EP 14: The Word Homosexual Was Put Into the Bible in 1946

“I really want to encourage everyone to ‘just be.’ That’s kind of been an ongoing theme in this, in my life, and with the podcast.”   John delves into the true meaning of Labor Day, tracing its origins to union workers’ protests and how it has evolved into a day of rest and reflection. How often do we let the noise of daily life drown out the importance of being truly present, both in our everyday interactions and on stage? John challenges us, especially those in the dance community, to pause our busy lives, unplug from social media, and fully immerse ourselves in the moment.   He offers heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support. If you haven’t already, follow Dance Dad with John Corella on Apple, download episodes, and help spread the word. John also invites you to support their Patreon, where you can watch on-camera versions of the episodes for an even richer, more personal experience.   As John reflects on the summer, he recalls the incredible lineup of guests—from Olympic champions to a transgender teen voguer—and the powerful conversations that took place. To all the dance moms, dads, and dancers out there, he encourages you to revisit these episodes as he prepares for the new season of Dance Dad with John Corella.    Quotes “I really want to encourage everyone to ‘just be.’ That’s kind of been an ongoing theme in this, in my life, and with the podcast.” (01:39 | John Corella)  “This week, this weekend, if some of you can’t take time off, maybe you can at least take off Monday and just be, and just be with yourself. Maybe get off social media, maybe avoid the television, and be outside and present. Know that when we practice being present in our daily lives, it becomes easier to do when we are on stage, dancing, acting, or even when we’re trying to create numbers. To access that presence, we have to practice in simple moments. So I hope you all do that today, this weekend.” (03:21 | John Corella)  “I just want to thank you all for your support and listening. This is your podcast. This is our podcast.” (04:17 | John Corella)   Links www.patreon.com/TheonlyDanceDadwithJohnCorella   Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram:  www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella   John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Alisan is the definition of a triple threat,” says host John Corella of today’s guest Alisan Porter. Many know her as an actress from hit movies like 1991's “Curly Sue” or for her impeccable vocal technique that led to her victory on NBC's The Voice in 2016. However, Alisan’s extensive background in and passion for dance is less well-known. In this episode of Dance Dad, Alisan shares her experiences in dance competitions, her efforts in mentoring the next generation of performers, and what it truly means to be a star.   Growing up, Alisan was inspired by her grandmother, the legendary choreographer and teacher Charlotte Klein, who believed in “loving people into the best versions of themselves.” Alisan emphasizes that teachers must set their egos aside, while students need to understand the role of dance in the larger context of life. She also discusses how parents can protect their children in the entertainment industry and how her definition of happiness has evolved over the years.   Tune in as these two former roommates share fond memories and hilarious anecdotes from the dance world, and discover more about Alisan's latest musical release.   Quotes “The more I work with kids and the more I work with their parents, the closer I try to get with them. They’re my family. If I’m helping raise a child in this industry, if it’s my job to be their vocal parent, then I am not allowed to abuse them, and I am not allowed to put myself first. This isn’t about me, this is about helping to guide a very talented child.” (16:12 | Alisan Porter) “You can’t abuse somebody into talent. You’re talented or you’re not. You can shape and mold talent. You can make somebody who’s almost there, there. But you’re not going to scream and yell at someone and make them a star. They’re either a star or they’re not.” (23:48 | Alisan Porter) “I could make you feel. I think that’s ‘it.’ That’s what I mean by ‘it.’ If you can bring someone in and make them feel—I don’t care if you’re not the most technical, the most perfect, the most this or that—if you can bring somebody into your world when you are performing in any capacity, that’s ‘it.’ And I think that’s what I have above anything else, any of my other talents, whether it’s singing, dancing, acting, whatever. When I’m doing those things, I include you.” (34:46 | Alisan Porter)  “You can smell desperation in this industry from a mile away. And I think the grossest, most unappealing thing for me, is to see a child who is phenomenally talented and then to watch their parents doubt that they can have a space.” (39:42 | Alisan Porter) “What matters in life most is to love, to be loved, to wake up every day and have a purpose, to do the things in life that truly make me happy.” (59:40 | Alisan Porter) “Every moment I get to show up for my talent I believe that God gave me…it’s not about the wins anymore, it’s really about digging in and experiencing it.” (1:02:38 | Alisan Porter)   Links Connect with Alisan Porter: https://www.instagram.com/iam_alisanporter https://alisanporter.com/ Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Leave it on the floor. No regrets.” Continuing with Olympic month, host John Corella welcomes Kristie Phillips, 1988 Olympic team member, former national champion, winner of the American Cup to the Dance Dad podcast—and his inner child is screaming. For all of her career achievements thus far, Kristie exemplifies that unlimited opportunities lay ahead—opportunities to learn new things, embrace new experiences and, in turn, provide new opportunities for other people. Today she discusses how she helped to change the sport of gymnastics as an athlete, and later as an athlete representative and an elite judge.   