Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

In our final Spotlight Feature of Season 2, we sit down with the incredible Marinda Davis, an accomplished choreographer and dance educator on the convention circuit. You may know her work from World of Dance, Dancing With the Stars, or from her own company, MarInspired. Tune in to hear about Marinda's early days in dance, the struggles she faces as an immuno-compromised artist, and her drive and desire to create meaningful work for the stage and screen. 

Follow Marinda Davis on social media
@marinspirations
@marinspired
@thestorytellersintensive

Mark your calendars! 
The Storytellers Intensive Volume 3 - Los Angeles (December 27-31st)
Applications will open in August 2021


Must Watch  Clips!

• Dancing With The Stars Season 25 - Week 10 - Finals - Pro Dance with Julianne Hough
• World of Dance - "Make Me Cry" - MarInspired
• "Smile" as Featured on Soul Pancake 
• "My Last Days" Documentary featuring Marinda Davis

Who would you like to see featured on our upcoming Spotlight Interviews? Share your recommendations by shooting us an email at podcast@impactdanceadjudicators.com.

This episode is sponsored by:

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance Gear and Dance Bags!
 Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678

Werk Dancewear -  Activewear for dreams in motion.
Enter code Werkdance20 at checkout to save 20% today

Follow Us!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lesley.mealor
• Impact Dance Adjudicators - @impactdanceadjudicators

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! 

For a list of affiliated dance competitions, visit our website www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Maddie Kurtz and Casey Noblett
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 63 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley chat with industry professionals Maddie Kurtz and Casey Noblett about the many different performance pathways that exist for a professional dancer. 

Topics Include:

•  The audition process for all types of jobs - from pro dance teams to Broadway to concert dance
•  A discussion about what cities to find certain types of performance jobs
•  Resources for dancers who may not be in big cities but who want to pursue a professional dance career

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lesley.mealor
• Maddie - @maddiekurtz92
• Casey - @casey_noblett

Check out our guest’s current projects! 

Commercial Dance Intensive - in-person workshops and seminars to train the next generation of dancers not only in technique, but in the skills required to be successful in the professional dance world!

Upcoming Workshops:
CDI Summer: 
Big Sky, Montana June 19-27
Pigeon Forge, TN July 11-23
Ages 13 and up

CDI Winter:
Raleigh, NC December 27-29, 2021

Check out some of the resources we spoke about in the episode! 

Broadway Theatre Project
Broadway Theatre Project is on hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic

Bates Dance Festival
Summer dance intensive based in Maine, geared towards contemporary dancers

The Business of Show by Adam Cates
A valuable resource  including vital information for the career-driven performer venturing down the professional path

This episode is sponsored by:
Dance Costumes By Urzúa - Custom Costumes!
Receive 15% off by using the code IDA15 at checkout!

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678


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

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Tracey Boon and Rachel Perlman
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 62 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, how to develop a competitive mindset is the name of the game, and IDA judges and dance educators Tracey Boon and Rachel Perlman give some excellent advice for dancers of all levels!

Topics Include:

•  Ideas to encourage the development of a competitive mindset
•  How to keep your competitive mindset from hindering your success
•  Goal setting and re-focusing so that your biggest competitor is yourself

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lesley.mealor
• Tracey - @traboon1
• Rachel - @fuelmovesweat 

This episode is sponsored by:
Dance Costumes By Urzúa - Custom Costumes!
Receive 15% off by using the code IDA15 at checkout!

Werk Dancewear. Activewear for dreams in motion.
Enter code Werkdance20 at checkout to save 20% today

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

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Lexi Adair and Marlo Barbera
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 61 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, co-hosts Courtney and Lesley are joined by dance moms Lexi Adair and Marlo Barbera to get an inside perspective on the life of a competitive dance parent! 

Topics Include:

•  How their dancers got involved in competitive dance
•  The challenges and joys of being a dance mom
•  Helpful advice for new dance moms to survive the competitive dance world

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lesley.mealor
• Chloe (Marlo's dancer) - @chloegrace.dancer
• Parker (Lexi's dancer) - @adairyoutodance

This episode is sponsored by:
Dance Costumes By Urzúa - Custom Costumes!
Receive 15% off by using the code IDA15 at checkout!
 
Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance Gear and Dance Bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678


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

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

In the April Edition of Q&A With Courtney Live, Courtney is joined by special guest IDA Judges Michael and Dione to answer viewers questions live on the air! Topics include: 

•  How dancers can improve their artistry
•  Why contemporary dances always seem to win
•  The title division at competition
• How to power through block scheduling

CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode. You can request to stay anonymous or have Courtney give you a shout out live on the air!

