Dance Dad With John Corella

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 09:55 What It Was Really Like Performing the Super Bowl With Bad Bunny 12:57 Behind the Scenes Secrets From the Bad Bunny Halftime Show 16:57 What Bronson Loves Most About Dance and Competing 23:31 The Story He Most Wants to Tell Through Dance 27:26 How Bronson Shows Adults What It Means to Be Yourself 28:38 Dealing With Dance Moms Bullying and Online Hate 34:15 Feeling Safe at Dance Conventions as a Boy Who Dances 39:30 Why Bronson Loves Acting Just as Much as Dance 40:37 Playing Patient Ben Baker on The Pitt 48:28 Competing to Prince and Wednesday This Season 50:45 Favorite Choreographers, Dancers, and Dance Movies 55:40 The Boldest Things Bronson and Katlyn Have Ever Done Connect with Bronson Arrivillaga: Follow Bronson on Instagram Connect with John Corella: Follow Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram Follow John on Instagram Join Dance Dad with John Corella on Patreon Visit John Corella’s website Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

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 02:10 Meet Jake and Kendrick of the JK But Gay Show 08:31 Does Heated Rivalry Give Gay Men Body Image Issues 15:55 Hiding Your Identity in Sports and the Closet 41:17 Does Heated Rivalry Reinforce or Challenge Masculinity 48:12 Why Gay Men Are Drawn to Emotionally Unavailable Partners 52:51 The Difference Between Sex and Intimacy for Gay Men 59:46 A Gay Therapist Explains Why Heated Rivalry Feels So Good 1:17:06 Kendrick's Coming Out Story at the Vatican 1:21:04 Favorite Selena Quintanilla Songs 1:24:10 The Boldest Thing Each of Them Has Ever Done Connect with Jake and Kendrick: Follow Jake and Kendrick on Instagram Connect with John Corella: Follow Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram Follow John on Instagram Join Dance Dad with John Corella on Patreon Visit John Corella’s website Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

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

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

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:www.instagram.com/broadwayhusbands 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 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

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