Claim OwnershipMaking The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast
Subscribed: 81Played: 3,216
Subscribe
© 2025 Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast
Description
Have you ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a dance competition judge? What does it take to impress the people behind the table?
Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz, professional dancer, educator and owner of Impact Dance Adjudicators, and Lesley Mealor, veteran performer and judge, on Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, as they dive into all things dance competition!
Each week, listen as Courtney and Lesley discuss various hot topics with members of the IDA judges’ roster and other special guests in the dance world, from technique, to costumes, to the dreaded question - “Tights…or no tights?” Stay tuned for special spotlight episodes, round table chats and so much more! Weekly episodes launch every Thursday throughout the dance season! @impactdanceadjudicators
268 Episodes
Reverse
Guests - Jeremy Duvall and Lindsey Klein Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 245 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley discuss lyrical dance and its importance with two dance educators known for their love of lyrical. Jeremy Duvall and Lindsey Klein give insight into exactly why lyrical deserves regular training from tiny dancers to adult professionals. Topics Include: A brief history of a lyrical legend, Doug Caldwell, and his ...
Guests - Emily Branigan and Hillary Zbyszinski Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor This throwback episode takes us back to season 3 of Making the Impact, where dance educators and IDA Judges Emily Branigan and Hillary Zbyszinski shared insight about expectations for dance parents. As we head into competition season, enjoy this refresher course on parent etiquette! This episode originally aired on December 30, 2021. Topics Include: How to set the right example for your d...
Guests - Christine Brocious and Megan Woods Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 243 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are joined by podcast fans, dance moms, and fundraising queens Christine Brocious and Megan Woods to talk about the many ways fundraising can help offset the financial burden of competitive dance! Topics Include: Types of fundraising that exist How to determine what type of fundraising would be successful...
Guests: Ryland Early and Danielle Beeman Hosted by Courtney Ortiz Uproar Dance Competition might be newer to the scene, but they have years of experience in the competitive dance world and know a thing or two about what makes a great experience. From their Teacher Oasis and high level production value at the event, to their Uproar Training Scholarship awarded in each city, Uproar offers a unique experience you don't want to miss! Follow Uproar Dance Competition on social media @dance...
Guests - Karli Dinardo and Tatiana Nuñez Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 241 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we take an inside look at a day in the life of a Broadway dancer. Karli Dinardo and Tatiana Nuñez give us the scoop on everything from booking the gig to what it's like to be in a long-running show. Topics Include: The audition process for Broadway How to take care of yourself on two show days and 8 shows a week What othe...
Guests - Drew Burgess and Lisa Curatolo Turpin Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor Today's throwback episode brings us back to 2024 with a conversation about pirouettes! Like we always say on the pod, good technique never goes out of style, and that goes for pirouette technique too! Enjoy this chat with two experts on pirouettes! This episode originally aired on February 22, 2024. Topics Include: How to set yourself (and your students) up for success when teaching pirouett...
Guests - Michelle Leagans and Jessica Olinik Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz In Episode 239 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we hear from two dance educators about the technique and power behind every great jumper! From tour jetés to switch leaps to flying discs, this episode covers your favorite jumps and leaps with helpful hints to take you to new heights! Topics Include: How to achieve maximum suspension in jumps and leaps The proper preparation for a variety ...
Guests - Caleb Dicke and Glenn Kelich Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor This throwback episode of Making the Impact takes us back to 2023 with a conversation about stage fright. Courtney and Lesley discuss their experiences with stage fright with two wonderful guests. Caleb Dicke, professional dancer and IDA judge, and Glenn Kelich, former professional dancer turned mental health professional, remind listeners that they're not alone in struggling with stage fright. This episode...
Guests - Rayne Thiemann and Brionna Trilling Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 237 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we're exploring the ways facial expressions can inform performance quality in competitive dance. Joy, fear, sadness, curiosity and more can all be expressed through the face, and contribute to the success of a piece. IDA judges Rayne and Brionna share their tips and tricks for achieving the most honest and real performance quality in co...
