like here - do they toss math and science aside and it’s just “all arts classes all the time!?”

* Is there any discipline enforced, or do they let these young artists just run wild and free?

* Are there any testing standards that students are held to?

Certainly listen to the episode, but spoiler alert: the answers to these questions were a pleasant surprise!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com

In today’s episode, we tackle the question that doesn’t have a great answer: how do you budget for a year of being a competitive dancer? It’s tricky. Yes, there’s the base cost of X dollars per month for the dance training itself, but then there’s all the extras that really gouge you:

* Costumes

* Photo shoots

* Teacher appreciation gifts

* Teammate appreciation gifts

* Senior dancer appreciation gifts

* Misc meals and snacks

* Gas/mileage

* Gifts for teammates during Valentine’s Day, Halloween, holiday season, etc.

* Team swag (optional but…are you going to be the parent that doesn’t get their dancer a hoodie to wear at school?)

* Team swag for parents (optional but encouraged)

And if you have an end-of-year dance competition that you have to travel out of town for, get ready for more financial pain with:

* Hotel costs (jacked up during competition season)

* Meals (God bless you if you’re a strategic enough of a planner to bring your own food to the hotel…for us it was lots of eating out)

* Other costs for being out of town (house sitters, dog sitters, babysitters, etc.)

Hope this helps! And while you’re reading this, why not subscribe?

Thanks,

-Brian

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com

Today I’m kicking off the Dad of a Dancer podcast! I’ll be sharing some of the challenges we’ve faced navigating the competitive dance world, what we’ve learned along the way, as well as ideas for how studios can better support and include all dancers.

I’ll start the podcast as an audio-only adventure, but might venture into video in the future (for example, I love the idea of interviewing people in the dance world about how they make their environments more open and inclusive). I also don’t have an exact cadence established for the podcasts, so the episodes will be a “trickle” for now.

In this episode we discuss:

* My son’s “dance superhero orgin story” - starting with a love of gymnastics as a toddler, to dancing on the playground, to eventually joining a competitive team.

* Goals for the podcast moving forward - the primary one being to make the dance experience better for even one dancer and/or one dancer’s parent.

Enjoy! And feel free to…

Or send me a message:

If you’re reading this far, please subscribe!

Brian

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dadofadancer.com