I’m a dad of a male teen dancer

My son was part of a competitive dance team for almost five years before having to take a break (full story coming soon). During that time, he was blessed to receive top-notch training from some fantastic teachers, form close bonds with some wonderful teammates and their families, and experience amazing periods of growth in his dance abilities.

But this experience has had its share of struggles:

• Bullying

• Exclusion

• Environments where people are used to dance teams being comprised of only females, and don’t necessarily welcome males

• Competitions where considerations for male dancers were an afterthought, or forgotten altogether

• Mental health challenges

Some of these challenges are just part of being on a competitive dance team, and probably can’t be changed. Others absolutely can change - and should.

In this Substack, I’ll share my experiences being the dad of a male teen dancer, and how my wife and are supporting him - both as a dancer and a young man.