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Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

By: Impact Dance Adjudicators
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About this listen

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

© 2025 Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast
Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • Throwback! S2 EP 62 - Eye on the Prize - How to Develop a Competitive Mindset
    Sep 25 2025

    Guests - Tracey Boon and Rachel Perlman

    Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor


    This season on Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we're throwing it back to episodes we loved from previous seasons! Today on the podcast, we are headed back in time to 2021 with a topic that is still relevant now - how to develop a competitive mindset. This episode originally aired on May 6, 2021.


    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



    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 through 7. 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
    • Tracey Boon - @traboon1
    • Rachel Perlman - @fuelmovesweat



    This episode is sponsored by:

    YoungArts
    Applications are open for the 2026 National YoungArts Competition, available for artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Deadline to apply is October 8th, 2025. 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

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • All About Solos - How Many Are Too Many?
    Sep 18 2025

    Guests - Lex Dorohoy and Amy Tully

    Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor


    In Episode 233 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we tackle a tricky topic - how many solos does a dancer really need? IDA judges and dance educators Lex Dorohoy and Amy Tully join us to break it down and reveal the ideal number of solos for a successful season.



    Topics Include:

    • The benefits of doing multiple solos
    • The challenges that come with doing multiple solos
    • What the judges really think when the same dancer comes out on stage again and again



    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 through 7. 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
    • Lex Dorohoy - @alexadorohoy_
    • Amy Tully - @amyttully


    This episode is sponsored by:


    YoungArts
    Applications are open for the 2026 National YoungArts Competition, available for artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Deadline to apply is October 8th, 2025. 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

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Live from Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo 2025 in Las Vegas!
    Sep 11 2025

    Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor


    In Episode 232 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley hosted a live Q&A in July 2025 at the Dance Teacher Web in Las Vegas!



    Topics Include:

    • Competition choreography do's and don'ts
    • Inappropriateness at competition
    • How to retain students when the grass might look greener at another studio



    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 through 7. 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
    • Dance Teacher Web - @danceteacherweb



    Thank you to Dance Teacher Web for hosting us at your teacher conference this summer! We loved connecting with so many fans! Visit their website to learn more and mark your calendar to attend their event next year in Las Vegas, NV - August 6-9, 2026. Use code: IMPACT50 for $50 off! www.danceteachersummerexpo.com


    This episode is sponsored by:

    YoungArts
    Applications are open for the 2026 National YoungArts Competition, available for artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Deadline to apply is October 8th, 2025. 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 atwww.impactdanceadjudicators.com

    Support the show

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
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