Dad of a Dancer

Brian Johnson

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. DOAD #24: A big week of competitions and auditions - part 2

    3H AGO

    DOAD #24: A big week of competitions and auditions - part 2

    Hello friends! We're back — and this time I brought Atticus with me! 🙌 Last week I teased you about our big week of competitions and auditions, and oh BOY did we have a week. Let's get into it: The competition — aka the night his music cut out mid-solo: * 🎭 Atticus hadn’t competed in two years — and he came back with a solo he choreographed himself * 😬 Before he even got on stage, they called the wrong number and sent another dancer out first * 🔇 About 15 seconds in, the music cut out and the whole room went completely silent * 💪 He didn’t stop, didn’t look at the sound booth, didn’t apologize — he just kept going and improvised through it * 🏆 The judges noticed — several called out his composure in their critiques, and he pulled off a great score! The Zoom audition for a professional ballet academy: * 🩰 He auditioned one-on-one over Zoom with the head of Master Ballet Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona * ⚡ Dealing with mirror delays, glitchy audio, and counting off music in your head — not easy * 📬 We’re anxiously refreshing our email waiting to hear back if he was accepted to the academy — send those good vibes! If he gets in, he’s headed to Scottsdale this summer for intensive training. Did I mention dance is expensive? 💸 👉 Follow along at dadofadancer.com and subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — new episodes every Wednesday! 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

    18 min
  2. DOAD #23: A big week of competitions and auditions

    APR 15

    DOAD #23: A big week of competitions and auditions

    Hello friends! Big week over here — we’ve got a competition AND an audition coming up, so we’ve got a lot on our minds! 🏆 Here’s what our dance consultant has been drilling into us as we prep: Stage entrances and exits matter more than you think: * 🎭 Judging starts the second any part of you is visible on that stage — so don’t just shuffle out there! * 💪 Walk on with confidence and intention — tall chest, proud head — like you came ready to melt some faces * 🚶 After your piece ends, don’t scramble off like you’re apologizing for what just happened — count to five, take a bow, then walk off like a pro * ⚖️ It’s all about balance — don’t look cocky, but don’t look sorry either We’ve also got a big Zoom audition this week: * 🩰 My son is auditioning for a full-time ballet academy * 📅 We’ll find out in about 3-4 weeks if he made it (send good vibes!) * 💸 If he gets in, it means 3+ weeks of intensive summer training (did I mention dance is expensive? Check out this episode in case you forgot :-) Next episode I’m hoping to bring my son on to recap how both the competition and audition went — stay tuned! 🎙️ 👉 Visit dadofadancer.com and subscribe so you never miss an episode — new ones drop every Wednesday! 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

    14 min
  3. DOAD #22: Competition prep tips

    APR 8

    DOAD #22: Competition prep tips

    Hello friends! I’m back with some real talk on getting ready for competition season — and yes, it’s almost time! 🏆 Here’s what’s been on my radar as my teen dancer preps for our first competition of 2026: Physical prep: * 💧 Hydration is everything — and no, Dr. Pepper does NOT count * 🤸 Stretch consistently (not just the night before when you suddenly want your needle back) * 🦴 Chiropractic care made a surprising difference for us — with the right follow-through homework Mental game: * Social media is a blessing AND a curse — let it inspire you, not crush you * I’m encouraging my son to stop competing against every dancer in the room — make some friends out there! * Focus on how far YOU’VE come, not what some other dancer is doing on TikTok My big reminder to him: You’re only 15 once. The cutthroat stuff comes later — enjoy it now! 🙌 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

    15 min
  4. DOAD #21: Dancing in the Dominican

    APR 1

    DOAD #21: Dancing in the Dominican

    Hey friends, we’re back from spring break in the Dominican, and our trip yielded a couple fun dance-related things: * We got to see a phenomenal dance+vocals ensemble that also had a unique stage presence (it made me giggle) * I got to take a salsa class in hopes Atti would join me. But did he? Listen to today’s episode to find out! 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

    11 min
  5. DOAD #20: How to secure your dancer's social media accounts

    MAR 25

    DOAD #20: How to secure your dancer's social media accounts

    Hello friends, today we’re talking about some tips to better secure your dancer’s social media accounts. Since I run a cybersecurity consultancy, I spend most of my waking hours trying to help companies not get hacked. A lot of the best practices they follow to protect their accounts are the same tips you and the dancers in your life should follow as well: * Pick strong passwords * Use a different password for every online account you have (Insta, TikTok, etc.) * Turn on multi-factor authentication everywhere you can 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

    13 min
  6. DOAD #19: Did you download that choreography from the Internet?

    MAR 19

    DOAD #19: Did you download that choreography from the Internet?

    Here’s something that will be super obvious to some people but was a mind-breaker for me when I learned it: you can download dance choreography from the Internet. Today I talk about the first time I saw it “live” (it made my jaw drop) and how my first instinct was to call the dance police and demand some arrests. But as I’m learning years later, this practice is pretty common. 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

    18 min
  7. DOAD #18: Dressing room debacles

    MAR 12

    DOAD #18: Dressing room debacles

    Hello dance friends. Male dancers can be an afterthought at competitions — specifically when it comes to dressing room accommodations. Today I share some frustrating real-life experiences my son and I navigated, from inadequate and unmarked changing spaces to locked doors mid-costume-change. I also recount a particularly painful moment when my son was left out of a final pre-performance rehearsal — and the team's response made it even worse. 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

    24 min
  8. DOAD #17: Why Dance Studio Size and Expertise Matter

    MAR 5

    DOAD #17: Why Dance Studio Size and Expertise Matter

    This may seem obvious, but dance studio class size - and the expertise/education of their staff - matter! All these years at big studio dance, I figured everybody who worked for a studio had professional degrees and experience, which is not the case. So today, I encourage you to keep a close watch on your dancer to ensure they aren’t being swallowed up by large class sizes and potentially limited growth at a big studio. We’ve found that moving away from studio dance was tough from a social standpoint, but 100% worth it to get prepared for college/pro-level experiences. 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

    22 min
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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
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brian Johnson
  • Show Website
    Dad of a Dancer