Dad of a Dancer

Brian Johnson
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture
  • Weekly

A dad’s perspective on raising a teen dancer — and figuring out how to support him in spaces where males are often the minority. www.dadofadancer.com

  1. 4d ago

    DOAD #50: Can dance be competitive AND kind?

    Atticus just survived an all-night studio lock-in complete with a party bus, a mentor/mentee runway show, and a Sharpie goatee - and it got me thinking about whether a dance studio can be fiercely competitive and genuinely kind. I’m slowly learning the answer is yes. 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

    DOAD #50: Can dance be competitive AND kind?

  2. Oct 22

    DOAD #49: Remembering Atti’s grandpa John

    Hey friends, today I’m taking a bit of a break from our regular topics and spending a few minutes talking about my dad (Atti’s grandpa) John. He passed away in June, and would’ve been 90 years old today. He was a cop and pilot - about as far away from the dance world as a guy can get - yet he never stopped being curious about Atti’s passion. 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

    DOAD #49: Remembering Atti’s grandpa John

  3. Oct 14

    DOAD #48: Is your studio as inclusive as it should be?

    This episode features a story of our studio being incredibly warm and inviting to dancers of all abilities. It also reminded me how differently our old studio handled the exact same request, and I’m still mad at myself for how I let that slide. 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

    DOAD #48: Is your studio as inclusive as it should be?

  4. Oct 8

    DOAD #47: How to organize your dancer's crazy calendar with AI

    WARNING! This episode is very, very geeky and super, super nerdy. I talk about how you can use Notion, Claude and NotionToCalendar to keep your dancer’s crazy calendar up to date and synched up on everybody’s phone with ease! 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

    DOAD #47: How to organize your dancer's crazy calendar with AI

  5. Oct 1

    DOAD #46: Dad of a dance teacher

    I'm recording this one from a parking lot across the street from where my son now works as a dance coach, which makes me a dad of a dance teacher! When Atti stepped away from studio dance and landed at a tumbling and fitness gym, he worried his skills would slide and he'd be bored out of his mind. Instead, he found a boss who is a ray of sunshine in human form, a room full of loud little kids eager to learn from him, and some huge personal growth opportunities. Tune in to hear why stepping outside your studio's four walls might be one of the best things you do for your dancer. 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

    DOAD #46: Dad of a dance teacher

  6. Sep 24

    DOAD #45: The emotional bank account

    At our new studio's kickoff meeting, one announcement made my wife and me snap our heads toward each other and gasp out loud. (If you've ever hunted for a missing sock at 6 a.m. before a competition, you'll understand why.) I also share a concept I learned about years ago called the "emotional bank account," and how it can help you figure out how your own studio relationship is really going. Check out all the posts at dadofadancer.com, and subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to rad podcasts. 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

    DOAD #45: The emotional bank account

  7. Sep 17

    DOAD #44: First impressions of our new studio

    * A recap of week one at our new studio, plus the parent meeting I was dreading and ended up loving * The dancer/parent contract I actually read this time, including the one line that made me laugh out loud * Why you might not realize it's time to shop for a new studio until you finally step outside the old one 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

    DOAD #44: First impressions of our new studio

  8. Sep 10

    DOAD #43: A better way to do dance solos

    A while back I griped on here (episode #6) about how solos usually get built: you sign up, you get a time slot, you walk in, and a choreographer hands you a song and eight counts and off you go. This week Atti came home from his first solo rehearsal at the new studio and said five words that stopped me in my tracks. * 🎵 “We’re not done with it yet” — and why that’s the best sentence I’ve heard all season * 📱 A voicemail on the way to school that visibly changed my kid’s posture (yes, teenagers still use voicemail) * 🌱 My honest disclaimer about the puppy-dogs-and-ice-cream phase of a new studio * 🍗 The dancer breakfast of champions that had me reaching for the Pepto (I’ll post a photo soon) I’m not saying every dancer needs a say in their music and choreography. Plenty of families want to show up, learn the piece, and go compete, and there’s zero shade in that. But for the kids who have opinions about what moves them, watching what collaboration does to them is something else entirely. Give it a listen, and let me know how your studio handles solos — I’d love to hear it. More at dadofadancer.com, or find Dad of a Dancer wherever you get your podcasts. 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

    DOAD #43: A better way to do dance solos
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About

A dad’s perspective on raising a teen dancer — and figuring out how to support him in spaces where males are often the minority. www.dadofadancer.com

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Johnson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brian Johnson
  • Show Website
    Dad of a Dancer