We’re looking forward to introducing you to Julien J Marion. Check out our conversation below.
Julien J, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
With six kids it really depends on if it’s summer or if it’s during school time lol
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey there! I’m Julien Marion — husband, dad of six, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Move Dance Family in Richmond, Texas, with my wife Mallorie. At Move, we’re all about creating more than just dancers — we’re building a true family. Most studios want you to drop your kids off and leave, but we encourage parents to stay, connect, and be part of a bigger community.
Our studio is faith-led, with values rooted in love, service, and honoring every person who walks through our doors. For us, dance is just one piece of the puzzle that makes up a dancer’s life — not the whole puzzle. We absolutely strive for excellence, but we also work hard to keep the right balance, honoring kids and families as people first.
As a member of our studio, you get more than just weekly classes — you get access to free camps throughout the year, including summer, Christmas, New Year’s, and spring break, plus parents’ nights out and ways to build friendships that go far beyond the dance floor. We also produce a professional Nutcracker during Thanksgiving week and a children’s ballet each spring, giving dancers the chance to shine on stage at a high level. On top of that, we honor and teach all styles of dance, helping kids discover their own unique voice and creative expression.
Beyond the studio, I’m deeply involved in coaching and speaking, working with married entrepreneur dads to help them lead at a high level both at home and in their businesses — without losing themselves or feeling like they’re just a wallet. Whether it’s a family in the studio or a dad reclaiming his purpose, my mission is the same: to build spaces where people can grow, connect, and truly live. That’s what lights me up every single day.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was someone who always said I’d never settle for a 9-to-5. Deep down, I knew I was called to build something bigger, to lead, and to make an impact. But somewhere along the way, life pulled me into that “safe” path — working a corporate job even though we had already launched the studio. I wasn’t fully in. I felt torn because I had three kids at the time, and I thought, “God, how can I make this leap when I have a family counting on me?”
That’s when I got a sign, plain as day. It was the verse: “ go out and lunch into the deep cast down your nets, and they will be full.” It was God’s way of telling me to trust, to go all in, and stop living halfway. That verse gave me the courage to leave what was secure and jump fully into entrepreneurship, into the mission I was made for.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been many times I almost gave up. When we started the studio back in 2013, we had two kids, and every couple of years, we added another child to the mix. Life has been exciting and adventurous — but also deeply challenging. That’s a big part of why I now coach married entrepreneurs: because I know firsthand what it takes to lead at a high level in business — to protect, provide, and serve — and to show up as a strong, loving husband and father at home.
It’s not easy, and there were so many moments where, on the outside, I looked composed and confident, leading the business and the family. But inside, I felt alone. I didn’t feel like I could share what was really happening in my heart. Those moments of isolation and quiet struggle were some of the hardest.
I see it, too, with the dads in our studio — men who show up daily, sometimes feeling like they’re just a wallet, or searching for a sense of community beyond sports or the same old routines. That’s why I’m so passionate today about helping other men navigate that same tension, so they don’t have to go through it alone.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They’d say what really matters to me is leaving a legacy built on faith, family, and community. They’d say I’m committed to creating spaces — whether at home, at the studio, or in my coaching — where people feel seen, valued, and challenged to grow. They’d tell you I believe in leading boldly but with a servant’s heart, putting God first, and staying all in on my purpose.
My friends know I’m someone who refuses to settle for surface-level success. I’m after something deeper: raising my kids to know who they are, building a marriage that lasts, helping other men break through the walls that keep them stuck, and pouring into a community that feels like home.
They’d say I’m passionate about excellence, but never at the cost of what truly matters — the relationships, the faith, the sense of belonging. That’s what drives me every single day.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people tell the story of a man who was relentlessly all in — who loved God, his wife, and his kids with everything he had, and who showed up with courage and consistency. I want them to remember someone who created spaces where people felt seen and safe to grow, whether that was in the studio, at home, or through my coaching.
I hope people tell the story of a husband and dad who wasn’t afraid to do hard things, to lead boldly, and to own his mistakes — and who always kept coming back to faith and family as his anchor. I want them to say I inspired men to believe they could be successful without losing themselves, and that I helped build a community where people belonged and could thrive.
At the end of the day, I’d want my legacy to be about love, service, and purpose — a life spent lifting others up and pushing them toward who they were truly created to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.movedanceandfitness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movedancefamily
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/movedancefamily
- Youtube: @movedancefamily