This episode is sponsored by:

Thrive Dance Experience - an education-first dance convention and mentorship program for dancers and dance educators.
Register now for The Academy - A Virtual Mentorship Program!

Dance Costumes by Urzua - Custom dance costumes and dancewear for every body!
Use code IDA15 at checkout to receive 15% off your entire order! 

Follow Your Host and Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Michael - @Michael.dance.mccarthy
• Dione - @dione.hamza
• Impact Dance Adjudicators - @impactdanceadjudicators

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! 

For a list of affiliated dance competitions, visit our website www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Britney Hall and Eliza Ohman
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 59 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, hosts Courtney and Lesley explore all of the ways being a versatile dancer can lead to a success in the dance world! Joined by guests Britney Hall and Eliza Ohman, this episode covers it all!

Topics Include:

•  What it takes to become a versatile dancer in a studio setting
•  How being versatile has helped in our guests' careers
•  Other kinds of versatility besides dancing that can help dancers thrive

The blog that inspired this episode was released in February of 2019, and is titled "5 Reasons Versatility Will Make You a Better Dancer”. Read now!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Britney - @britneyhall
• Eliza - @elizaohman

Check out our guest’s current projects! 

Take class with Eliza! Weekly virtual class at Steps on Broadway, Tuesdays from 1-2:15PM ET! Sign up for class here!

Take dance or fitness classes with Britney! Check out BritneyHall.Online!

CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode! You can request to stay anonymous or have Courtney give you a shout out live on the air!

This episode is sponsored by:
Dance Costumes By Urzúa - Custom Costumes!
Receive 15% off by using the code IDA15 at checkout!

Werk Dancewear - Activewear for dreams in motion.
Use code: Werkdance20 at checkout to save 20% today

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

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Christina Fuschetto, Jill Tremonti
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 58 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, your hosts dive deep into the topic of teamwork in the studio, at competition, in the professional world and in life in general with IDA judges and teachers Christina Fuschetto and Jill Tremonti.

Topics Include:

•  What teamwork looks like in studio
•  Repercussions of a lack of teamwork within a team of dancers
•  How teamwork applies to all facets of life

The blog that inspired this episode was released in March 2018, and is titled “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!”  Read now! 

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Christina - @dancing_warrior
• Jill - @jillianmariete

This episode is sponsored by:
Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678

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

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Cheryll Custer Klein, Alicia Sehn
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 57 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley speak with multi-talented judges and choreographers Cheryll Custer Klein and Alicia Sehn about the best ways for dancers to take their solo to the next level - literally and figuratively! 

Topics Include:

•  Non-negotiables of having a solo
•  Ways to instill a good work ethic in soloists in class as well as rehearsal
•  What successful soloists are doing in class that give them an edge on stage

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Cheryll - @ccusterklein16
• Alicia - @aliciasehndance

CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode! You can request to stay anonymous or have Courtney give you a shout out live on the air!

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Costumes By Urzúa - Custom Costumes!
Receive 15% off by using the code IDA15 at checkout!

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance Gear and Dance Bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678


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

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Voltaire Wade-Greene & John Comix Barella
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 56 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are excited to finally cover one of the hottest topics in the competitive dance world - hip hop! Your hosts are joined by two leading hip hop dancers and educators in the industry, Voltaire Wade-Greene and John Comix Barella, to go deep into the rich history of hip hop culture, and discuss how the genre translates into the studio and competitive dance world.

Topics Include:

•  A brief history of hip hop's origins
•  What fundamentals of hip hop are "musts" in the studio world
•  The differences between true hip hop and movement that is hip hop influenced, and why it matters

The blog that inspired this episode was released in April 2019, and titled “Bringing Hip Hop To the Competitive Stage”. Read now!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Voltaire - @TisVoltaire
• John - @John_Comix

Check out our guests' current projects!

• The "Essentials" store at JohnComix.com is full of training material designed for dance teachers. E-books on hip hop class structure, technique, games, etc.. Videos breaking down key movements..and services such as custom choreography or curriculum creation. 
• The Redef Movement is currently auditioning new dancers to join our company. 
• Dance Recast is a new nonprofit aimed at providing programs to present and future generations of the BIPOC community.

Check out some of the resources we spoke about in the episode!
- The Freshest Kids: The History of The B-Boy
- Hip Hop Evolution

This episode is sponsored by:

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678

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 Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of affiliated dance competitions, visit our website atwww.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Jordan Beyeler, James Washington Manning
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 55 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, hosts Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor discuss the value of mentorship for dancers, from both the side of the mentor and the mentee. The hosts are joined by IDA judges Jordan Beyeler and James Washington Manning.