As much as Kristie has won, she also knows what it means to fail—and to be made to feel insignificant as a result. Failure is part of the process and we must know how to deal with it, while remembering that we are enough just as we are. Citing Simone Biles as an example, Kristie and John discuss the changing attitudes toward the health and well-being of athletes in competition, and the importance of inclusivity at all levels, and why gymnastics is the best preparation for life.    Join today’s discussion to hear Kristie talk about her relationship to legendary gymnast coaching duo the Karolyis, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated making a gymnastics comeback ‘late in life,’ and taking up ballroom dancing for the first time.    Quotes “To me it’s kind of the mother of all sports. It embodies grace, power, discipline, perseverance, self-motivation. It’s just every life lesson that you’re going to need in your life, you will experience in the sport of gymnastics at a high level of competition.” (13:23 | Kristie Phillips)  “Everybody’s enough. You’re born enough. And I think as society, we’re so judgmental, and we’re so quick to tear someone down and I wish we could get back into building people up.” (16:15 | Kristie Phillips) “I just enjoyed being out there and performing and making people happy and touching lives. Inspiring people. That’s what I love to do…I love providing for people opportunities—probably my kids would say I like to do that too much—but I just truly enjoy giving to other people and helping them on their journey.” (34:34 | Kristie Phillips)  “I see the big picture now. I think I’ve kind of lived my life with blinders on and kept doing what’s next—what’s next—what’s next and so I’m starting to really enjoy the process and really starting to appreciate the opportunities that life has given me.” (1:01:32 | Kristie Phillips)  “Once you’re there, leave it all on the floor. Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t hold back. Don’t try to save it. Go for it. Go big or go home. And enjoy giving it your all. If you win, you win; if you don’t, you don’t, but there will be no regrets. Leave it on the floor. Put it all out there and enjoy every minute of it.” (1:03:47 | Kristie Phillips)    Links Connect with Kristie Phillips: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristie_phillips_kpac/ Website: www.kpacgym.com   Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“I was born to be a gymnast,” says Daniela Silivas, Olympic gymnastics champion and member of the legendary 1988  Romanian women’s Olympic gymnastics team and 1987 World Championship Gold Medal team. Throughout her career, she mesmerized crowds—including host John Corella—with her unique dance-based technique and her signature move, the Silivas, a staple in many gymnasts’ routines today. Despite her success, she humbly insists the move was just luck, a humility evident throughout this episode of the Dance Dad podcast. Daniela shares how she began in gymnastics, overcame performance nerves, and where she keeps her medals.   Despite being a talented, quick learner and fearless, Daniela emphasizes that talent is nothing without hard work. She details the rigorous training Romanian gymnasts endured, training Monday through Sunday for years before even learning to tumble.   Tune in to hear why Daniela prefers the American approach to gymnastics and who she believes is the next Olympic hopeful.   Quotes “I don’t keep up with my trophies and medals. I think memories are more important than those.” (3:48 | Daniela Silivas)  “Hearing from everybody else that the ’87 team was the best, that’s how we felt. But it wasn’t just one person and then everybody in the team. I think everybody in the team had the same talent, the same routines, the same great gymnastics. It was the whole team that was amazing, and very few teams have that.” (9:26 | Daniela Silivas)  “That’s what makes people great instead of just good: when you do things that you don’t want to, and it’s not fun, but you know you have to do it, and you do it.” (17:58 | Daniela Silivas)  “I don’t feel comfortable talking about my accomplishments. Yes, they were my accomplishments but I feel like they’re mine and I didn’t do them to get that recognition, so I don’t feel really comfortable. People say, ‘Oh, she won a gold medal!’ And I say, ‘Yeah, I did. So?’” (27:16 | Daniela Silivas)  “I was that gymnast that had that extra talent and I learned skills really easily and I wasn’t a kid that was afraid. So, I think I had that perfect combination of working and talent. You cannot do anything—it doesn’t matter how hard you work and how much you want it, if you don’t have that talent, it’s very hard to get to be the best. But, again, you have that talent and you’re not working, then you cannot accomplish or be the best because you have to have a combination of both, and I think I did.” (31:12 | Daniela Silivas)    Links Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“I want to give them what I wish someone had given me,” says former competitive dancer, choreographer, teacher and mentor, Brittany Markle. Now, as a competition judge, she hopes to offer a new generation of dancers more than just a score, but thoughtful guidance and critique. In this episode of Dance Dad, she shares some of her best advice to competitive dancers, how they can stand out and be remembered among a sea of other dancers, many of whom are the best in the country. What’s more, she’ll talk about accepting disappointment, keeping things professional and appropriate and how children can maintain healthy boundaries with judges while still feeling empowered to use their voices.    Brittany explains how she scores points according to category and how she stays organized throughout the long days of a competition. She’ll explain what responsibility dance studios have and where the ethics get blurry. She also shares how her points of view toward dancing as well as toward competitions—which are very different from performance showcases—have evolved.   Tune in to hear Brittany give a live critique of a “mini” dancer and to hear host John Corella reveal what inspired him to co-create Dance Moms.    Quotes “I feel like I have so much understanding and so much patience and so much grace I give kids whenever there’s a mistake that happens or a stumble. I want to give them what I wish someone had given me.” (6:29 | Brittany Markle)  “I love the energy I get back from sitting there and knowing that I’m engaged—and that could be because of the way I grew up—but it’s very honest for me to sit there and watch a kid dance all day long and still have something to say at the end of the day. I feel like there’s always something productive to be giving back.” (11:47 | Brittany Markle)  “My last judging weekend, our highest score of the whole day, which I think is hard to do as there’s a stigma around being number one and being first—not winning first, going on stage first—and I feel like everyone thinks, ‘Ugh. We’re on at 7:00am, this is our best dance. What are we going to do all day long? How are we going to hold on to a high score? Are [the judges] awake?’ And what stuck with me the entire weekend was our first number on stage, and it ended up winning the highest score of the whole competition because of how present they were.” (27:54 | Brittany Markle)    Links Connect with Brittany Markle: https://www.instagram.com/brittmarkle Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“That may be how the Bible reads, but that’s not what the Bible says,” explains award-winning film director and producer Sharon Rocky Roggio of many of the mistranslations within the Book’s scripture which have not only misrepresented the message of Jesus Christ but have been been historically weaponized against marginalized groups, notably the LGBT community.    Today, Sharon joins the Dance Dad podcast to discuss her new film “1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted a Culture,” a documentary which explores the first time that the word “homosexual” was used in the Bible. Through never-before-seen archives from Yale University, the film conveys proof that this was a mistranslation from the original text, which referred more to systems of status and power than sexual identity.    Like host John Corella, Sharon grew up in the Evangelical church, and the two discuss their experiences of coming to terms with what they were taught versus the many questions that they had. The film is not meant to vilify the Church or the Bible, Sharon explains, but to demonstrate the impact and influence of the text, and to encourage new dialogue, reflection, redemption and healing.    Referred to as “the documentary ‘Da Vinci Code,’” the film is also being used as a tool for civic engagement. The team behind the film will be embarking on a 14-city tour of the U.S. called “1946 Road Trip Across America,” and Sharon shares how you can get involved and share the message.    Quotes “I feel people are afraid of the film, at least the ones I mention it to who are anti-[LGBTQ], because they know it’s going to rock their system, and their minds. And we’ve had to do that our whole lives. Our minds were deconstructed when we knew we were gay, so we had to go seek and find.” (7:41 | John Corella) “The Bible was mistranslated, that’s an indisputable fact, but that doesn’t mean that the Bible doesn’t have wonderful things to offer, and different ways to experience community through this religion—not just Christianity, the Bible impacts the three largest religions in the world—and so the takeaway would be, the Bible wasn’t written in English, and how are we using or misusing the Bible to treat one another?” (8:30 | Sharon Rocky Roggio)  “This doesn’t just impact the LGBTQ community. We see how the Bible is misused against women’s rights, we see how it’s being misused against reproductive rights in America, and all of these different things.” (9:51 | Sharon Rocky Roggio) “I kind of look at this as a way to have a voice for the voiceless because I know that there are people like you and I who were able to come out of this at a young age, and call BS, and be able to be OK, and deconstruct and be fine. And there are adults who can make up their own minds, but there are kids who are still being brought into these church buildings and being subjected to these ideas and so I’m going to continue this mission for many people, but I think about them the most.” (32:00 | Sharon Rocky Roggio)    Links https://www.1946themovie.com/ https://www.instagram.com/1946themovie   Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“I loved how free I was,” reflects Ally Marc Jacobs, a transgender teen and emerging star in the worlds of voguing and drag. Inspired by the House of Juicy Couture’s performances and the House of Balmain  on the HBO series “Legendary”, Ally began vogue dancing and quickly became a sensation across social media. She is now a member of both the House of Juicy Couture and House of Marc Jacobs. Today on the Dance Dad podcast, Ally shares insights into the ball culture, her personal journey of coming out, and how both her mainstream and kiki house communities have become like a second family to her.   