Guests - Katie Kruse and Julie Kay Stallcup 

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 82 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are exploring the differences and similarities between recreational and competitive dance with two fantastic guests, IDA judge Katie Kruse and dance educator Julie Kay Stallcup.

Topics Include:

• Definitions of recreational dance and competitive dance (and how those definitions can change depending on venue)
•  Advice for parents and studio owners to streamline their recreational or competitive dance experience
•  The evolution of dance competitions to include recreational and intermediate divisions, and the pros and cons of those decisions

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• Katie Kruse - @Krusekreations
• Julie Kay Stallcup - @Juliekaystallcup

Check out our guest’s current projects! 

Team Julie Kay

CRAVING FRESH IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOURSELF—AND YOUR DANCERS—IN THE CLASSROOM?

Receive expert guidance, group coaching and endless classroom resources EVERY MONTH in Julie Kay’s new membership program for dance teachers.

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Costumes by Urzúa
Custom Dance Costumes and Dancewear for made every body!
Use code: IMPACT15 for 15% off all costumes and dancewear!


Check out IDA Affiliated Competition DecaDance Competition!
View their 2022 tour dates and register now at www.decdancecompetition.com

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

Support the show

In the December Edition of Q&A With Courtney LIVE, Courtney and special guest Danny Dwaine Wells II answer your questions on topics including:

•  Tips for new soloists
•  How to bring out artistry in young dancers
•  Ways to help dancers with expressing emotion on stage

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!

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping us create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

This episode is sponsored by:

ArrangeUs Dance Formations App. Download  now to manage your formations and transitions for all of your choreography needs!
Click here to try it now for FREE in the App Store!

Follow your Host & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Danny Dwaine Wells II - @TinyEars

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 at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Guests - Cici Kelley and Jenny Oehlwein

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 80 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, networking is the name of the game! IDA judges and dance educators Cici Kelley and Jenny Oehlwein join Courtney and Lesley in a round table discussion about why networking is one of the key skills dancers should know to find success in the industry!

Topics Include:

•  How to network early by building your community
•  Why social media acts as your digital resume
•  How your worth ethic is tied to networking

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• Cici Kelley - @cicikelley 
• Jenny Oehlwein - @jennyoehlwein 

This episode is sponsored by:

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance Gear and Dance Bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: IMPACT21

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

Support the show

Guests - Tracey Boon and Richard Riaz Yoder

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 79 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are joined by dance educators Tracey Boone and Richard Riaz Yoder to have an important discussion about cultural appropriation in the competitive dance world.

Topics Include:

•  Thoughts on reasons why we see so much appropriation of other cultures in the dance competition world
•  Should cultural appropriation be penalized at competition?
•  How studio owners can best expose their students to other cultures and their dance styles

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• Tracey Boon - @traboon1
• Richard Riaz Yoder - @richardriaz

Be sure to read Richard's recent article "Racism Has No Place on the Competition Stage: One Judge's Experience Watching 'Modern-Day Blackface'"

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Costumes by Urzúa
Custom Dance Costumes and Dancewear for made every body!
Use code: IMPACT15 for 15% off all costumes and dancewear!

Check out IDA Affiliated Competition DecaDance Competition!
View their 2022 tour dates and register now at www.decdancecompetition.com

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

Support the show

Guests - Richard Elszy and Katia Bode

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 78 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are talking all about the minis! Joined by two phenomenal dance educators, Richard Elszy and Katia Bode, who specialize in teaching the youngest dancers, Courtney and Lesley learn what it takes to train amazing minis! (Hint - it  might be a lot of ballet).

Topics Include:

•  What makes a great mini teacher
•  Are tricks for minis necessary?
•  Tips to help minis focus and retain information

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• Richard Elszy - @richardelszydance
• Katia Bode - @klbode90
• Woodbury Dance Center - @woodburydancecenter

Check out our guests' current projects! 

Don't miss Richard Elszy's upcoming session of Building Blocks of Dance (January 2022)

This episode is sponsored by:

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance Gear and Dance Bags!
Receive $10 off your next order with code: IMPACT21

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

Support the show

Guests -  Ashley Marinelli and Amy Maze

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 77 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney and Lesley are joined by IDA judges and educators Ashley Marinelli and Amy Maze to get real about an often misunderstood category at dance competitions - the open category. 

Topics Include:

•  What dances should (and shouldn't) be entered into the open category
•  How the open category is judged
•  Judges' pet peeves about the open category

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• Ashley Marinelli - @alm433
• Amy Maze - @mazeamy

Check out our guests' current projects! 

