Jenna Dewan Cheers on Daughter Everly at Irish Dance Competition

Jenna Dewan recently gave fans a glimpse into her life as a dance mom, sharing her 12-year-old daughter Everly’s preparation for an Irish dance competition. The 44-year-old actress and dancer documented the early morning routine on Instagram, joking about applying “instant tanner” at 7 a.m. – a testament to the dedication both mother and daughter have for this pursuit. This behind-the-scenes look showed a different side of parenting for the Step Up star, who later proudly posted videos of Everly confidently performing her formal routine. The moment highlighted the special bond between mother and daughter, with Dewan’s professional dance background now serving her well in a supportive parental role. As a mother of three – Everly with ex-husband Channing Tatum, and son Callum (5) and daughter Rhiannon (1) with fiancé Steve Kazee – Dewan continues to balance her career while nurturing her children’s individual interests and talents.

What makes Everly’s passion for Irish dancing particularly interesting is how it diverges from her parents’ dance backgrounds. Both Dewan and Tatum have impressive dance credentials – Dewan began as a backup dancer for artists like Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, and Pink before landing her breakthrough role in the 2006 film Step Up, while Tatum showcased his talents in the same movie and later in the Magic Mike franchise. Despite these influences, Everly initially showed no interest in following her parents’ footsteps. In a 2022 interview with Us Weekly, Dewan revealed their long-running family joke about how surprising it was that a child of two dancers seemed uninterested in dance. However, Everly eventually found her own path into the world of movement through Irish dancing – something neither parent had experience with. “She was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I want to do that,'” Dewan explained, noting that her daughter approached the discipline with serious dedication. “She loves it. We are in it to win it… in her own way. That’s very Evie. She wants to do things in her own unique way. It’s so cool.”

Dewan has consistently emphasized allowing her children to discover their own interests rather than pushing her passions onto them. This parenting philosophy reflects her respect for her children’s autonomy and individual personalities. While Everly has forged her own path with Irish dancing, Dewan has noticed that her son Callum seems to have inherited some natural rhythm, possibly from his father Steve Kazee, who has an impressive musical theater background and even won a Tony Award for his performance in Once. “He already has a bit of an inclination for rhythm and music,” Dewan shared about Callum, though she maintained that she wouldn’t pressure him to pursue dance. “I’m very big on not pushing [my interests] on my kids because I want them to find what they’re uniquely interested in. But yeah, they’re finding it.” This balanced approach to parenting reflects Dewan’s thoughtfulness about allowing her children room to grow into themselves while still sharing aspects of her professional world with them when they express interest.

The story of Everly’s dance journey exists within the context of her parents’ high-profile relationship and subsequent divorce. Dewan and Tatum met on the set of Step Up in 2006, married in 2009, and announced their separation in 2018, finalizing their divorce in 2019. Both have generally maintained privacy regarding their split, though Tatum recently opened up to Variety about the challenges they faced. “Jenna and I are good now, but it was a painful break to have that fall apart, especially being so young,” the actor acknowledged. “We tried to keep it together, tried for a year and a half… It’s in the past.” Tatum also expressed the difficulty of co-parenting arrangements, saying, “It’s really tough not to have your daughter half the time. I wish I could just have her all the time.” These candid comments provide insight into how both parents have worked to maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship for Everly’s benefit, despite the personal challenges they faced during their separation.

Following their divorce, both Dewan and Tatum moved forward with their lives while prioritizing Everly’s well-being. Tatum had relationships with singer Jessie J and later actress Zoë Kravitz, though both partnerships eventually ended. Meanwhile, Dewan found love with actor and musician Steve Kazee, announcing their engagement in February 2020. Their family expanded quickly, welcoming son Callum in March 2020 and daughter Rhiannon in June 2024. The couple shared their joy about their newest addition in a heartfelt birth announcement: “From the moment you arrived, you have brought immense joy and love into our lives… your gentle grace, sweetness, and beauty have captivated our entire family. Our hearts are overflowing with love, and we are truly blessed by your presence. Welcome to our world baby girl.” This growing blended family represents a new chapter for Dewan, who continues to balance her professional career with her expanding role as a mother to three children.

Everly’s Irish dance competition serves as a beautiful metaphor for how children of celebrities often forge their own paths distinct from their famous parents. While having two professionally trained dancers as parents could have created pressure to follow directly in their footsteps, Everly instead discovered her own unique passion. Dewan’s support of this independent choice demonstrates her commitment to nurturing her daughter’s authentic self-expression rather than imposing expectations based on her own career. As Everly continues to develop her skills in Irish dancing – complete with early morning tanner applications and formal performances – she exemplifies how the next generation often takes unexpected and personally meaningful directions. Meanwhile, Dewan continues to evolve in her own journey, balancing her identity as a performer with her role as a mother who celebrates each of her children’s individual talents and interests. Through social media glimpses into these family moments, fans witness not just the glamorous side of celebrity life, but the universal experiences of parenting, growth, and finding joy in supporting children’s passions – even when that means applying instant tanner at the crack of dawn.