Ally’s biological family, including her mother Amy—who also joins the podcast—has supported her from the start. Amy discusses the pressures facing Ally as a prominent figure in the trans community, and the scrutiny she faces as a parent.    Ally addresses her experiences with bullies in various settings—from playgrounds to churches and even political arenas—and how she has found a supportive community. Host John Corella highlights the hypocrisy of parents who criticize Amy for 'forcing a lifestyle' on Ally, while they themselves push their children into unwanted activities.   Ally, confident in her identity from a young age—and perhaps even in past lives—is forging ahead fearlessly. Tune in to hear her discuss her love for Beyoncé, Monster High dolls, and her very own dance dad.   Quotes “I like to say a house is your second family, in my eyes. They treat you so well. Whenever you’re down, they bring you up, uplifting, they teach you stuff. Basically, a second family, I’ll say it a thousand times. It’s everything you could hope for in a family. Everything you need. Everything you want.” (8:43 | Ally Marc Jacobs)  “She does not have a coming out story. There was no, ‘Hey, Mom. I need to tell you that I’m trans.’ From the time, again, like she said, from the time that she spoke, from the time that she could form a sentence, she was telling us who she was.” (14:59 | Amy) “Everybody always used to say, ‘Barbie is for the girls. Barbie’s for them. You can’t have that.’ So, I said, ‘OK, now what? I have Monster High dolls. You can’t put a label on them, they’re literally Frankenstein.’” (33:14 | Ally Marc Jacobs) “Do you know how many times I was forced to go to baseball? I hate baseball. Do you know how many times I was asked if I had a girlfriend when I was five years old? I don’t like girls. So, let’s just say you were doing that, it is no different than anybody else, any other parent.” (34:57 | John Corella) “You’re not alone in the situation; you’re not the only one. I know it might feel like you’re the only person that is going through this, but you’re not. There are so many people going through exactly what you’re going through and you just need to find them. You just need to find your people.” (42:37 | Ally Marc Jacobs)   Links Connect with Ally Marc Jacobs: www.instagram.com/allymarcjacobs Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

John Corella, co-creator and executive producer of Dance Moms, takes a moment to thank listeners and share some heartfelt reflections. He announces a brief break before returning for Pride and stresses the importance of taking time to relax and just be. John shares how he reminds his niece that our worth isn’t tied to constant activity, but in simply being. Tune in for a message of gratitude, reflection, and a reminder to be bold and fierce.   Quotes “I just wanted to share this because this week I was going to do a podcast and I felt it wasn’t coming from my why. I felt it was coming from doing in the busyness of society and how at Dancers we have been trained that our worth is in doing. So, this weekend I’m going to take a break, relax, just be. I’m enough, you’re enough.” (00:45 | John Corella) “I tell my niece, she is enough, lying there on the couch doing nothing. She is worthy of love. So that goes for all of you too.” (01:23 | John Corella) “Sometimes being bold is not doing, but being.” (01:40 | John Corella)   Links Learn how you you can support Dance Dad with John Corella https://linktr.ee/dancedadwithjohncorella   To support Dance Dad with John Corella join Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TheonlyDanceDadwithJohnCorella   Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“I teach people to be themselves,” says legendary acting coach Howard Fine, founder of Howard Fine Acting Studio and author of the newly revised “Fine on Acting: A Vision of the Craft.” Howard joins the Dance Dad podcast to discuss how acting puts us in touch with who we really are and, when we approach it with pure intentions and do the necessary work, can set us free.    On today’s episode, he’ll discuss what it takes to be a great teacher and why many fail and give the rest a bad reputation. He’ll discuss the two techniques that divide the acting community, and how to be a supportive parent versus a stage mom.   Howard recalls his appearance on Dance Moms and what his session with Chloe Lucasiak taught him about the importance of authenticity. In an industry that is changing to become more inclusive and diverse, being oneself is more important than ever. He also shares the stunning story of his family’s escape from Poland during the Holocaust, their time spent living in Shanghai and his early days as an artistic, intellectual kid in a family of athletes. He’ll share why athletes–including dancers– often make the best actors.   