PodcastsArtsMaking The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

Impact Dance Adjudicators
Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast
Latest episode

293 episodes

  • Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

    Season 7 Wrap Up!

    28/05/2026 | 34 mins.
    Send us Fan Mail
    Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

    That's a wrap on Season 7 of Making the Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast! Thank you to all our loyal listeners who have been here since the beginning for all your support, and to our new fans who have joined us this year! We can't wait to share season 8 with you - but for now, happy summer!

    MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Season 8 is scheduled to release on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026.

    Topics Include:
     Favorite episodes of Season 7
     Info on summer bonus episodes
     What's new for Season 8

    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
    Impact Dance Adjudicators - @impactdanceadjudicators 

    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
  • Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

    Judging Horror Stories - Why Treatment On Events Needs an Industry Wide Overhaul! - Part 1

    28/05/2026 | 1h 9 mins.
    Send us Fan Mail
    Guests - Robb Gibbs, Brittni Johnson, and Anonymous Submissions
    Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

    To close out Season 7 of Making the Impact, we are getting real about the often unspoken truths in the dance competition judging space. Veteran IDA judges Robb Gibbs and Brittni Johnson, as well as anonymous submissions from judges around the country, share what it can really be like during those long weekends behind the table. Spoiler alert - sometimes it's not pretty. 
    This is the first episode of a two episode series, so stay tuned for part 2 releasing as a summer bonus episode in June!

    Topics Include:
    Discussing the reasons we love judging - and the reasons that it becomes harder and harder each season
    Travel nightmares and lodging snafus - all to save a dollar
    The realities of trying to stay true to your values while adhering to company policies

    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
    Robb Gibbs - @robb.gibbs
    Brittni Johnson - @being_brittni, @alignment.in.dance

    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 at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com
    Support the show
  • Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

    Throwback! - S3 EP 96 – How to NOT be a Stage Mom!

    21/05/2026 | 1h 34 mins.
    Send us Fan Mail
    Guests - Summer Aiello & Shannon Thomas
    Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

    Our final throwback episode is one for the dance moms out there! 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. Join studio owner Shannon Thomas and veteran dance mom Summer Aiello for this informative chat! This episode originally aired on March 24, 2022. 

    Topics Include:
    Understanding boundaries between your dancer and your studio owner
    Learning what is acceptable dance parent behavior
    How to stay involved without pushing limits

    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
    Summer @Summerbellies
    Shannon @legacydance386

    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 at www.impactdanceadjudicators.com
    Support the show
  • Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

    Raising the New Generation - Former Dancers Who Are Now Competitive Dance Parents

    14/05/2026 | 1h 19 mins.
    Send us Fan Mail
    Guests - Lynne McNelis and Jennifer Lobaito
    Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

    In Episode 267 of Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, two former dancers join us to chat about what it's like to raise competitive dancers in this new era in the industry. From memories of "the good old days" to current challenges and joys, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

    Topics Include:
     The search for the right dance studio
     Differences between the old generation and the new generation of dancers
    Setting your dancer up for what success looks like for them using your knowledge 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 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
    Lynne McNelis - @lynnemcnelis
    Jennifer Lobaito - @Dancefixwithjenn 

    This episode is sponsored by:

    The DanceOne Summit
    The premier event for dance teachers and studio owners to unite. share. inspire! This summer in New York City - August 13-16th, 2026.
    Register now for $100 off using promo code: DOS26IMPACT 

    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! 

    Check out IDA affiliated competition True Dance Challenge! www.truedancechallenge.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
  • Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast

    Throwback! - S1 EP 21 – Beyond the Barre - Why Ballet Matters in Competitive Dance

    07/05/2026 | 50 mins.
    Send us Fan Mail
    Guests - Carrie Euker, Holly Gannett
    Hosted By - Courtney Ortiz and Lesley Mealor

    Today's throwback episode takes us back to Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast's very first season! This episode features IDA judges Carrie Euker and Holly Gannett discussing ways to keep ballet fun, relevant and beloved in the dance competition world. This episode originally aired on March 30, 2020.

    Topics Include:
     Ideas for keeping ballet class interesting
     What judges look for in a ballet competition routine
     How ballet can benefit other styles 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 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
    Carrie Euker - @CMEuker
     Holly Gannett - @Hollcoll77

    This episode is sponsored by:
    The DanceOne Summit 
    The premier event for dance teachers and studio owners to unite. share. inspire! This summer in New York City - August 13-16th, 2026.
    Register now for $100 off using promo code: DOS26IMPACT 

    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
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About Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast
Have you ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a dance competition judge? What does it take to impress the people behind the table? Join your hosts Courtney Ortiz, professional dancer, educator and owner of Impact Dance Adjudicators, and Lesley Mealor, veteran performer and judge, on Making The Impact - A Dance Competition Podcast, as they dive into all things dance competition! Each week, listen as Courtney and Lesley discuss various hot topics with members of the IDA judges’ roster and other special guests in the dance world, from technique, to costumes, to the dreaded question - “Tights…or no tights?” Stay tuned for special spotlight episodes, round table chats and so much more! Weekly episodes launch every Thursday throughout the dance season! @impactdanceadjudicators
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