Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

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Guests - Caleb Dicke and Glenn Kelich

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor



This throwback episode of Making the Impact takes us back to 2023 with a conversation about stage fright. Courtney and Lesley discuss their experiences with stage fright with two wonderful guests. Caleb Dicke, professional dancer and IDA judge, and Glenn Kelich, former professional dancer turned mental health professional, remind listeners that they're not alone in struggling with stage fright. This episode originally aired on January 12, 2023. 



Topics Include:

•  Strategies for handling stage fright
•  Personal experiences with stage fright
•  How teachers and parents can help dancers combat performance anxiety

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
• Caleb Dicke - @CalebDicke
• Glenn Kelich - @glennkelich, @thementalgame

This episode is sponsored by:

Check out our service: IDA Online Judge's Critiques
Send us a video of your dance and an IDA Judge will critique your routine! You can request a genre-specific specialty judge or add on 10 minutes of additional feedback. 24 hour rush delivery available!
Submit your video now! 

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

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Send us Fan Mail

Guests - Rayne Thiemann and Brionna Trilling

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 237 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we're exploring the ways facial expressions can inform performance quality in competitive dance. Joy, fear, sadness, curiosity and more can all be expressed through the face, and contribute to the success of a piece. IDA judges Rayne and Brionna share their tips and tricks for achieving the most honest and real performance quality in competitive dance. 

Topics Include:

•  Why understanding the "why" is so important in dance
•  The delicate balance between performing for the back of the house and being over the top
• How to tap into genuine emotion when dancing at all ages

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
• Rayne Thiemann - @raynesharesalot
• Brionna Trilling - @brietrills

This episode is sponsored by:

IDA Affiliated Competition - Elevation On Tour!
View their upcoming 2026 Tour Dates on their website!

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

Send us Fan Mail

Guest: Samantha O'Neil

Hosted by: Courtney Ortiz 

DECAdance Competition provides a totally unique competition and “un”convention experience, with genre-specific adjudicators, live music at their “un”convention, and complimentary meals for studio owners! On this week's episode of Making the Impact, Courtney sits down with DECAdance Competition owner Samantha Tirone O’Neil to learn more about this incredible company in our first IDA-affiliated Competition Spotlight! 

Products and services mentioned in this episode include:

• Omara Floors - sprung floors for dancers
• Relative Motion - structured, measurable training designed for both dancers and teachers
• Learn more about the Andrea Michaels Scholarship 
  
  

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 Season 4 - 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!

This episode is sponsored by:

DECAdance Competition - IDA Affiliated Competition
View their 2026 tour dates and register now!
http://www.decdancecompetition.com

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Samantha O'Neil - @decadancecomp

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 us on social media at @impactdanceadjudicators and for a list of IDA Affiliated dance competitions, visit our website at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Guests - Kiyah Rush, Megan Friedman, Brandi George

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 235 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are excited to learn more about the world of dance convention assistants. Studio owners Megan Friedman and Brandi George join us, along with professional assistant Kiyah Rush to give us the inside scoop on what it takes to land this type of opportunity!

Topics Include:

•  The benefits of being a student-level assistant
•  What other opportunities exist for assistants besides being on stage
•  What skill sets dancers should have before becoming an assistant

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
• Kiyah Rush - @Kiyahrush
• Brandi George - @bgeorge811
• Megan Friedman - @megfriedman
• The PAC Dance Studio - @thepacdanceco

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

IDA Affiliated Competition - Elevation On Tour!
View their upcoming 2026 Tour Dates on their website!

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

Send us Fan Mail

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

Send us Fan Mail

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

Send us Fan Mail

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

Send us Fan Mail

Guests - James Du Chateau and Lizzy Steirer

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

The winner of the Making the Impact Award fan favorite contest from 2025 was Dance Fusion Performing Arts Studio's routine "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" We are excited to welcome choreographer Lizzy Steirer and competition director James Du Chateau to the podcast to represent Dance Fusion in this studio spotlight episode!

Topics Include:

• Dance Fusion Performing Arts Studio's unique class offerings, including aerial silks!
•  James and Lizzy's journeys that brought them to Dance Fusion
•  The inspiration behind the award-winning routine

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 Fusion Performing Arts - @studiodancefusion

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 at 8pm. 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

Send us Fan Mail

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

Welcome to season 7 of Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast! Courtney and Lesley kick off the new season with a recap of the summer and share some exciting news about what's coming up this year!

Topics Include:

• How we spent our summer months! News & Updates  
• Cover art contest winners for season 7
•  Making the Impact Award fan favorite contest winner
•  Upcoming episode topic teasers and new features

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!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• 
  

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

Send us Fan Mail

Guests - Maddie Marcadis & Stephani Sosa

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz

In our special summer bonus episode of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney hosted a live podcast event at Streetz Dance Convention's Nationals where parents, students, and teachers joined us for a Q&A alongside some fabulous guests! We loved connecting and meeting so many Making The Impact fans this summer!

Topics Include:

• The significance of versatility and technique in dance training
• The financial challenges of competitive dance
• The need for respect and proper compensation for dancers in the industry.
• Advice for aspiring professional dancers

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 Season 4 & 5. 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
• Maddie Marcadis - @maddiekmarcadis
• Stephani Sosa - @stephychica
• Streetz Dance Convention - @thestreetzdance 

Thank you to Streetz for sponsoring and hosting this live podcast event! 

Learn more about Streetz Dance Convention and register for an upcoming event in their 2026 tour! www.thestreetzdance.com 

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