Join today’s discussion to learn what it was like helping Austin Butler, Golden Globe winner,  prepare to play Elvis, the tradition Diana Ross started that Howard’s students still practice today, and how our inspirations and aspirations change over time.   Quotes “One more crazy, eccentric, neurotic, acting coach—that’s not the profession. It really makes the profession seem silly, and it’s not. Teaching, first of all, is a calling, and the teaching of the craft of acting is a privilege to me.” (7:19 | Howard Fine) “If someone cannot get past their own ego to help someone else—and you get this with actors who sometimes failed at that career, and then are not teaching because they’re called to teach, they’re teaching because they’re trying to make money to survive—they want to get up and demonstrate for the actor rather than encourage the actors instincts, and sometimes are jealous of the actor, jealous of the artist, and that comes out in the critiques.” (12:04 | Howard Fine) “We as human beings are the sum total of our experiences, and so we all have experiences in our lives to draw from. And that’s powerful. It’s the one reason—since we’ve been talking about age—in athletics, an athlete is old by 30. However, in what we do, you have the potential to get better and better with time. Akin to a fine wine, we get to improve with age because real experience deepens us, life deepens us.” (16:41 | Howard Fine)  “That’s one of the hardest things about acting is there’s no separation. You’re not turning in the book report and somebody’s commenting on that, they’re looking at you and they’re looking at everything that is you. That’s why actors have to develop themselves on so many levels—intellectually, physically, all forms of dance, yoga, martial arts, the Alexander technique.” (20:50 | Howard Fine)  “Athletes tend to do very well with me—and I consider dancers athletes—because athletes will stick to something when it’s hard. Athletes will practice, they have work ethic. If you’re a lazy dancer, you can’t get very far. You have to have a work ethic. And so, all of those things are absolutely pertinent to acting.” (40:18 | Howard Fine) “I ask students to see me as a colleague who is there to help them improve their work, not as a guru they’re trying to impress.”  (50:26 | Howard Fine)   Links Connect with Howard Fine: howardfine.com www.instagram.com/howardfinestudio Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Today’s episode of Dance Dad is taking us to church! Reverend Dawn Lynn Check, a Dance Moms “Pre-OG OG,” joins host John Corella to talk about Jesus, the Bible, and the importance of reading between the lines.    Many people misinterpret Jesus as “kumbaya,” explains Dawn (as she prefers to be called), forgetting that he was a human with a variety of emotions, including anger in the face of injustice. Others practice “proof texting” taking snippets of the Word and interpreting it to suit our own ends.    Updates and changes made to different versions of the Bible can also alter the Word’s message, to disastrous ends. The two discuss the inclusion of the word “homosexual,” in the text—a change which was made only in 1946—and the implications of that change to generations of people. They also discuss the importance of standing up for what’s right even when we’re scared or facing persecution.    Dawn shares what she loves most about Jesus, what led her to ministry, and early memories of reading Bible stories with her grandmother. Stay until the end for a surprise special guest and to join Dawn in loving prayer.    Quotes “Sometimes we picture Jesus as this kumbaya character—kind, gentle Jesus. The reality is Jesus had a lot of emotions. But we have softened Jesus to the point that he doesn’t have power, and power doesn’t mean beating people up, or stomping on them or lording it over them—pun intended, maybe.” (5:45 | Dawn Lynn Check) “I think the word of God should be as accessible as it can be, however, to your point, you should always struggle with the Word. If you’re not struggling, you’re not doing it right.” (11:21 | Dawn Lynn Check) “As a disciple of Christ, throwing the tables, it’s my job as a disciple to talk to people and say, ‘Those tables need to be overturned.’ And by sitting here talking about it with you, I’m kind of saying, ‘This isn’t right.’ [Donald Trump] is profiting off of those bibles for his criminal and political campaign. That’s not right.” (14:56 | Dawn Lynn Check) “I have never felt such love, such completeness as listening to the word of God on my grandmother’s lap.” (16:29 | Dawn Lynn Check) “We are so uncomfortable with sexuality and sex, and there is so much sex in the Bible. You know, we’re banning books. Have we banned the Bible?” (30:40 | Dawn Lynn Check) “I don’t think people realize that I was the funny one. If you talk to any of them, I was the one that made them laugh.” (35:10 | Dawn Lynn Check) “I love that Jesus allows himself to be weak, and allows us to participate in our own redemption.” (38:02 | Dawn Lynn Check) “How do we stand up for what’s right, what’s good when we feel scared God isn’t going to protect us and we’re going to be put up on that cross? Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, ‘Do it, even if you’re shaking.’” (38:27 | Dawn Lynn Check)   Links   Connect with Reagan Check:  www.instagram.com/Regancheck   1946 the Movie: https://www.1946themovie.com/ Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/ John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/ Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm