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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
243 Episodes
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Guests - Mandy Yip and Malece Miller Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 223 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are joined by two amazing acro specialists, professional dancer and educator Malece Miller, and founder of Acrobatic Arts, Mandy Yip, to discuss how to keep the artistry in acro dance. Topics Include: A brief history of acro and acro-dance Why safety is the primary concern when inserting acro into dance routinesWhy teaching cur...
Guests - Leslie Scott Zanovitch and Dr. Christina "Dr. T." Donaldson Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 221 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are shining a light on an uncomfortable topic - the over-sexualization of kids in the competitive dance world. Please take care when listening, and screen this episode before listening with children. Topics Include: What counts as sexualized choreography? How over-sexualization of children at a y...
Guests - IDA Judges Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 220 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we devote a full episode to the conversation that seems to never end in the competitive dance world - to wear two shoes, one shoe, or no shoes? Our IDA judges chime in with their thoughts and we (try to) look at the opposing point of view! Topics Include: The variety of reasons to wear two shoes Why dancing barefoot can be beneficial A few ar...
Guests: Bonita "Bgirl Bonita" Saldana and London "Bboy London" Reyes Hosted by Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor Our Genre Spotlight series continues with a conversation about the history, culture, and importance of breaking. Our guests are two giants in the field - Bgirl Bonita, studio owner and Team USA Breaking Olympic coach, and Bboy London, member of the NYC Breakers and breaking expert. Follow Bgirl Bonita @bgirlbonita and Bboy London @bboylondon on social media and be sure to chec...
Guests - Jessica Butler and Madeline Massingill Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 218 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, our "Day in the Life" series continues with a deep dive into the world of NFL cheerleading! These talented performers share what it's like to represent some of the country's biggest teams, and how they got there! Topics Include: The audition process and expectations for NFL cheerleaders What other responsibilities you h...
Guests - Kate Pagano and Andrew Wilson Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 217 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we take a look at what it's like to recover from a dance injury. Guests Kate Pagano and Andrew Wilson, alongside your hosts Courtney and Lesley, share their personal experiences and advice for how to cope with an injury both mentally and physically. Topics Include: How to stay motivated while you are injuredWhat changes might occur in...
Guests - Casey Carruthers and Amanda LaMotte Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 216 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are discussing the sacrifices that must be made to succeed as a dance industry professional. From lifestyle sacrifices to personal sacrifices, your hosts and guests get real about what it actually takes, and whether or not it was worth it (spoiler alert - it was). Topics Include: The struggles many dancers go through j...
Guests - Joseph Corella and Alex Frohlinger Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 215 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we're chatting about first and final impressions when performing on a competitive stage! Entrances and exits may seem small, but our guests are here to tell you why they make a big difference! Topics Include: Choreographed vs unchoreographed entrances and exits Why both entrances and exits matter to the overall feel of your...
Guests - Lori Fields and Andrea Zerilli Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 214 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we chat with two dance educators who have had the unique experience of having their own children (and in Lori's case, her grandchildren!) as students in the dance studio! Topics Include: If favoritism is really a thing when your child is on the team Challenges faced by dance teachers who teach their own children Advi...
Guests - Miranda Spada and Kyrie Kowalik Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 213 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we discuss some of the behind the scenes etiquette that is expected from dancers, parents, and audience members at competition with IDA judges and dance educators Miranda Spada and Kyrie Kowalik. Topics Include: the "why" behind some dressing room etiquette rules backstage etiquette tips to remember unexpected rules for t...
Guests - Crystal Mann-Hollinger and Jody Reynard Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 212 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, diversity and representation take center stage as we discuss why it's so important to have a well-rounded judging panel. Topics Include: The different kinds of diversity we should see on a panel of judges - style specialty, gender, age, race, and backgroundWhat it's like to feel un or under-represented in danceWhat having a diver...
Guests: Angela Carter and Caleb Teicher Hosted by Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor In the second Genre Spotlight episode of Season 6, we are joined by two tap dance professionals to get specific about rhythm tap (if there were such a thing). Tune in to hear more about that caveat! Topics Include: Why there might feel like there is a difference between tap stylesWhat judge or audience expectations there might be when attending a regular dance competition with a tap danceWhy tap dance so...
Guests - Emily Williams, Robb Gibbs Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 210 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are joined by IDA judge Robb Gibbs and mindset coach Emily Williams to bring back a popular and important topic in the dance world - winning and losing. Both are bound to happen for all dancers, so how can you prepare for each scenario to win or lose gracefully? Topics Include: How losing can be a motivator The role of parents, ...
Guests - Melanie Brooke Durham, Troy Haywood Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In 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 o...
Guests - Gene Biscontini, Marina Stacey Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In 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 jo...
Guest: Dione Hamza Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz Platinum 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 move...
Guests - Full Circle Boys (Jagger Moon, James Herron, Sean Garrity, Dossan Bell, and Oliver Hincy) Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In 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 Ci...
Guests - Shannon Dooling-Cain and Rachel Roberts Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In 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 ...
Guests - Eddie Strachan and Azuki Umeda Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In 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 competiti...
Guest - DJ Smart Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In 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 supp...
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