Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

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Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

Season 6 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast is a wrap! We have had such a wonderful year discussing some unique and important topics in the dance industry, and we're excited to reminisce, but also give you a sneak peek at season 7!

Topics Include:

•  Favorite episodes of season 6
•  Info on summer bonus episodes
•  What's new for season 7

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 & 6. 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

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 - IDA Judges

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 230 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we invited our IDA judges to chime in with their takeaways from the 2025 competition season. These judges have seen it all, from coast to coast, and this season did not disappoint! 

Topics Include:

•  What your judges LOVED seeing on stage this season
•  Headsprings - the go-to skill of 2025
•  Pirouette technique and execution
• Competition etiquette - before and after the event  

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 & 6. 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

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo
This summer July 22nd-25th in Las Vegas, NV! 
140+ master classes, seminars, events, & more for continuing education and networking in the dance community! 
Use code: IMPACT50 for $50 off!

Squirrel Trench Audio
Stage-ready soundtracks for Choreographers
Explore hundreds of clean, stage-ready song edits, mixes, and production mixes. Custom song editing for Competition! 

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: Peter Chu

Hosted by Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor

Contemporary dance is a genre that can be hard to define, but what everyone can agree on is that it is one of the most popular styles of dance in the industry. Peter Chu joins us on our final genre spotlight episode of season 6 to discuss the ways contemporary dance has evolved and why it will take ongoing support from the community to allow it to continue. 

Follow Peter Chu on social media @peterchuthis!

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 & 6. 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:

Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo 
This summer July 22nd-25th in Las Vegas, NV! 
140+ master classes, seminars, events, & more for continuing education and networking in the dance community! 
Use code: IMPACT50 for $50 off! 

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! 

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

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

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 - Gregory Kanelos and Jenny Hogan

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 228 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, our "day in the life" series continues with a look into studio owner life! We hear from two different perspectives - Jenny Hogan, owner of Brava Dance in New York for 16 years, and Gregory Kanelos, owner of Studio G Dance Company in Massachusetts, celebrating their 5th season!

Topics Include:

•  How each studio got their start
•  What challenges they face when owning a business
•  What sets their studios apart from the competition

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 & 6. 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
• Jenny Hogan - @brava_dance
• Gregory Kanelos - @studiogdancecompany

This episode is sponsored by:

Relative Motion - Injury Prevention apparel, teacher trainings and in-studio workshops to transform your technique while preventing injuries. 
Receive 10% off any apparel/program purchase or $500 off workshop pricing with the code: IMPACT10

Squirrel Trench Audio
Stage ready soundtracks for Choreographers
Explore hundreds of clean, stage-ready song edits, mixes, and production mixes. Custom song editing for Competition! 

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 - Kasie Auten and Brittni Johnson

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 227 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we explore how and why dancers are susceptible to a perfectionist mindset, and discuss how to use those traits to your advantage while also staying grounded.

Topics Include:

•  Strategies to focus on progress rather than perfection
•  How studio culture can be a factor in whether dancers strive for perfection
•  How perfectionism can manifest throughout your life

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 & 6. 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
• Brittni Johnson - @britts_empoweredintention, @being_brittni
• Kasie Auten - @Ksauten_dance

This episode is sponsored by:

Michelle Leagans's "Hey Dancers...Let's Talk About It!" Journal.
A journaling companion for dancers to thrive as students and team members.
Available for purchase on Amazon!
www.letstalkaboutdance.com

Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo
This summer July 22nd-25th in Las Vegas, NV! 
140+ master classes, seminars, events, & more for continuing education and networking in the dance community! 
Use code: IMPACT50 for $50 off! 

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 - Joey Ortolani and listener submissions 

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 226 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we invited our listeners to share their experiences with toxic behaviors they've encountered at dance studios. We hear (anonymously!) from dance teachers, dance parents, and dance studio owners the things to look out for that may make your dance experience less than satisfactory. Also joining us is IDA judge and studio owner Joey Ortolani to give his varied perspectives as an industry professional who has worn many hats over the years!

*THIS IS A 2 PART EPISODE! Tune in to Part 2 of this episode on Platinum Premium!*

Topics Include:

•  Studios not following their own rules
•  Preferential treatment for some
•  Lack of transparency from leadership

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 & 6. 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
• Joey Ortolani - @joeyorto

This episode is sponsored by:

Squirrel Trench Audio
Stage-ready soundtracks for choreographers
Explore hundreds of clean, stage-ready song edits, mixes, and production mixes. Custom song editing for Competition!

Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo. 
This summer - July 22nd-25th in Las Vegas, NV! 
140+ master classes, seminars, events, & more for continuing education and networking in the dance community! 
Use code: IMPACT50 for $50 off! 

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 - Sally Cofield, Krysten Danielle

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 225 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we're joined by two IDA judges to spill the tea on the hot topic of perfect scores in competitive dance!

Topics Include:

•  Are judges even allowed to give a perfect score?
•  What goes into considering giving a perfect score - technique, performance, or more?
•  The benefits and detriments of receiving a perfect score

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 & 6. 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
• Sally Cofield - @Saldancer
• Krysten Danielle - @mskrystendance

Check out our guests' current projects! 

Subscribe to Sally Cofield's Youtube channel Sally's Silver Linings!

This episode is sponsored by:

Relative Motion - Injury Prevention apparel, teacher trainings and in-studio workshops to transform your technique while preventing injuries. 
Receive 10% off any apparel/program purchase or $500 off workshop pricing with the code: IMPACT10

Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo
This summer - July 22nd-25th in Las Vegas, NV! 
140+ master classes, seminars, events, & more for continuing education and networking in the dance community! 
Use code: IMPACT50 for $50 off! 

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 - Ty Riley and Britney Barber

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 224 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we're debating the pros and cons of two types of dance convention experiences - intimate, in-house conventions and large-scale, big-name dance conventions. Owner of Streetz Dance Convention, Ty Riley, and studio owner Britney Barber join us to give their unique perspectives!

Topics Include:

•  The benefits of bringing a small convention to your own studio
•  Why some dancers might flourish in a big convention atmosphere
•  Which experience might be best for your students

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 & 6. 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
• Ty Riley - @thestreetzdance
• Britney Barber - @britneyboyddancecompany

Check out Ty's Dance Convention Streetz Dance Convention and Competition to view their 2025/2026 tour dates and register for an upcoming event! 

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo. 
This summer July 22nd-25th in Las Vegas, NV! 
140+ master classes, seminars, events, & more for continuing education and networking in the dance community! 
Use code: IMPACT50 for $50 off! 

Relative Motion - Injury Prevention apparel, teacher trainings and in-studio workshops to transform your technique while preventing injuries. 
Receive 10% off any apparel/program purchase or $500 off workshop pricing with the code: IMPACT10
 

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 - Mandy Yip and Malece Miller

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 223 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are joined by two amazing acro specialists, professional dancer and educator Malece Miller, and founder of Acrobatic Arts, Mandy Yip, to discuss how to keep the artistry in acro dance. 

Topics Include:

• A brief history of acro and acro-dance 
• Why safety is the primary concern when inserting acro into dance routines
• Why teaching curriculum-based acro yields better results over time

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 & 6! 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
• Mandy Yip - @AcrobaticArts
• Malece Miller - @malecemiller

Check out our guest’s current projects! 

Acrobatic Arts Certification courses are happening now! https://www.acrobaticarts.com/training-courses

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo.
This summer July 22nd-25th in Las Vegas, NV! 
140+ master classes, seminars, events, & more for continuing education and networking in the dance community! 
Use code: IMPACT50 for $50 off! 

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 - Erin Marino

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 222 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, industry professional Erin Marino shares her insight about how to craft a reel that best represents you! Casting directors, agents, and choreographers look to a dance reel or video footage to find out anything from your personality to your technical ability. Having a cohesive and professional dance reel is one of the most powerful tools in an aspiring dancer’s toolbox! 

Topics Include:

•  What should be included in your professional dance reel?
•  Do you need other types of footage in a variety of styles?
•  How important is it to have dance footage on your social media and Instagram?
• What are casting directors and agents really looking for in your dance footage?

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
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance
• Erin Marino - @erinmarino

Learn more and check out the LA Establish! 

- Establish YOU - A 10 month pre-professional training program in Los Angeles, CA to help bridge your career into the entertainment industry. 

- LA Establishment's Commercial Dance Summer Intensives - Ages 8-12 & 13+!

This episode is sponsored by:

Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo. 
This summer July 22nd-25th in Las Vegas, NV! 
140+ master classes, seminars, events, & more for continuing education and networking in the dance community! 
Use code: IMPACT50 for $50 off! 

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