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
Episodes
Guests - Lauren Gaul and Ashley Thorndike
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
In Episode 274 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we're diving into the topic of dance in college, with two experts in the field. Lauren Gaul is the co-founder of the commercial dance program at Pace University in New York City, and Ashley Thorndike is the owner of Dance and College Counseling, a service dedicated t...
Guests - Clarice Ordaz and Amber Nadelkov
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
We are bringing back our Throwback episodes in Season 8 of Making the Impact, and today we're heading to 2021 to discuss what the competitive dance scene was like in the decades before! Enjoy this look back into the past with guests Clarice Ordaz and Amber Nadelkov. This episode originally aired on January 7, 2021.
Topics Include...
Guests - Kristen Cochran and Dawn Parker
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
In Episode 272 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we honor the teachers who impacted us during our journey in the dance world. Today, Lesley's teachers Kristen Cochran and Dawn Parker join us to share their memories of teaching Lesley in the studio, and celebrate the successes she's had along the way!
Topics Include:
<...Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
In Episode 271 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are live from Vegas, where they hosted a Q&A at Dance Teacher Web! Thanks to all of the wonderful participants for attending!
Topics Include:
- The never-ending levels discussion
- Lyrical vs contemporary - how to place routines in the correct category
- How to hold t...
Guests: Stacey Dimberio and Brooke MacIver
Hosted by Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor
The winner of the Making the Impact Award fan favorite contest from 2026 is Stacey's Studio of Dance Education's routine "Somebody To Love"! We are excited to welcome choreographer Brooke MacIver and owner Stacey Dimberio to the podcast to tell us all about Stacey's Studio of Dance Education in this studio spotlight episode!
Follow ...
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
Welcome to Season 8 of Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast! Courtney and Lesley have some fun news to share about this season, as well as a recap of the summer!
Topics Include:
- New for season 8 - we're on video! 🎥
- Cover art contest winners
- Exciting opportunities at Dance Teacher Web and Dance One Summit over the summer
Help support ou...
IDA Judges - Brittany Nicholas, Kyle Rostan, Sally Cofield, Marie Choate
Hosted By - Holly Shipley
Produced By: Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast
We are excited to have partnered with IDA affiliated Competition The Artistry Tour to host a live-podcast at their 2026 Nationals event this summer in Michigan. The owner of The Artistry Tour Holly Shipley moderated this chat featuring 4 IDA Judges: Brittany Nic...
Guests - Robb Gibbs, Brittni Johnson, and Anonymous Submissions
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
To close out Season 7 of Making the Impact, we are getting real about the often unspoken truths in the dance competition judging space. Veteran IDA judges Robb Gibbs and Brittni Johnson, as well as anonymous submissions from judges around the country, share what it can really be like during those long weekends ...
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
That's a wrap on Season 7 of Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast! Thank you to all our loyal listeners who have been here since the beginning for all your support, and to our new fans who have joined us this year! We can't wait to share season 8 with you - but for now, happy summer!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Season 8 is scheduled to release on Thursday, September 3rd...
Guests - Robb Gibbs, Brittni Johnson, and Anonymous Submissions
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
To close out Season 7 of Making the Impact, we are getting real about the often unspoken truths in the dance competition judging space. Veteran IDA judges Robb Gibbs and Brittni Johnson, as well as anonymous submissions from judges around the country, share what it can really be like during those long weekends ...
Guests - Summer Aiello & Shannon Thomas
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
Our final throwback episode is one for the dance moms out there! Being a dance parent requires learning a lot of new information, from theatre etiquette to competition structures. But one thing that’s not covered in any studio handbook is how not to be a stage mom. Join studio owner Shannon Thomas and veteran dance mom Summe...
Guests - Lynne McNelis and Jennifer Lobaito
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
In Episode 267 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, two former dancers join us to chat about what it's like to raise competitive dancers in this new era in the industry. From memories of "the good old days" to current challenges and joys, this is an episode you don't want to miss!
Topics Include:
- The sea...
Guests - Carrie Euker, Holly Gannett
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
Today's throwback episode takes us back to Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast's very first season! This episode features IDA judges Carrie Euker and Holly Gannett discussing ways to keep ballet fun, relevant and beloved in the dance competition world. This episode originally aired on March 30, 2020.
Topics Include:
- &nb...
Guests - Kathryn Morgan and Tommie Lin Kesten
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
In Episode 265 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, guests Kathryn Morgan and Tommie Lin Kesten join us for an eye-opening chat about pointe! From pointe-readiness to shoe preparation, we dive into the challenges and joys of dancing en pointe!
Topics Include:
- The real amount of training that should occ...
Guests: Jennifer Armstrong, Devin Pendleton and James Murphy
Hosted by: Courtney Ortiz
Today's IDA Competition Spotlight episode features Star Talent Productions, based in North Carolina and celebrating their 20th season this year! Owner Jennifer Armstrong and emcees Devin Pendleton and James Murphy join Courtney to chat about their journeys in the competition space, and what makes Star Talent Productions stand out fr...
Guests - Ty Williams, Tonysha McIntosh, Haley Everett
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
In Episode 263 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are joined by studio owners Ty Williams and Tonysha McIntosh, and dance educator Haley Everett to talk about the many ways competitive dance can be more inclusive and diverse. Dancers from all walks of life deserve to feel welcomed and included a...
Guests - Ashley Marinelli and Amy Maze
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
Today's throwback episode was one of our most popular episodes in season 3 - expectations in the open category! This conversation is far from over even five years later, and IDA judges Ashley and Amy don't skimp on the advice for dancers entering in this nebulous category. This episode originally aired on November 11, 2021.
To...
Guests - Haley Crocombe and Cat Milone
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
In Episode 261 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we go backstage with the folks who keep competitions running to find out what a day in their lives look like on a busy event weekend! Our guests today serve as tally manager, backstage manager and emcee and the show can't go on without them. If you've ever wanted to wor...
Guests - Melissa McGhee and Carsen Rowe
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
Our next throwback episode of Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast brings back a fan favorite, with more dance team talk! Our guests share what it's like to be on a college dance team, what recruitment looks like, and ways to prep for auditions! This episode originally aired on December 1, 2022.
Topics Include:
- ...
Guests - Erin Alvarado and Kristin Daniel
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor
In Episode 259 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, LSU Tiger Girls choreographer Kristin Daniel and Texas Tech dance team coach and dance faculty member Erin Alvarado school us on the similarities and differences between dancing at a studio and being a part of a dance team.
Topics Include:
- How studi...
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