Guests - Chip Abbott and Summer Renner Disher
Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 157 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, our spectacular guests, studio owner Summer Renner Disher and dance educator and choreographer Chip Abbott school us on the importance of movement quality for competitive dancers, and give tips on teaching techniques for all ages!

Topics Include:

•  How to talk about movement quality in class
•  Unique approaches to teaching movement quality
•  Why the quality of your movement quality can make or break your score at 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. No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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
• Chip Abbott - @chipstergram
• Summer Renner Disher - @rennerdance, @summerrennerdisher

Check out our guest’s current projects! 

Take Chip Abbott's weekly classes at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center! 

This episode is sponsored by:

Francisco Gella Dance Works - Season 5 Premier Sponsor!
Educational and developmental programs, intensives, and seminars designed to empower students, parents, educators, and artists.
Use Code: MAKINGTHEIMPACT for $75 off your next intensive

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


Check out IDA Affiliated Competition Star Talent Productions!
View their 2024 season tour dates and register 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! 

Support the show

Guests - Jody Reynard and Andrea Tracy

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 156 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are joined by two fantastic dance educators and veteran competition judges, Jody Reynard and Andrea Tracy, to share our thoughts on what makes up a winning routine at competition!

Topics Include:

•  Why choreography plays so heavily into the scoring of a routine - and why we can't always tell you about it
•  Do tricks really matter to judges when considering which routine to score higher?
•  Ideas for studio owners and teachers to consider when creating routines for 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 and 5. No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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
• Jody Reynard - @otherblkguy
• Andrea Tracy - @andremtracy1

This episode is sponsored by:

Apolla Performance
The benefit of a shoe + the comfort of a sock. Try Apolla Shocks and use code IMPACT10 for 10% off at checkout!

Dance Device Lab
Education-focused, in-studio conventions and workshops for studios Nationwide!
Receive 10% off of your event with DDL by using promo code: DDLIMPACT10

YoungArts
Register now for their 2024 National Arts Competition to win scholarships, mentorship, and a trip to YoungArts Week in Miami! Deadline to submit is by October 13th, 2023.

Check out IDA Affiliated Competition - DecaDance Competition
View their 2024 tour dates and register 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

Support the show

Guests - Kelin Barr and Mary Marrone

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 155 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, guests Kelin Barr, dance educator in New York, and Mary Marrone, IDA judge and studio owner in Connecticut, join us to outline the benefits of going back to the basics in every style of dance - as well as in every level of dance! 

Topics Include:

•  Ideas for promoting excitement about the foundational elements of dance
•  Thoughts about why some dance teachers seem to skip the basics and head right into teaching tricks - and how to avoid being that teacher!
•  A non-comprehensive list of essential basic skills for each style of dance 

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 and 5. No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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
• Kelin Barr - @blondiebarr
• Mary Marrone - @marymarrone5678 

This episode is sponsored by:

Francisco Gella Dance Works - Season 5 Premier Sponsor!
Educational and developmental programs, intensives, and seminars designed to empower students, parents, educators, and artists.
Intensive Opportunities: Ballet+, Pre Professional Dancer Institute, Seattle Dance Advance, New Years Training Camp, Mini Mania Dance Intensive, College & Career Prep. Receive $75 off an upcoming intensive or workshop with code: MAKINGTHEIMPACT


YoungArts
Register now for their 2024 National Arts Competition to win scholarships, mentorship, and a trip to YoungArts Week in Miami!
Deadline to submit is by October 13th, 2023.


Check out IDA Affiliated Competition Gems Dance Competition!
View their 2023 tour dates and register 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 o

Support the show

Guests - Jamie Howes and James Manning

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 154 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we dive into the world of performing arts high schools with two wonderful guests who are the head of the dance department at their schools to give us the inside scoop on what life is like in an academic setting that's devoted to the arts!


Topics Include:

• The relationship between their performing arts schools and the competitive dance studios their students attend
• The schedule for a typical performing arts high school student focused on dance
• How a performing arts school can be beneficial even to students who may not pursue dance as a career

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 and 5. No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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
• Jamie Howes - @jamie.k.howes
• James Manning - @Jawashi1

This episode is sponsored by:

YoungArts
Register now for their 2024 National Arts Competition to win scholarships, mentorship, and a trip to YoungArts Week in Miami! Deadline to submit is by October 13th, 2023.


Check out IDA Affiliated Competition - Gems Dance Competition
Visit their website and view their 2024 dates 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 at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Guests - Amy Gibson and Morriss Partee

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 153 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we are joined by IDA judge and dance educator Amy Gibson, and Morriss Partee, owner of Squirrel Trench Audio, to give you the scoop on why you need to edit your music for  the competitive dance stage!

Topics Include:

•  Tips and tricks to get the best edits possible
•  Common music editing mistakes and how to fix them
•  Why viewing your dance with a cinematic perspective can help you make better music editing choices

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. No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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
• Amy Gibson - @mazeamy
• Morriss Partee - @squirreltrenchaudio

Check out our guest’s services! 