Check out Ashley's new work "The True and Unquestionable Account of Dr. Joseph Snodgrass" An Environmental, Musical Play premiering at The Player's Club in NYC 
May 12th-13th, 2022

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Costumes by Urzúa
Custom Dance Costumes and Dancewear for made every body!
Use code: IMPACT15 for 15% off all costumes and dancewear! 

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

Support the show

Guests: Denise H. Latimer & Lynise M Heard
Hosts: Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor

Dancemakers of Atlanta, an NYCDA 2021 Outstanding Studio Winner, has a simple mission - to promote creativity, diversity and innovation while building outstanding leaders with excellent characters. Owners Denise Latimer and Lynise Heard sit down with us to discuss what makes Dancemakers of Atlanta special today on Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast!

Follow Dancemakers of Atlanta on social media @dancemakersatlanta and be sure to check out:

- Photo Patch, a business started by a Dancemakers of Atlanta dancer, to connect children with their incarcerated parents.
- "Matter" NYCDA 2021 Performance
- "Black Panther" The Dance Awards 2019 Performance
- Dancemakers of Atlanta website

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping us create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Costumes by Urzúa
Custom Dance Costumes and Dancewear for made every body!
Use code: IMPACT15 for 15% off all costumes and dancewear! 

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor  - @miss.lesley.dance
• Dancemakers of Atlanta - @dancemakersatlanta

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 at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Guests - Danielle Ardizzone and Kelly Phinney

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 75 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we sit down with real-life dance moms Danielle and Kelly to find out how they budget for their kids' busy dance lives!

Topics Include:

•  What gets sacrificed to afford competitive dance
•  Tips and tricks to saving on dance essentials
•  Fundraising ideas

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• Danielle Ardizzone - @thedancingdancemom
• Kelly Phinney - @kelly.phinney

Check out our guests' current projects! 

Visit Danielle's blog The Dancing Dance Mom for great deals on dance essentials! You can also check out her Facebook page for daily dance deals and to share the dance mom experience.

This episode is sponsored by:

Level Up Dance Supplies - Dance Gear and Dance Bags!
 Receive $10 off your next order with code: IMPACT21
 

Spirit of Dance Awards - IDA Affiliated Competition!
New England based dance competition committed to providing a fun, fair and exciting venue for dancers of all levels to showcase their passion in a positive environment!
Visit their website for 2022 season schedule and fall convention dates.


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

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Ko-Fi! 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

Support the show

Guests - Colin Shea Denniston and Kaelyn Gray

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 74 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we revisit a favorite topic from Season 2! Courtney and Lesley chat with IDA judge Colin Shea Denniston and industry professional Kaelyn Gray about why the right (or wrong) music can make or break a routine!

Topics Include:

•  Overused versus classic competition songs
•  Tips for finding unique music
•  Controversies surrounding music choices in the competitive world

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• Colin Shea Denniston - @colindenniston
• Kaelyn Gray - @kaegraydance

Check out our guests' current projects!

-  “Three + A Break!” Series by Kaelyn Gray, from her Bring Tap To The People Tap Dance Tutorials
- Be sure to follow BTTTP @bringtap_tothepeople

This episode is sponsored by:

Download the ArrangeUs App now to manage your formations and transitions for all of your choreography needs!
Click here to try it now for FREE in the App Store!


Check out IDA Affiliated Competition Gems Dance Competition!
View their 2022 tour dates and register now at www.dancegems.com

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

Support the show

Guests - Casie Goshow and Kat Martyak

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 73 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, your hosts Courtney and Lesley are joined by dance company director Kat Martyak and convention faculty member Casie Goshow to break down the ins and outs of the dance convention scene!

Topics Include:

•  How to choose the right convention for your studio
•  Convention etiquette for dancers
•  The differences between competitions and convention-competitions

If you love Making The Impact and want to support our podcast, buy us a coffee now on Ko-Fi! Your donation will go directly towards helping create quality content for future episodes. We appreciate your support! ❤️

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• Casie Goshow - @bgirltynee
• Kat Martyak - @katmartyak

Check out our guests' current projects! 

Be sure to visit Casie's clothing line at www.goshowyourself.com!

This episode is sponsored by:

Thrive Dance Experience offers one-day convention events in PA, NC, OH and NJ! Registration for their fall events is now open!
Use code: THRIVEWITHIDA for 5% off your registration!


Spirit of Dance Awards - IDA Affiliated Competition!
New England based dance competition committed to providing a fun, fair and exciting venue for dancers of all levels to showcase their passion in a positive environment! 
Visit their website for 2022 season schedule and fall convention dates.

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

Support the show