Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

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**Making The Impact – A Dance Competition Podcast**

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

Latest Episodes:

Celebrating 200 Episodes Live in NYC with IDA Judges! 🎉 Nov 07, 2024

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Guests - Tommy Scrivens, Jacqueline Baligian, Brionna Trilling, Michelle Tolson, Ashley Peter

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In 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 better portray different emotions in dance

Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Season 4 & 5. No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Tommy Scrivens - @tommytoes7
Brionna Trilling - @brietrills
Jacqueline Baligian - @jacksbquik
Michelle Tolson - @michelletolson
Ashley Peter - @ashleypeternyc

Thank you to our sponsors who donated giveaway prizes for our listeners:

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance It! is the ultimate charades-style dance game where players watch and copy GIF moves while others guess!
Download Dance It! now on the App Store and Google Play, and discover your dance.

Join our FREE Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Follow Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Levels at Dance Competitions - The Conversation Continues Oct 31, 2024

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Guests - Julia Galloway and Kiera Letts

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In 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 the "dancing down" problem
Skills vs hours to determine levels

Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Seasons 4, 5 & 6. No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Julia Galloway - @Littlejewlia
Kiera Letts - @Miss_Kiera28

This episode is sponsored by:

Join our FREE Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Follow Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Intensive Talk - Strategies For Choosing the Right Dance Intensive Oct 24, 2024

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Guest - Preston Miller

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In 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 pros and cons of different types of intensives
The real talk about what kinds of intensives are worth attending

Help support our podcast! Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Season 4, 5 & 6. No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Preston Miller - @tdaprep

Check out our guest’s current projects!

Visit www.tdaprep.com for more information about their student and parent programming!

This episode is sponsored by:

Francisco Gella Dance Works
Educational and developmental programs, intensives, and seminars designed to empower students, parents, educators, and artists.
Register now for an upcoming intensive, workshop or seminar!
Relative Motion - Injury Prevention apparel, teacher trainings, and in-studio workshops to transform your technique while preventing injuries.
Receive 10% off any apparel/program purchase or $500 off workshop pricing with the code: IMPACT10
Capezio - Get a free “Everyday Dance Duffle” bag with any purchase! To redeem, add the Everyday Dance Duffle style #B246 to your cart and use code IMPACT at checkout, while supplies last.
DecaDance Competition - IDA Affiliated Competition
View their 2025 tour dates and register now!

Join our FREE Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Follow Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Costumes for Dance Competitions - Creating the Total Package Oct 17, 2024

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Guests - Katie Lebron and Robert Duran

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In 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 better
Catalog costumes vs custom costumes

Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Seasons 4, 5. & 6 No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Katie Lebron - @katie.lebron
Robert Duran - @rduran5678

This episode is sponsored by:

Francisco Gella Dance Works
Educational and developmental programs, intensives, and seminars designed to empower students, parents, educators, and artists.
Register now for an upcoming intensive, workshop or seminar!
www.franciscogelladance.com
Capezio
Leaders in the dancewear industry since 1887.
Visit CAPEZIO.COM and get a free “Everyday Dance Duffle” bag with
any purchase. To redeem, add the Everyday Dance Duffle style #B246 to your cart and use code IMPACT at checkout, while supplies last.
Michelle Leagans's "Hey Dancers...Let's Talk About It!" Journal
A journaling companion for dancers to thrive as students and team members.
Available for purchase on Amazon!
www.letstalkaboutdance.com

Join our FREE Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Follow Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

All About Anatomy For Competitive Dancers Oct 10, 2024

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Guests - Cara Dixon and Megan Meier

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In 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 the dangers of going too far
Understanding alignment early on in dance training

Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Season 4, 5, & 6. No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Cara Dixon - @relativemotiondance
Megan Meier - @thedancerdoctor

Check out our guest’s current projects!

The Oklahoma Performing Arts Collective is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of performing artists in our region and beyond. Sign up for membership here!
Check out Relative Motion's Online Teacher Trainings:
Tiny Technicians (ages 3-8)
The Props Advantage (integrating prop training into technique classes)

This episode is sponsored by:

Join our FREE Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Support the show

The Ballet Competition Experience Oct 03, 2024

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Guests - Alicia Mae Holloway and Peter Stark

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In 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:

A brief history of ballet competitions
How ballet competitions are judged and what to expect at the event
What differences exist between the commercial competition industry and the ballet competition industry

Help support our podcast! Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Seasons 4, 5 & 6. No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Alicia Mae Holloway - @aliciamaeholloway_
Peter Stark - @rockschooldance

Check out our guest’s current projects!

