Dance Dad With John Corella

Author: Dance Dad LLC

As one of the co creators/executive producers of the hit reality show Dance Moms, this podcast will be a safe space to talk about all things Dance. I will have meaningful conversations with guests from the show Dance Moms, as well as discussing the colorful, magical Dance competition world that I grew up competing in and am still a part of teaching and choreographing for. Dancing and being in the film and TV Industry for over 40 years I will be talking with those who who have inspired me and we will share our knowledge on what worked, what didnt and why. Growing up a young feminine boy who loved to dance was extremely challenging in a lot of ways. Now as gay man I will have some heartfelt meetings with people in the LGBTQ community to share about this and the suffering that goes on currently with adults and kids and how we can help and most importantly heal it. Put your dance shoes on every other Friday when this podcast comes out! Listen. Be Bold. Be Fierce. Sincerely, John Corella
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Language: en

Genres: Arts, Performing Arts

Contact email: Get it

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Bonus Episode: How to Win at Dance Competitions: What Alysa Liu Actually Reminded Us
Episode 50
Wednesday, 25 March, 2026

Mental performance coaching is changing how athletes and parents think about success in youth sports. In this bonus episode, John Corella and mental performance coach Lisa Mitzel discuss how a healthier youth sports mindset can help young athletes compete with confidence without losing their sense of self. The discussion draws inspiration from Olympic champion Alysa Liu, whose approach to competition highlights the power of present moment performance and emotional awareness. Lisa explains how mental performance coaching helps athletes stay grounded during pressure moments instead of becoming trapped in results, expectations, or fear of mistakes. Alysa Liu’s journey illustrates how athletes can perform at the highest level when they trust their instincts, respect their bodies, and remain present during competition. Present moment performance allows athletes to stay connected to what they are doing instead of obsessing over scores, placements, or approval from others. Parents also influence how young athletes experience competition. John and Lisa discuss how family values shape the environment around training and performance. Parents often feel pressure to protect children from disappointment, yet mental performance coaching shows that resilience develops when kids learn to face setbacks with support instead of avoidance. This youth sports mindset encourages patience, accountability, and emotional strength. The conversation also addresses body image and the messages young athletes receive about their bodies in dance and sports. Through sports parenting advice and real examples from training environments, John and Lisa encourage parents to create conversations that help children appreciate their bodies and build confidence from within. Mental performance coaching appears throughout the episode as a framework for helping athletes manage pressure, respond to mistakes, and compete with greater awareness. Parents who want a healthier youth sports mindset will hear practical sports parenting advice that supports both performance and well-being. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to Mental Performance Coaching and Youth Sports Mindset 01:27 Alysa Liu and the Power of Present Moment Performance 04:34 Sports Parenting Advice and Building Strong Family Values 08:57 Shifting From Results to a Healthy Youth Sports Mindset 13:00 Present Moment Performance vs Perfection in Competition 20:03 Mental Performance Coaching and Learning From Failure 29:44 Parents, Pressure, and Accountability in Youth Sports 33:05 Alysa Liu and Joy in Competition Connect with Lisa Mitzel: Visit Lisa's website 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