Dancing with the Stars

She is the artistic director of the New England Dance Ensemble in Manchester, New Hampshire. She learned the art as a boarding student in Chester, England.

Barbara made sure her three children – Dan, Patrick and Katie – had an eye for the arts and an ear for classical music. “The boys danced. Being from Wales, I just felt they needed that exposure. We don’t find it weird (in England) for boys to dance. Here in America, there’s a social stigma attached to it and it’s not a cool thing to do.”

While at the same time raising her three children, her family hosted dancers from around the world, including the English National Ballet, the Royal Ballet, and the National Ballet of Madrid.

Not only did all three children learn to dance, they also learned to play musical instruments. The oldest of the three, Dan, learned to play the piano. In fact, he became somewhat of a novice concert pianist.

When he was growing up, Dan and his brother also enjoyed playing with the other boys. Especially football. They were the only brothers in their neighborhood who practiced ballet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and practiced football on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning.

By the time Dan was in high school, he was the quarterback for Trinity High School. They would win the state championship that year.

Dan reflects that “ballet involves great athleticism and flexibility. When you watch some world class dancers and watch their ability, it is pretty impressive. Dance and football are very similar with commitment, dedication and the amount of people involved. It requires a tremendous amount of teamwork.”

Dan continued his passion for football, but never gave up his love for dance. Playing tight end at Ursinus College, he became hard-nosed as well.

Being from New Hampshire, he became good friends with Chip Kelley, head football coach at Oregon, and Gary Crowton, coordinator at LSU. The three of them became known in football circles as “The New Hampshire Mafia.”

Dan became a part of Urban Mayer’s staff at Utah, and followed him to Florida, where he became offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Then, in December 2008, he was hired to replace Sylvester Croom as the Head Football Coach of Mississippi State.

His name is Dan Mullen. And on Saturday, he brings his maroon clad bulldogs into Jordan-Hare Stadium to face the Auburn Tigers.

He hasn’t given up playing the piano, but now he also plays a cowbell. And being the head football coach at an SEC school isn’t a bad gig. I guess you might say that now, he is dancing with the stars.
WJLaneSR