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:
Connect with John Corella:
Follow Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram
Join Dance Dad with John Corella on Patreon
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
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