208 episodes

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 studio spotlight episodes, round table chats and so much more! Weekly episodes launch every Thursday throughout the dance season! 

Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Impact Dance Adjudicators

    • Arts
    • 4.7 • 240 Ratings

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 studio spotlight episodes, round table chats and so much more! Weekly episodes launch every Thursday throughout the dance season! 

    Season 5 Wrap Up!

    Season 5 Wrap Up!

    Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorSeason 5 of Making the Impact might be over, but we have some fun things in store for you this summer and next season! Thank you for listening and supporting our podcast, and we can't wait for season 6! Mark your calendars - Season 6 launches Thursday, September 5th, 2024!Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-onlyPriority to have y...

    • 38 min
    The 2024 Competition Season - Takeaways From your Judges

    The 2024 Competition Season - Takeaways From your Judges

    Guests - IDA JudgesHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 190 of Making the Impact, we hear from IDA judges around the country about the highs and lows of the 2024 competition season!Topics Include:Favorite themes at competitionTechnique issuesMusic choicesChoreography trendsHelp support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-onlyPriority to have your questions answered ea...

    • 1 hr 19 min
    A Chat with Current College Dance Majors

    A Chat with Current College Dance Majors

    Guests - Joshua Dawson, Mary Hondal and Laci JusticeHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 189 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we hear straight from dancers in three college dance programs - Pace University, University of Alabama, and Point Park University - about what life is like as a dance major! Topics Include: How each program is structured What each dancer wishes they knew before entering their program How their competitive dance c...

    • 1 hr 15 min
    In-House Choreography vs Guest Choreography

    In-House Choreography vs Guest Choreography

    Guests - Suzanne Citere and Amanda Nicole DiTullioHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 188 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, studio owner Suzanne Citere and dance educator and IDA judge Amanda Nicole DiTullio sit down to discuss the pros and cons of using in-house choreographers versus hiring outside choreographers for your dancers. Topics Include:Best practices for hiring outside choreographers and being hired as an outside choreographer Wh...

    • 1 hr 34 min
    Studio Spotlight - Beyond Belief Dance Company

    Studio Spotlight - Beyond Belief Dance Company

    Guest: Justin JohnsonHosted by Courtney Ortiz & Lesley MealorBeyond Belief Dance Company out of Mesquite, Texas, is known for its incredible performance quality, high level of commitment, and unique choreographic concepts. Owned and operated by Justin Johnson (who you may also know as his drag persona, Alyssa Edwards), Beyond Belief Dance Company strives to give the best instruction to each individual student that walks through the door!Follow Beyond Belief Dance Company on Instagram @bey...

    • 1 hr 12 min
    The Transition From Competitive Dancer to Professional Dancer

    The Transition From Competitive Dancer to Professional Dancer

    Guests - Menina Fortunato and Sissa StrainHosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley MealorIn Episode 186 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, industry professionals Menina Fortunato and Sissa Strain give us their best advice for dancers making the transition from the competitive world to the professional world.Topics Include: Things that make you stand out as a beginner in the industry Why networking is so important at the start of your career How to navigate the fea...

    • 1 hr 30 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
240 Ratings

240 Ratings

Dancing queen 🩵 ,

Chase Haley Bowden

I got to take a class from chase haley Bowden recently at revel dance convention and I got to dance in the ending showcase and he choreographed it and it was amazing choreography and a friend at my studio had a big crush on him

Krystin Petrilli ,

Wonderful Information

I can not suggest Making The Impact enough. They cover such a wide variety of topics and their information is both useful and relevant. I like to listen when I'm in the car waiting for my kids.

lmsimmons13 ,

Tackling Fantastic Topics!

Lesley and Courtney- my dancers and I as their mom spend lots of time traveling to and from the studio and this podcast has been so great for all 3 of us in the car and has sparked meaningful conversations about their dance technique, studio policies, polishing their dances, and even tough topics that needed addressing and how we might feel about them. Thanks for making this such a dancer friendly podcast we can all enjoy together to spark so many great conversations that help us all to grow. I’ve recommended you to so many. Keep them coming!

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