Dance conventions can be magical or a ticking time bomb, and John Corella is here to spill the tea on which is which.

This episode isn’t just a summer recap, but a real conversation about what’s happening in the dance world. John shares his experience with Velocity. He opens up about his reunion with Dance Moms alum Melissa Gisoni and what it meant to see her step into her voice after all these years. There’s also a moment with Beyonce’s “dance dad” Frank Gatson that will make you think about how much real mentorship matters in this industry. 

How do we choose where to invest our time, energy, and money? Are we supporting people who build safe spaces or enabling the same toxic patterns? John asks these questions out loud and invites you to do the same.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Safe Space and Podcast Goals

01:14 Dance Moms Reunion with Melissa Gissone

06:07 Velocity’s Inclusivity and Accountability

09:09 Behind the Scenes of Beyonce’s Show with Frank Gatson

10:12 Calling for Safe and Accountable Dance Spaces

12:25 Why Dancers and Dance Parents Need to Take Breaks

Links

Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram

John on Instagram

Patreon

YouTube 

Website

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Dance Moms director Jimmy Chriss shares what really happened behind the scenes, and why protecting kids, honoring joy, and telling the truth still matter in reality TV.

Jimmy joins John Corella to talk about his journey from music videos and commercials to the world of Dance Moms. He breaks down what it actually means to direct a reality show where real people, real emotions, and real stakes are always in play.

What does it feel like to protect kids on set while still delivering what people want? How do you stay grounded when the cameras never stop rolling? Jimmy answers these questions with the honesty of someone who’s lived it, through long days, heated moments, and years of experience. He also opens up about racism in the industry and why representation behind the scenes matters just as much as it does on camera. The conversation takes a heartfelt turn when Jimmy shares stories about his wife, her quiet love for the show, the strength she showed during her illness, and how her legacy continues to shape the way he moves through the world.

This episode is a reminder that behind every show are real people, and that the best stories come from those who lead with care.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Jimmy Chriss on Directing Dance Moms

02:38 From Music Videos to Reality TV

07:21 What It Really Means to Direct a Reality Show

09:27 Behind the Chaos of Dance Moms

19:41 Why Dance Moms Still Resonates

25:15 The Show’s Impact on Dance Culture

29:52 Personal Reflections on Loss and His Wife

34:21 Protecting Kids in Reality TV

37:33 How Reality TV Has Changed

42:20 Racism and Representation Behind the Camera

48:01 Choosing Joy, Even in Grief

Links

Connect with Jimmy Chriss:

https://www.instagram.com/the_real_jimmy_jay_chriss/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-jay-chriss-24b7517b/

Connect with John Corella:

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

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

Melissa Gisoni spent a lot of years trying to do and say the right thing. Then she hit 50 and decided to stop worrying about how others might see her. She joins John Corella for a conversation about finding her voice, showing up more boldly, and choosing joy on her own terms.

John and Melissa talk about the power of allyship, what it meant to her to attend West Hollywood Pride, and how her daughters, Maddie and Mackenzie, have grown up with a strong sense of inclusion and empathy. What does it look like to raise kids in the spotlight while still protecting their spirit? And how do you hold boundaries when the world keeps asking for more?

Melissa also opens up about her dream of becoming an actress and what draws her to roles that feel fun and lighthearted, maybe even a Hallmark movie someday. She shares what she learned from being a dance mom, how she supported her girls as they built careers of their own, and what she would do differently if she could go back, especially when it came to speaking up for Mackenzie.

In this episode, Melissa reflects on what she got right, what she let slide, and what she’d never do the same way again. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how to support their kids without losing themselves, what it really means to protect someone in the public eye, and why using your voice, especially later in life, can feel both freeing and necessary.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction to Melissa Gisoni

03:10 Celebrating Pride and Community

06:00 Finding Your Voice After 50

08:59 Navigating Social Media and Self-Expression

11:48 The Journey of a Dance Mom

14:51 Reflections on Reality TV

18:07 The Competitive Nature of Dance

20:59 Recognizing Talent in Your Children

24:04 Lessons from Dance Moms

27:06 Navigating Dance Mom Dynamics

30:00 Handling Fame and Its Challenges

33:16 The Importance of Supportive Parenting

36:04 Spirituality and Personal Growth

39:15 Dreams and Aspirations Beyond Dance

42:17 Community and Mental Health

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

Boldness looks different when you’re a gay dad, a former Broadway dancer, and raising a toddler named Maverick in Florida.

To kick off Pride Month, John Corella is joined by Bret and Stephen, Broadway performers, husbands, and proud dads, who offer an honest look at parenting, partnership, and identity. They talk about raising their son Maverick with intention, finding joy in everyday moments, and the kind of quiet courage it takes to show up as a two-dad family in spaces built for straight families.