Squirrel Trench Audio - view their huge catalog of performance-ready music! And if you're looking for recital welcome music, they have you covered - Magical Recital Welcome Soundtrack

This episode is sponsored by:

YoungArts
Register now for their 2024 National Arts Competition to win scholarships, mentorship, and a trip to YoungArts Week in Miami! Deadline to submit is by October 13th, 2023. 

Check out our IDA Affiliated Competition and Sponsor:
Axis Dance Competition . Visit their website to view their 2024 Tour Dates! 

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

Guest: Mary Giattino

Hosted by: Courtney Ortiz & Lesley Mealor

Studio Spotlight episodes continue into Season 5 of Making the Impact with Stage Door School of Dance in Long Island, NY. Owner Mary Giattino joins us to give insight into how she successfully took over the family business and continues to train not only excellent dancers but also excellent people. Stage Door School of Dance is the very first recipient of our Making the Impact Award to receive a full studio spotlight feature on our podcast after winning our fan favorite Instagram contest this summer! 

Follow Stage Door School of Dance on social media @StageDoorDancer and be sure to check out their upcoming projects!

Who would you like to see featured on our upcoming Spotlight Interviews? Share your recommendations by shooting us an email at podcast@impactdanceadjudicators.com.

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. No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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:

YoungArts
Applications are open for the 2024 National YoungArts Competition, available for artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12. Deadline to apply is October 13th, 2023.

Check out our IDA Affiliated Competition - High Demand Dance Competition
Visit their website to view 2024 Season Tour Dates!

Follow your Hosts & Guests!

• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor  - @miss.lesley.dance
• Stage Door School of Dance - @StageDoorDancer

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

Guests - Christina Belinksy and Sam Quinn

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

In Episode 151 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, we bring you back to one of the hottest topics in the dance industry today - lyrical vs contemporary. IDA judges and dance educators Christina Belinksy and Sam Quinn weigh in on this discussion.

Topics Include:

•  The evolution of the styles and what that means for the competitive dance world 
•  The importance of music selection in choosing which style of dance to present
•  Why it can sometimes feel like today's young dancers don't think lyrical is "cool" - and why we do!

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. No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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
• Christina Belinksy - @christinabelinsky  
• Sam Quinn - @samquinn

Check out our guest’s current projects! 

Follow Christina's bespoke, sustainable clothing line - @artistsinmotionapparel

This episode is sponsored by:

Apolla Performance 
The benefit of a shoe + the comfort of a sock. Try Apolla Shocks and use code IMPACT10 for 10% off at checkout!


DecaDance Competition - IDA Affiliated Competition
View their 2024 tour dates and register 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 at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

Welcome to Season 5 of Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast! In this opening episode, your hosts recap the highlights of the first four seasons, share some exciting updates, and give you a sneak peek of what's to come this season!


Topics Include:

•  Podcast cover art winners for Season 5
•  Fan favorite Making the Impact Award contest
•  New Platinum Premium subscription perks
• Sneak peek on what's to come in S5!

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 and 5! No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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 at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com

Support the show

Guests - Yurel Echezarreta, Daniela Delahuerta, Tatiana Nuñez, Ethan Zeph, Macy McKown

Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz

In this special summer bonus episode of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, Courtney sits down to interview the cast of West Side Story during her time performing in the musical production this summer at the prestigious regional theatre The Muny located in St. Louis, MO. 5 cast members join her to chat all things dance, their careers as professional performers, their experience working on the show, and so much more! 


Topics Include:

•  What it's like to be a Broadway performer
•  Experiences from auditioning for The Muny and in New York City
•  Their journey learning and performing in the show
• Advice for aspiring professionals who want to perform in musicals

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. No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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
• Yurel Echezarreta - @yurele
• Daniela Delahuerta - @aiaiaiDaniela
• Tatiana Nuñez - @tatinunez143
• Ethan Zeph - @ethanzeph
• Macy McKown - @macynmck 

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

Guests: Jason Williams and Jared Baker

Hosted by: Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

Recorded on: June 15th, 2023

SUMMER BONUS EPISODE! Season 4 of Making The Impact wrapped on June 1st, 2023 but since then, there have been some important conversations making headlines in the dance community when it comes to stolen choreography. Dance educators and choreographers Jason Williams and Jared Baker recently spoke out on social media about discovering that their choreography has been stolen and reproduced without their consent by others in the industry. We reached out to Jason and Jared to take the conversation one step further and invited them both to be guests on our podcast. We hope that by having these types of conversations on Making The Impact, we will continue to support and advocate for what's right in our industry, help educate dancers and teachers on why you should not plagiarize choreography, and encourage others to speak out when faced with difficult situations throughout their careers. Sit back and enjoy Part 2 of our summer bonus episode and stay tuned for Season 5 of Making The Impact launching September 7th, 2023.

Follow your Hosts & Guests! 

• Jason Williams - @thejasonwilliamsexperience 
• Jared Baker - @jbake13
• Courtney Ortiz - @courtney.ortiz
• Lesley Mealor - @miss.lesley.dance

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. No sponsored ads!
• 20% off all IDA Merchandise
• Private Zoom Talkbacks throughout the dance season with Courtney!
• Exclusive bonus content released throughout the year

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!

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! 

Support the show