Topics Include:

•  How to know you're ready for a mentor
•  Tips to becoming a mentor
•  What mentorship looks like specifically in the dance world

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Jordan - @jbeyeler 
• James -  @Jawashi1

Check out some of the resources we spoke about in the episode!
James Washington's Next Level Dance Mentorship Program
Off the Lane Mentorship Program

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Costumes By Urzúa - custom costumes!
Receive 15% off by using the code IDA15 at checkout!

Thrive Dance Experience - The Academy
The Academy is a new virtual mentorship and career development program for ages 15 to 18. Register now!

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

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Our next Spotlight Feature guest is Alex Wong, an incredibly prolific and versatile dancer with some unbelievable credits! You may know him from his many television appearances on "Smash", "Glee", and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend", or from his time on "So You Think You Can Dance". Or, perhaps you caught him on Broadway in "Newsies", or as a principal dancer with the Miami City Ballet. Making the Impact sits down with Alex to hear about his performance career, and what he's been up to recently!

Be sure to follow Alex on social media!
Instagram: @alexdwong
TikTok: @alexdwong

and be sure to check out… his Phone, Keys, Gum commercial

Who would you like to see featured on our upcoming Spotlight Interviews? Share your recommendations by shooting us an email at podcast@impactdanceadjudicators.com.

This episode is sponsored by:
Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
 Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678

Follow Us!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Impact Dance Adjudicators - @impactdanceadjudicators

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! 

For a list of affiliated dance competitions, visit our websitewww.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Karla Curatolo, Troy Haywood
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 53 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are joined by IDA judge Troy Haywood, as well as Karla Curatolo, the owner of one of the top competitive dance studios in the country, Expressenz Dance Center, to get down to the bottom of the debate - tricks or technique?

Topics Include:

•  What do we mean when we say "technique"?
•  How essential is it to have solid technique when learning tricks?
•  Are tricks necessary for a winning competition routine?

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Karla - @expressenz  
• Troy - @troyeography 

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Costumes By Urzúa - custom costumes!
Receive 15% off by using the code IDA15 at checkout!

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678
 

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 Impact Dance Adjudicators on social media @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of affiliated dance competitions, visit our website atwww.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Tommy Scrivens and Christina Yoder
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 52 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, musicality is the name of the game. Today, co-hosts Courtney and Lesley hear from IDA judges and dance educators Tommy Scrivens and Christina Yoder about the importance of musicality in all styles of dance, and give some great advice to dancers and teachers alike about how to develop musicality skills.

Topics Include:

•  How musicality can be incorporated into all styles of dance
•  The necessity of basic music theory training for dancers
•  Why a lack of musicality may lead to lower scores at competition

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Tommy - @tommytoes7
• Christina - @christinataps2

Check out our guest’s current projects!
Dynamics in Motion Dance - Develop your curriculum and class syllabus for all age/level ranges in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and modern. 

This episode is sponsored by:
Dance Costumes By Urzúa - custom costumes!
Receive 15% off by using the code IDA15 at checkout!
 
Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678


Join our new Facebook Group! 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 affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

In the February Edition of Q&A With Courtney LIVE, Courtney and special guest IDA Judge Sam Quinn answer your questions on topics including:

•  Special needs categories at competition
•  Costume scoring
•  Zoom audition vs video submissions for summer programs and intensives
• Contact improv & so much more!

*This episode was previously recorded on Facebook Live - 2/1/2021*

CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode. You can request to stay anonymous or have Courtney give you a shout out live on the air!

This episode is sponsored by:
Apolla Performance Wear - Compression Dance Socks!

Follow Us!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Impact Dance Adjudicators - @impactdanceadjudicators
• Sam Quinn - @samquinn

Join our NEW Facebook Group! 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! 

For a list of affiliated dance competitions, visit our website:www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests -  Colin Shea Denniston, Jesse Miller
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 50 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are joined by veteran IDA judges Colin Shea Denniston and Jesse Miller for a deep dive into one of the most burning questions in the dance competition world - what really goes into the judging process for adjudicators?

Topics Include:

•  Whether personal preferences come into play when judging
•  How judges stay consistent throughout a long weekend
•  Levels, and how they affect scoring and judging approaches

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Colin Shea - @colindenniston
• Jesse - @Jessekmiller

CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode! You can request to stay anonymous or have Courtney give you a shout out live on the air!

This episode is sponsored by:

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678

Jake Nothing - Team Gear and Apparel!


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

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Ashley Canterna Hardy and Joey Ortolani
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 49 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are joined by IDA judge Joey Ortolani and dance teacher Ashley Canterna Hardy for a discussion on the importance of presentation for the competitive stage.