Where does boldness come from when the world keeps trying to put you in a box? What does it mean to raise a child who sees authenticity modeled at home? Through stories about sobriety, social media, and their dance competition backgrounds, Bret and Stephen reflect on what has shaped them and what they hope to pass on.

This episode questions the norms that still dominate parenting culture and the dance world, and it offers a reminder that being seen can be a radical act of love.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction and Pride Month Kickoff

08:57 Becoming Bold as Gay Parents

15:03 How Dance Competitions Shaped Identity

17:55 Coming Out and Family Reactions

21:03 Advice for LGBTQ+ Youth

23:50 Finding Joy in Parenting and Creativity

26:55 Coping with Online Negativity

36:57 Personal Stories of Addiction and Recovery

42:20 Relationship Advice for Gay Men

44:10 Authenticity vs. Conformity in Gay Culture

47:51 Navigating Monogamy and Open Relationships

53:47 Parenting Challenges and Emotional Growth

56:34 What Fatherhood Has Taught Us

01:00:07 Public Reactions to Gay Dads

01:04:46 Challenging Gender Norms in Parenting

01:16:30 Understanding Straight Privilege in Family Life

01:21:15 How Representation Shapes Queer Families

01:23:11 Celebrating Pride and Building Community

Links

Connect with Bret and Stephen:

https://substack.com/@broadwayhusbands

Connect with John Corella:

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

This episode is a replay of a previous episode of Dance Dad with John Corella. Enjoy! Happy Pride! 

“I loved how free I was,” reflects Ally Marc Jacobs, a transgender teen and emerging star in the worlds of voguing and drag. Inspired by the House of Juicy Couture’s performances and the House of Balmain  on the HBO series “Legendary”, Ally began vogue dancing and quickly became a sensation across social media. She is now a member of both the House of Juicy Couture and House of Marc Jacobs. Today on the Dance Dad podcast, Ally shares insights into the ball culture, her personal journey of coming out, and how both her mainstream and kiki house communities have become like a second family to her.

Ally’s biological family, including her mother Amy, who also joins the podcast, has supported her from the start. Amy discusses the pressures facing Ally as a prominent figure in the trans community, and the scrutiny she faces as a parent. 

Ally addresses her experiences with bullies in various settings, from playgrounds to churches and even political arenas, and how she has found a supportive community. Host John Corella highlights the hypocrisy of parents who criticize Amy for 'forcing a lifestyle' on Ally, while they themselves push their children into unwanted activities.

Ally, confident in her identity from a young age, and perhaps even in past lives, is forging ahead fearlessly. Tune in to hear her discuss her love for Beyoncé, Monster High dolls, and her very own dance dad.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 Pride Month & Podcast Intro  

01:04 Meet Allie Marc Jacobs  

04:50 How Are You Feeling?  

08:44 What Is a House in Ballroom Culture?  

14:01 Allie’s Coming Out Story  

16:06 A Parent’s Perspective  

23:38 Handling Bullying & Finding Support  

25:37 Voguing at Beyoncé’s Concert  

29:14 Where Boldness Comes From  

31:54 The Power of Self-Expression  

42:05 Advice for Kids Afraid to Come Out  

49:24 Allie’s Future Goals  

Links

Connect with Ally Marc Jacobs:

Connect with John Corella:

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

This episode includes discussions of depression, suicide, and conversion therapy. Please take care while listening. The content is not intended as providing individual counseling on a professional basis. If a listener is in need of psychological counseling they should seek help from a licensed therapist. The show is intended as information and entertainment and not as a substitute for professionally provided counseling or therapy, professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you’re struggling, please seek help. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for free, 24/7 support.

Depression isn’t a flaw to fix but a signal worth paying attention to, especially for performers who build their identity around applause.

John Corella welcomes Nathaniel Flatt, a licensed therapist, former professional dancer, and one-time boy band member, for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on mental health in the arts. What happens when the dream gig doesn’t fulfill you? Or when rejection keeps showing up and starts to feel personal? Nathaniel shares how he went from dancing with Beyoncé at the Oscars to sitting on a therapist’s couch, questioning what came next and why it didn’t feel like enough.

They talk about the emotional weight performers carry, the difference between sadness and depression, and what it really means to celebrate depression instead of fearing it. Nathaniel explains how therapy became a creative and collaborative practice for him, and why our culture’s obsession with winning often leaves people feeling more lost than ever.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like their worth depends on a callback, a competition result, or someone else’s approval.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Nathaniel Flatt: Therapist, Dancer, Boy Band Member

06:12 From Performing to Therapy: A Career Shift

14:04 Celebrating Depression and Redefining Sadness

25:04 Rejection, Perfectionism, and Identity

42:07 Finding Self-Worth Beyond Performance

44:43 Creativity, Play, and Pressure in Hollywood

50:24 How to Work Through Depression

Links

Connect with Nathaniel Flatt:

https://www.instagram.com/natflatt

https://nathanielflatt.com/

Connect with John Corella:

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

Overstretching, underrepresentation, and pressure from every direction… What's really happening behind the scenes in competitive dance?