Guest: Samantha O'Neil Hosted by: Courtney Ortiz DECAdance Competition provides a totally unique competition and “un”convention experience, with genre-specific adjudicators, live music at their “un”convention, and complimentary meals for studio owners! On this week's episode of Making the Impact, Courtney sits down with DECAdance Competition owner Samantha Tirone O’Neil to learn more about this incredible company in our first IDA-affiliated Competition Spotlight! Products and ...
Guests - Kiyah Rush, Megan Friedman, Brandi George Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 235 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are excited to learn more about the world of dance convention assistants. Studio owners Megan Friedman and Brandi George join us, along with professional assistant Kiyah Rush to give us the inside scoop on what it takes to land this type of opportunity! Topics Include: The benefits of being a student-level assistant&nb...
Guests - Tracey Boon and Rachel Perlman Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor This season on Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we're throwing it back to episodes we loved from previous seasons! Today on the podcast, we are headed back in time to 2021 with a topic that is still relevant now - how to develop a competitive mindset. This episode originally aired on May 6, 2021. Topics Include: Ideas to encourage the development of a competitive mindset H...
Guests - Lex Dorohoy and Amy Tully Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 233 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we tackle a tricky topic - how many solos does a dancer really need? IDA judges and dance educators Lex Dorohoy and Amy Tully join us to break it down and reveal the ideal number of solos for a successful season. Topics Include: The benefits of doing multiple solos The challenges that come with doing multiple solos What the jud...
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 232 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley hosted a live Q&A in July 2025 at the Dance Teacher Web in Las Vegas! Topics Include: Competition choreography do's and don'ts Inappropriateness at competition How to retain students when the grass might look greener at another studio Help support our podcast! Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your memb...
Guests - James Du Chateau and Lizzy Steirer Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor The winner of the Making the Impact Award fan favorite contest from 2025 was Dance Fusion Performing Arts Studio's routine "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" We are excited to welcome choreographer Lizzy Steirer and competition director James Du Chateau to the podcast to represent Dance Fusion in this studio spotlight episode! Topics Include: Dance Fusion Performing Arts Studio's unique class offerin...
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor Welcome to season 7 of Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast! Courtney and Lesley kick off the new season with a recap of the summer and share some exciting news about what's coming up this year! Topics Include: How we spent our summer months! News & Updates Cover art contest winners for season 7 Making the Impact Award fan favorite contest winner Upcoming episode topic teasers and new features Help support our ...
Guests - Maddie Marcadis & Stephani Sosa Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz In our special summer bonus episode of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney hosted a live podcast event at Streetz Dance Convention's Nationals where parents, students, and teachers joined us for a Q&A alongside some fabulous guests! We loved connecting and meeting so many Making The Impact fans this summer! Topics Include: The significance of versatility and technique in dance trainingThe fi...
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor Season 6 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast is a wrap! We have had such a wonderful year discussing some unique and important topics in the dance industry, and we're excited to reminisce, but also give you a sneak peek at season 7! Topics Include: Favorite episodes of season 6 Info on summer bonus episodes What's new for season 7 Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription ...
Guests - IDA Judges Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 230 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we invited our IDA judges to chime in with their takeaways from the 2025 competition season. These judges have seen it all, from coast to coast, and this season did not disappoint! Topics Include: What your judges LOVED seeing on stage this season Headsprings - the go-to skill of 2025 Pirouette technique and executionCompetition etiquet...
Guest: Peter Chu Hosted by Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor Contemporary dance is a genre that can be hard to define, but what everyone can agree on is that it is one of the most popular styles of dance in the industry. Peter Chu joins us on our final genre spotlight episode of season 6 to discuss the ways contemporary dance has evolved and why it will take ongoing support from the community to allow it to continue. Follow Peter Chu on social media @peterchuthis! Help support ...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States