See "The Classic Nutcracker" performed by an international cast of award-winning artists from The Rock School December 6-8 at The Miller Theatre in Philadelphia, PA

This episode is sponsored by:

YoungArts
Applications are open for the 2025 National YoungArts Competition, available for artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Deadline to apply is October 17th, 2024 at 8pm . Learn more at www.YoungArts.org
Francisco Gella Dance Works
Educational and developmental programs, intensives, and seminars designed to empower students, parents, educators, and artists.
Register now for an upcoming intensive, workshop or seminar!
http://www.franciscogelladance.com

Join our FREE Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Follow Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

How To Support Your Dancer - From Studio To Stage Sep 26, 2024

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Guests - Amira Azimi, Cayse Day, Tara Iacobucci

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In 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 studio owners, directors, and dance parents
How support for your dancer can look different through the years

Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Season 4, 5 & 6. No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Tara Iacobucci - @taraiacobucci
Two Dance Moms Podcast - @twodancemomspodcast

Check out our guest’s current projects!

Season 3 of Two Dance Moms Podcast just released! Be sure to follow them on social media and listen wherever you get your podcasts!

This episode is sponsored by:
Francisco Gella Dance Works
Educational and developmental programs, intensives, and seminars designed to empower students, parents, educators, and artists.
Register now for an upcoming intensive, workshop or seminar!
YoungArts
Applications are open for the 2025 National YoungArts Competition, available for artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Deadline to apply is October 17th, 2024 at 8pm.
Learn more at www.YoungArts.org

Join our FREE Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Follow Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

The IT Factor - Do You Have It? Sep 19, 2024

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Guests - Noel Bajandas, Meghan Sanett

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In 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 develop your own IT factor

Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Season 4, 5 & 6. No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Noel Bajandas - @NoelBajandas
Meghan Sanett - @mmsanett

Check out our guest’s current projects!

Take class with Meghan on tour with Revive and Adrenaline this season!
Train with Noel Bajandas - www.noelbajandas.com/nugenove

This episode is sponsored by:
Roots Dance Summit - Powered by Francisco Gella Dance Works!
A groundbreaking Educational & COMPETITIVE experience for studio communities. Register now to attend an event in their 2025 premier season!
YoungArts
Applications are open for the 2025 National YoungArts Competition, available for artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Deadline to apply is October 17th, 2024 at 8pm . Learn more at www.YoungArts.org

Join our FREE Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Follow Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Studio Spotlight - Yolanda's Academy of Music and Dance Sep 12, 2024

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Guests: Yolanda Fernandez-Quincoces, Alexis Toledo

Hosted by Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor

The 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.yolandasacademy.com/

Check out Yolanda's Academy of Music & Dance's other business, Outseem Socks, socks with the seams on the outside! Follow them on social media at @out.seem

Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Season 4, 5 & 6. No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

This episode is sponsored by:
Roots Dance Summit
A groundbreaking Educational & COMPETITIVE experience for studio communities. A three-day event beginning on Friday and ending on Sunday afternoon. Register now to attend an event in their 2025 premier season!
YoungArts
Applications are open for the 2025 National YoungArts Competition, available for artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Deadline to apply is October 17th, 2024 at 8pm. Learn more at www.YoungArts.org

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Yolanda's Academy of Music & Dance - @yolandas_academy

Join our NEW Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Follow us on social media at @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

The Stolen Choreography Scandal That is Rocking the Dance World Sep 05, 2024

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Guests - Josh Bergasse, Richard J. Hinds, Sarah Meahl

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In 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 Spain
What steps are being taken to raise awareness of the plagiarism problems that affect the dance industry
How choreographers, dance teachers and dance organizations can help prevent plagiarism in the future

Help support our podcast. Join Making The Impact's Platinum Premium Subscription today! Your membership includes:

Monthly Q&A episodes released to members-only
Priority to have your questions answered each month on the live Q&A.
Ad-free listening for all of Season 4, 5 & 6. No sponsored ads!
20% off all IDA Merchandise
Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year
Discounted IDA Online Critique
Group Zoom check-ins 3x per season with Courtney Ortiz!

Your support helps us produce future episodes of Making The Impact for years to come!

Making The Impact's Platinum Premium - Sign up now for only $5/month!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
Josh Bergasse - @joshuabergasse
Richard J. Hinds - @richardjhinds
Sarah Meahl - @happymeahl

This episode is sponsored by:
Roots Dance Summit
A groundbreaking Educational & COMPETITIVE experience for studio communities. A three-day event beginning on Friday and ending on Sunday afternoon. Register now to attend an event in their 2025 premier season!

YoungArts
Applications are open for the 2025 National YoungArts Competition, for artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Deadline to apply is October 17, 2024 at 8pm. Learn more at www.YoungArts.org

Join our FREE Facebook Group and connect with us! Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast Community

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! We would love to hear from you!

Join our Newsletter for weekly episode releases straight to your inbox!

Follow Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

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