John Corella sits down with Sharmila Mitra, a longtime friend and respected voice in the dance world. She’s a competitive dance teacher, studio owner, and a Pilates and Gyrotonic instructor who’s helped dancers heal, grow, and stay in the game for the long run. She’s also the author of “The Power of Intention for Dancers,” and her story is one many in the industry will recognize: pushed hard, stretched beyond her limits, and told her work was “too ethnic” to compete.

John and Sharmila dig into some hard truths: Is a dancer’s flexibility more important than their physical safety? How do we stop celebrating movement that could be damaging our joints for life? Sharmila shares how overstretching as a young dancer led to long-term injuries and why she’s passionate about giving today’s dancers a better way forward.

The two also talk about how Pilates, intention-setting, and proper cross-training can shift the entire experience of competitive dance. Can winning mean more than just a trophy? What if dancers were encouraged to check in with their bodies, not ignore what hurts?

This episode is a must-listen for teachers, parents, and dancers alike, especially anyone who’s ever questioned the way things have always been done. You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective, a few strong opinions, and maybe a little more compassion for the kid struggling through warm-up.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Sharmila Mitra 

04:33 Body Positivity and Representation in Dance

06:29 Challenging Norms: Bollywood, Identity, and Belonging

16:06 The Long-Term Impact of Overstretching in Competitive Dance

23:08 Protecting Dancers’ Bodies During Competition Season

27:16 How to Train Without Overstretching

33:33 Setting Intentions in Dance and Competition

40:25 Teaching Dancers to Advocate for Their Bodies

47:04 Integrating Spirituality with Dance Practice

52:15 Healthy Boundaries with Dance Parents

56:00 Knowing Your Worth as a Dance Teacher

01:00:00 When Students Leave: Loss, Growth, and Forgiveness

Links

Connect with Sharmila Mitra:

Website: https://coreartscenter.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreartspilates

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

Dance competitions may not come with gold medals, but for many kids and their parents, the pressure feels just as real.

In this episode, John Corella opens up about the intensity of competition season and what it actually takes to support young dancers in a high-stakes environment. What does a proper warm up really involve? When is it better for a parent to step back instead of step in? And how do you help your kid build confidence without trying to control the outcome?

John shares tips for dance moms and dads who want to be a steady presence during those long, emotional weekends. From arriving early to managing nerves in the car ride, to letting go of last-minute fixes and creating space for your dancer to get into the zone, this episode is full of real talk and grounded guidance.

Whether you’re new to competitions or just need a reset, this episode is a reminder that the energy you bring matters just as much as the routine on stage.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

04:52 Common Questions from Dance Moms

05:25 What Dance Competitions Are Really Like

08:15 How to Create a Calm Environment on Competition Day

09:00 Warm-Up Tips and Timing

17:28 When to Stop Rehearsing and Start Trusting

22:12 Helping Kids Manage Nerves and Stay Focused

31:41 Why Reflection Matters After Competition

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

Can you be a gay actor, a man of faith, and a bold truth-teller in an industry that often expects you to pick one?

This week, John Corella sits down with actor and LGBTQ+ activist Danny Franzese, best known as Damian in Mean Girls. Danny shares what it was like to play an openly gay character while still closeted in real life, and how that disconnect shaped his early career. The conversation pulls back the curtain on what many actors face behind the scenes, especially when their identity challenges what the industry expects or understands.

Danny also introduces a less-talked-about influence in his journey: the Alexander Technique. For him, it wasn’t just a posture tool. It became a way to find alignment, physically and emotionally. How do you carry yourself when no one’s watching? Can you feel present in your own skin, even in chaos? Danny makes a case for the connection between movement, intention, and inner peace.

John and Danny also discuss the ongoing debate around representation in the media. Should gay roles be reserved for gay actors? What does authentic storytelling really require, and who gets to tell which stories?

This episode is part personal story, part thoughtful critique, and part reminder that the body, the voice, and the truth all deserve space. Danny brings depth, humor, and honesty to a conversation that speaks to anyone who’s ever wondered whether they’re “too much” to be fully seen.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction 

04:44 Alexander Technique

10:53 Stage Performance and Authenticity

14:48 Acting and Being in the Moment

19:29 Past Danny and Future Danny

23:19 Coming Out and Mean Girls Experience

26:40 LGBTQ+ Representation in Media

29:15 Career Challenges Post-Mean Girls

32:14 Becoming an Advocate

34:07 LGBTQ+ Films and Representation

38:55 Wokeness and Diversity

41:14 Realistic Representation in Media

Links

Connect with Danny Franzese:

www.yassjesuspod.com/

patreon.com/TheonlyDanceDadwithJohnCorella

@dancedadpodcast.bsky.social

Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/

John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm