Auditions take on a new clarity as John Corella shows how dancers can stay grounded, choose an outfit that supports their presence, rely on their 3 tricks, and move through the journey with steadier confidence.

John talks openly about the pressure dancers feel and the emotional weight parents carry. It raises important questions. What helps someone stay centered in a room full of nerves? How does a dancer build confidence when the result is out of their hands? He explains why courage grows in spaces where dancers can try, fail, and continue without shame. He also breaks down what teachers actually notice, from focus and kindness to an outfit that helps them remember you. His take on improv feels especially helpful. The 3 tricks approach gives dancers something reliable to lean on when the moment feels unpredictable.

Listeners will leave with a clearer sense of the audition journey and the mindset that helps a dancer stay steady through every high and low.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction to Dance and Auditions

03:03 Navigating the Audition Process

05:52 Preparing for Auditions: Tips and Tricks

08:46 The Importance of Presentation and Focus

12:10 Understanding the Audition Environment

15:10 Improv and Showcasing Your Strengths

18:04 Coping with Rejection and Disappointment

20:57 Post-Audition Reflections and Growth

23:50 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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

Yvette Walts opens up about the pressure tied to Dance Moms fame, the panic attacks that surfaced once episodes aired, and the steady purpose that guides her work as a studio owner.

John Corella invites her to revisit the intense reality-TV environment that shaped so much of her early public life, and the conversation turns into an honest look at what happens when you see a version of yourself on screen that doesn’t match who you believe you are. How do you process that kind of shock? What helps you find your footing again? Yvette shares the role her community played as she worked through anxiety and self-forgiveness and she reflects on the difference between reacting in the moment and living with those reactions once millions of people have seen them.

Yvette also brings forward two decades of insight from owning a dance studio and explains how structure, clarity, and genuine care built a space where more than a thousand students feel supported. What does it take to create a place that feels safe for growth? How do you lead with both expectation and compassion? Through stories from AUDC and Dance Moms and through reflections on panic attacks and leadership, this episode shows the resilience required to stay centered in a world that rarely gives you time to catch your breath.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Yvette Walts Joins John Corella

03:08 Behind the Scenes of AUDC

05:48 Reacting Under Stress on Reality TV

07:30 Regret, Self-Forgiveness, and Online Judgment

08:58 Panic Attacks After Seeing Herself on TV

19:47 From Gymnastics to Owning a Dance Studio

25:08 How Dance Moms Impacted Her Business

32:18 How Her Teaching Style Evolved Over Time

48:12 The Systems Behind a 1,100-Student Studio

49:53 Creating a Full Studio Experience

53:25 Advice for Studio Owners on Brand and Culture

01:00:06 Creative Influences and Final Reflections

Connect with Yvette Walts:

Follow Yvette 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

Fifteen years in Wicked collide with grief, queer joy and the quiet rituals that keep a performer brave eight shows a week.

With part two of the Wicked movie now in theaters, John Corella celebrates the moment by revisiting his conversation with Justin Wirick, a longtime dancer with the Broadway National Tour of Wicked. What begins as a lighthearted holiday replay opens into a layered, intimate look at creativity, identity, resilience and the emotional depth woven into performing the same show thousands of times.

Justin shares how ritual, presence and community have sustained him through the demands of touring life, the pressure of staying fresh onstage and the grief of losing his mother. He reflects on the ways Wicked mirrors the lived experiences of queer performers who spend years learning to celebrate the parts of themselves they once hid. This episode is a reminder that the courage to keep showing up for your art and for your truth is its own form of defying gravity.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Welcome and Wicked Movie Celebration

02:00 Justin Wirick on Nerves and Finding His Voice

05:30 Fifteen Years in Wicked and Touring Life

12:44 How Justin Finally Joined Wicked After Three Offers

17:41 Wicked Choreography: Stage vs Film

23:54 Justin’s Rituals for Calming Nerves Before Every Show

37:04 Choosing Joy and Staying Fresh After Thousands of Performances

41:08 Performing Through Grief After Losing His Mom

41:25 Why Wicked Resonates With LGBTQ+ Audiences

54:32 Staying Kind and Grounded in a Tough Industry

01:04:15 Dance Lightning Round and Where to Follow Justin

Connect with Justin Wirick:

Follow Justin 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