Topics Include:

•  How proper presentation begins at the studio, from the top down
•  Barriers to proper presentation and how to overcome them
•  Strategies for costuming and presentation for a variety of body types

The blog that inspired this episode was released in March 2017, written by Joey Ortolani,  titled “Perfecting Your Presentation”. Read now!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Joey - @joeyorto
• Ashley - @AshleyCH415

CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode! You can request to stay anonymous or have Courtney give you a shout out live on the air!

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Costumes By Urzúa - custom costumes!
Receive 15% off by using the code IDA15 at checkout!

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678

JOIN OUR NEW FACEBOOK GROUP! We love connecting with our fans!
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 affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests -  Lauren Manning, Susie Riefenhauser, Ryan Parma
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 48 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we discuss a variety of non-performance career options for dancers with three industry professionals - Lauren Manning of Dance Media, publishers of Dance Spirit and Dance Magazine; Susie Riefenhauser of OtherSpace Innovation, a dance marketing, and consulting firm; and Ryan Parma, a freelance director, and dance videographer. 

Topics Include:

•  Each individual's path from dancer to dance industry professional
•  Advice for dancers looking at future options other than performing
•  How dance training helped in their current work 

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Lauren - @stagesmithdance
• Susie - @susie.riefenhauser
• Ryan - @ryanparma

Check out our guests' current projects! 

Stagesmith Dance Training
OtherSpace Innovation
www.ryanparma.com


CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode! You can request to stay anonymous or have Courtney give you a shout out live on the air!

This episode is sponsored by:

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678

Dance Device Lab -  High quality, dancer focused in-studio events nationwide!


Join our new Facebook Group - 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 affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Making the Impact welcomes Sophia Lucia as our next Spotlight Feature guest! You may know her as The Guinness Book of World Records title holder for the most consecutive pirouettes (55) , or maybe you've been following her dance journey since she was featured on Lifetime's Dance Moms! Courtney and Lesley sit down and chat with Sophia about her incredible performance career as a child, her experiences in ballet school as a teen, and her dreams and goals for the future.

Stay connected and follow Sophia: @_sophialucia !
Subscribe to her YouTube Channel!

Who would you like to see featured on our upcoming Spotlight Interviews? Share your recommendations by shooting us an email at podcast@impactdanceadjudicators.com.


This episode is sponsored by:

Purple Pixies Dancewear - Trendy and Affordable Leotards, Sports Bras, & Leggings!
Use the code IMPACT at checkout to receive 15% off your order!

Follow Us!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Impact Dance Adjudicators - @impactdanceadjudicators

Join our brand new Podcast Facebook Group: 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!

For a list of affiliated dance competitions, visit our website www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests - Joshua Blake Carter and Becca Grden
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 46 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, the topic of conversation is improvisation - from improv in class to the professional world and everywhere in between! Joining us this week are guests Joshua Blake Carter from Giordano Dance Chicago and IDA Judge Becca Grden.

Topics Include:

•  What improv is and isn't
•  How to introduce improv at a young age in the studio 
•  Professional applications of improv
•  Tips to overcome your fear of improv

The blog that inspired this episode was released in January 2019, and titled “Finding Your Confidence Through Improv". Read now!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Joshua - @jbcchoreography
• Becca - @Choreobybecca

Check out our guest’s current projects!
Joshua premiered his first short film for Giordano Dance Chicago in November 2020, adapting choreographer Autumn Eckman's 2012 work "JOLT" for the screen. Stream anytime for free!

This episode is sponsored by:
Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance gear and Dance bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678

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! 

CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode! You can request to stay anonymous or have Courtney give you a shout out live on the air!

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

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now! 

Guests -  Amber Nadelkov and Clarice Ordaz
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 45 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we go back in time to remember the "good old days" of competition as Courtney and Lesley sit down with IDA judge Amber Nadelkov and comp kid turned professional dancer and teacher Clarice Ordaz. 

Topics Include:

•  The days before levels, age groups, and platinums
•  How competition prepared our guests for their professional lives
•  The quintessential convo about how small the dance world is

The blog that inspired this episode was released in April 2017, and is titled “Three Things Dance Competitions Gave Me That Weren't Trophies”. Read now!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley - @lil_lez36
• Amber - @Dancinambs678
• Clarice - @d8clarice

This episode is sponsored by:

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance Gear and Dance Bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: bravo5678

Jake Nothing - Team Gear and Apparel!
Check out their website for unique, customized team gear!

CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode! You can request to stay anonymous or have Courtney give you a shout out live on the air

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 affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor at the Capezio Flagship Store in the heart of New York City for a LIVE podcast recording of Making the Impact!  PLUS - a bonus master class with Courtney, lunch at Capezio, swag bag freebies, dance wear discounts & more!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024 - RSVP and register for class now!