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

Contributors

Host

Courtney Ortiz

Courtney Ortiz is a professional dance, educator and adjudicator based in New York City. Originally from Baltimore, MD, she is proud to be a YoungARTS award winner. Some of her favorite professional dance credits include: Finding Neverland the Musical, Lin Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, FX's Fosse/Verdon, and West Side Story International Tour.

Outside of performing, Courtney is an international dance educator and in-demand adjudicator. She has been teaching on faculty with numerous dance conventions for over 10 years and is currently on tour with The Streetz Dance Convention. Courtney is also on guest faculty at the legendary Steps on Broadway and serves as the audition choreographer for RWS Entertainment Group. She is the proud owner of Impact Dance Adjudicators. Follow her on Instagram @courtney.ortiz.

http://www.instagram.com/courtney.ortiz

Co-host

Lesley Mealor

After a 10 year professional dance career, Lesley Mealor has held a variety of positions in the dance industry, including educator, adjudicator, choreographer, product testing coordinator, writer, podcast host, and event manager. She holds a BPA in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University, where she graduated with honors. Currently serving as Assistant General Manager of New York City Dance Alliance, Lesley has been fortunate to have dance in her life on stage, in the studio, and behind the scenes.

Professional credits include the national tours of Sweet Charity and The Music Man, contracts aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and various regional theatre productions. A sought-after adjudicator and guest teacher, her judging and teaching experience has taken her around the U.S and Canada to share her knowledge with the next generation of dancers.