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© 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
229 Episodes
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Guests - Melanie Brooke Durham, Troy HaywoodHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 209 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we take a journey around the United States to discover the differences we see in each region at competition, and chat about how those differences can impact scoring, perception, and more!Topics Include:Why regional differences still seem to exist even in our global, connected worldStyles that are more prevalent in different parts of the cou...
Guests - Gene Biscontini, Marina StaceyHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 208 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we chat about what it's like to have one of the most unique jobs in the dance industry - working for a cruise line! Our guests have years of experience performing on the high seas, and we can't wait to give you the ins and outs of a day in the life of a cruise ship dancer!Topics Include: Cruise ship auditions and how to book the job Th...
Guest: Dione HamzaHosted By - Courtney OrtizPlatinum Premium Exclusive! To end out the 2024 year strong we are bringing back our popular Q&A with Courtney LIVE episodes! Our Q&A episodes now record monthly for Platinum Premium subscribers only. Dive in to a chat about all things competitive dance with Making the Impact host Courtney Ortiz and special guest IDA Judge Dione Hamza! This episode was recorded in December 2024.Topics include:Difference between movement quality vs movement m...
Guests - Full Circle Boys (Jagger Moon, James Herron, Sean Garrity, Dossan Bell, and Oliver Hincy)Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 206 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we get a glimpse into the lives of The Full Circle Boys! The five members of this boy band started out as competitive dancers, and their music is quickly making its mark in the convention world and beyond! Topics Include:The origin stories of all five members of The Full Circle Boys...
Guests - Shannon Dooling-Cain and Rachel RobertsHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 205 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are diving into a highly requested topic - team building and team bonding. The most successful teams are the ones that work together seamlessly, and that starts with fostering a sense of community and shared commitment to a goal, whether that's to perfect your pirouettes or win first overall. Topics Include:How to avoid a cultur...
Guests - Eddie Strachan and Azuki UmedaHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 204 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we explore the intricate and personal world of choreographing for dance competition with two listener-chosen industry leaders. Eddie Strachan and Azuki Umeda have a wealth of knowledge to share and inspire up-and-coming choreographers and those looking for fresh insight!Topics Include:the differences between choreographing for competition and fo...
Guest - DJ SmartHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 203 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, convention director and professional dancer DJ Smart joins us to share some insider tips on how to stand out at all kinds of auditions, including at conventions, for colleges, and for professional jobs!Topics Include:Why first impressions really do countThings NOT to do at auditionsHow to get out of your head and do your best in any scenario Help support our podc...
Guests - Julie "JJ" Joseph and Khori PetinaudHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 202 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we bring on two seasoned dance industry professionals to debate the merits of the product versus the process in dance, both competitively and professionally.Topics Include: Examples of a product-focused process and why they are important Examples of a process-focused process and why they are important Personal anecdotes abou...
Guests - Dana Moore and MaryAnn LambHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 201 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are introducing a new Spotlight Feature Episode series featuring different genres of dance. Kicking off this series is a subgenre of jazz dance - you know it when you see it - Fosse! With us today are two giants in the industry, MaryAnn Lamb and Dana Moore, to share their invaluable insights into this highly specialized style.Topics Include:&nbs...
Guests - Tommy Scrivens, Jacqueline Baligian, Brionna Trilling, Michelle Tolson, Ashley PeterHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 200 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are joined by some incredible IDA judges and dance educators to answer listener-submitted questions, and celebrate 200 episodes of our show live in person in New York City!Topics Include: How to handle jealousy at the studio What it takes to become a judge Tips for how to be...
Guests - Julia Galloway and Kiera LettsHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 199 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we revisit the sometimes fraught topic of levels at competition. Love them or hate them, levels generate a lot of feelings, and competition host and judge Julia Galloway and choreographer and IDA judge Kiera Letts share theirs with us on this episode!Topics Include: The trouble with in-studio levels and competition levels How to solve ...
Guest - Preston MillerHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 198 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Preston Miller, owner of TDA Prep, gives us a crash course on the best ways to choose summer or winter dance intensives! Whether you are just starting your dance journey or have a few intensives under your belt, this episode delivers crucial information for decision-making!Topics Include: The ideal timeline for researching and choosing intensives The p...
Guests - Katie Lebron and Robert DuranHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 197 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we explore the exciting world of costuming for competitive dance with Robert Duran, costume designer and former studio owner, and IDA judge and dance educator Katie Lebron. Topics Include: How even small details in costuming can affect the way a piece of choreography is perceived Inclusive costuming and how we can continue to do be...
Guests - Cara Dixon and Megan MeierHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 196 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we explore just a taste of the exciting and educational world of anatomy and alignment for dancers! Cara Dixon of Relative Motion and Megan Meier of Oklahoma Performing Arts Collective share their expertise as we scratch the surface of this subject.Topics Include: The importance of working in parallel as well as turn out Hypermobility and ...
Guests - Alicia Mae Holloway and Peter StarkHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 195 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we explore the world of ballet competitions and discover that while there are some differences from the competition atmosphere we're used to, there are more similarities than we thought! Joining us today are professional dancer and judge Alicia Mae Holloway and director of The Rock School For Dance Education, Peter Stark.Topics Include:&nbs...
Guests - Amira Azimi, Cayse Day, Tara IacobucciHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 194 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are joined by dance studio director and IDA Judge Tara Iacobucci and hosts of the Two Dance Moms Podcast, Amira Azimi and Cayse Day, to talk about ways to support your dancer.Topics Include: Best practices for parents on when to intervene and when to let your dancer handle issues themselves Why communication is key for studi...
Guests - Noel Bajandas, Meghan SanettHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 193 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are talking about the IT factor - that elusive, un-teachable element that we all strive for. Our guests Noel Bajandas and Meghan Sanett give us some insight into how to develop the IT factor and wow your audience!Topics Include: What the IT factor is and isn't Does the IT factor have anything to do with perfect technique? Tips to...
Guests: Yolanda Fernandez-Quincoces, Alexis ToledoHosted by Courtney Ortiz & Lesley MealorThe winner of the Making the Impact Award Fan Favorite Contest this summer was "Working Day and Night", a tap routine from Yolanda's Academy of Music & Dance in West New York, NJ. We are excited to share their story on our only Studio Spotlight Feature of Season 6!Follow Yolanda's Academy of Music & Dance on social media @yolandas_academy and learn more on their website: https://www.yolandasa...
Guests - Josh Bergasse, Richard J. Hinds, Sarah MeahlHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 191 of Making The Impact—A Dance Competition Podcast, we are joined by some of the top choreographers in the industry whose choreography was stolen in a scandal that went viral this summer.Topics Include:The details of how it was discovered that multiple choreographers' work was stolen and taught for profit in SpainWhat steps are being taken to raise awareness of the plagiarism problems...
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorSeason 6 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast is finally here! Listen as Courtney and Lesley recap their very busy summers, share some highlights of season 5, and give you a sneak peek into what's in store for season 6!Topics Include: Cover art contest winners for season 6 Making the Impact Award fan favorite contest winner Upcoming episode topic teasersHelp support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium ...
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