Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor We're wrapping up Season 3 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast! Season 3 has been full of exciting new guests, old favorites, and of course, YOU - our fantastic fans! Catch you next season with even more episodes that make the impact! If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Veronica Silk and Christina Wiginton Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 106 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we explore all the facets that make up the perfect production number - from music choices, to themes, to staging, to props or no props! Joining us today are IDA judge and dance educator Veronica Silk and owner of CK Dancework...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Monica Giavanna and Skye Mattox Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 105 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we tackle the wonderful world of dancing in heels! From commercial dance to theatre jazz, there are a surprising amount of things to consider when adding a few inches to your shoes! Joining us today are professional dancers Skye M...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Brandon Cournay and Timaree Craft Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 104 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we're diving into summer with a chat about the benefits of summer intensives for dancers! Joining us this week are competition team director Timaree Craft and dancer, choreographer and Dance Device Lab owner Brandon Cournay...

Send us Fan Mail Guests: Kelli Wilkins, Aly Slone, Kiley Forrest Hosts: Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor Club Dance, located in Mesa, Arizona, provides exceptional dance training from the very basics to their pre-professional program. Owner Kelli Wilkins, along with company directors Aly Slone and Kiley Forrest, join us for the final Studio Spotlight of Season 3 to share the many things that mak...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Robin Ortiz and Brenda Mealor Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 102 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are celebrating all the dance moms out there, but especially ours! Robin Ortiz and Brenda Mealor join us today to share what Courtney and Lesley were really like as young competitive dancers and what their experiences were as dan...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Chelsie Hill and Kim Smith Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 101 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, guests Chelsie Hill, a dancer and wheelchair user, and Kim Smith, founder of A Chance To Dance, a program for dancers with special needs and disabilities, join Courtney and Lesley for a conversation about creating inclusivity in dance....

Send us Fan Mail Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In this episode of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are joined by several IDA judges to celebrate our 100th episode by counting down the top ten studio habits that we see at competition! From the good habits to the not so good habits, this is a conversation you don't want to miss! Topics Include:...

Send us Fan Mail In the April Edition of Q&A With Courtney LIVE, Courtney and special guest IDA Judge Jessica answer your questions on topics including: Does your dancer need an Instagram? Guest choreographers and re-using choreography Pursuing a professional career in New York City CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode. You can request t...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Jim Keith and Jason Styres Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 98 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, casting director Jason Styres and dance agent Jim Keith sit down with Courtney and Lesley to explain what their respective roles are in relation to professional dancers, and how competitive dance can be a great training tool for the com...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Lenaya Williams and Maddie Barnes Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 97 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, special guests Lenaya Williams and Maddie Barnes give us the inside scoop on what their transitions were like from being competitive dancers to becoming competitive dance teachers. Both provide unique perspectives that are must-h...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Summer Aiello & Shannon Thomas Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor 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. Joining us on this week's episode of Making the Impact is dance parent Summer Aiello and...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Rachel Gentry and Justin Quandt Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 95 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, IDA judge Rachel Gentry and studio owner Justin Quandt share helpful ideas for studios trying to keep competition dances fresh throughout the season! Topics Include:  Why specific goal setting throughout the season will keep boredo...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Dr. Chelsea Pierotti and Claudia H. Stein Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 94 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast,  Courtney and Lesley discuss mental health in the dance competition industry with Dr. Chelsea Pierotti, a sports psychology consultant for dancers, and Claudia H. Stein, a mindset and wellness coach for dancers. Please no...

Send us Fan Mail Guest: Kimberly Walsh Rishi Hosts: Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor Studio Bleu Dance Center in Ashburn, Virginia is one of the largest dance studios in the country, run by Kimberly Rishi. With programs ranging from recreational to competitive dance, acting and vocal groups, a boys program and a ballet program, Studio Bleu truly offers it all, and produces unparalleled talent th...

Send us Fan Mail Guests -  Lauren Alto and Mary Hondal Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 92  of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, special guests IDA judge Lauren Alto and former student choreographer and current dance major Mary Hondal discuss the benefits to adding student choreography options to your competitive dance studio.  Topics Include:   How to add opp...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Jason Coosner and Addison Holmes  Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 91 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley discuss the importance of ballet programs in the competitive dance world and hear from industry professionals Jason Coosner and Addison Holmes about their experiences developing strong ballet programs at their...

Send us Fan Mail In the February Edition of Q&A With Courtney, Courtney and special guest IDA judge Jen Garaffa answer your questions on topics including:  Is hard work enough to make a dancer stand out?  How to deal with a growth spurt  Balancing technique and passion as a dancer CLICK HERE to send in your questions to be answered on a future Q&A with Courtney episode. You can request to...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Marissa Anderson and Brittni Collins Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 89 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, IDA judges and dance educators Marissa Anderson and Brittni Collins sit down with Courtney and Lesley to cover all aspects of winning and losing in the competitive dance world. Topics Include:  What is lost when we don't...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Amanda Cleghorn and Jessica Walker Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 88 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are joined by current working professional dancers Amanda Cleghorn and Jessica Walker to explore the day to day life of Broadway, tours, dancing for a pop star and more! Topics Include:  The differences betwe...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Jacqueline Baligian and Sam Quinn Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 87 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, stage presence and performance quality take center stage as Courtney and Lesley are joined by IDA judges and dance educators Jacqueline Baligian and Sam Quinn for a lively discussion.  Topics Include:  The ingredients needed to b...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Katie Schaar and Alexis Sams Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 86 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley sit down with physical therapist and owner of AZ Dance Medicine Specialists, Alexis Sams, and owner of Sugarfoot Therapy, Katie Schaar, to discuss the particulars of injury prevention for competitive dancers. Topic...

Send us Fan Mail Guests: Michele Wagner, Molly Symanietz & Mackenzie Symanietz Hosts: Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor What do you get when you combine a 70 year legacy, a family full of dancers, and a desire to help every child be the best they can be? You get Larkin Dance Studio out of St. Paul, Minnesota! The Larkin Legacy continues to develop phenomenal talent, with the studio being awar...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Emily Branigan and Hillary Zbyszinski Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 84 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, dance educators and IDA judges Emily Branigan and Hillary Zbyszinski join us to give advice to the dance parents of the world about studio and theatre etiquette - and what you hear may surprise you! Topics Include:  How to se...

Send us Fan Mail Guests - Ruby Castro and Randi Strong Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor In Episode 83 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we explore the world of Latin ballroom dance and how the style is making its way into the competitive dance scene. We are joined by Ruby Castro, current competitive dancer and Blackpool Dance Festival silver medalist, and Randi Strong...