New Memoir Offers Insider View of Competitive Dance Through a Father’s Eyes
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) April 24, 2014 -- The first insider’s look at the competitive dance world written from a father’s point of view debuts today in paperback and ebook formats, coinciding with the 33rd annual National Dance Week celebration throughout the U.S.
All In, My Amazing Journey As a Dance Dad by Tim Colley explores the highs and lows of one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. today. Colley blends personal experience and behind the scenes observations of the sometimes harsh “glamour industry” realities with practical advice to parents seeking ways to be more involved in their children’s lives. The 210-page book’s male perspective stands out in an industry historically dominated by women and a dance-obsessed public that has made “Dance Mom” a new entry in traditional and urban dictionaries alike.
“Dance parents spend anywhere from several hundred dollars to well into five figures a year on studio enrollment, private lessons, costumes and competitions,” Colley said. “But being a true dance parent involves much more than just writing checks. My book hopefully speaks for dance dads like me who know that it’s all about doing everything you can to help your child pursue a dream.”
Parents like Colley have helped turn competitive dance in the U.S. into a billion-dollar industry that is expected to see steady growth over the next five years, according to reports by leading market analysts. The popularity of such television programs as “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Dancing With the Stars” and “Dance Moms” can be credited in large part to that growth, which includes:
- More than 8,000 dance studios currently offer classes to an estimated 1.5 million U.S. students, the majority of them children and adolescents.
- The top dance competition promoters report multi-million dollar annual revenues.
- Dance wear and accessory retailers struggle to keep up with demand for their products.
- Hotels and restaurants in national and regional competition cities are filled to capacity during event weekends.
- Even the schools where many of these competitions are held make money renting auditoriums and gymnasiums to event sponsors.
“The trickle-down economics of the competitive dance industry extends all the way down to vendors selling tee shirts outside event venues,” Colley said. “Everybody wins but at its heart, I still consider dance to be a family affair that creates a strong bond between parents and children. That’s what I’ve tried to convey in All In.”
About the Author
First-time author Tim Colley is a devoted husband, father, son and brother, as well as an avid golfer, professional sports fan and baseball trivia buff. He lives with his wife and daughter in Alexandria, VA.
All In, My Amazing Journey As a Dance Dad is available in paperback and the leading eBook and mobile device formats at http://www.dancedadtim.com, http://www.booklocker.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com and http://www.amazon.com.
To request a review copy: Betsy Gilbert - betsygilbert91(at)gmail(dot)com
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJTQ4ApZsMI
Betsy Gilbert, +1 (254) 897-7311, [email protected]
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