Episode 130: Mental Skills of Auditioning and Performing in NYC with Courtney Ortiz
Summary:
In this episode, I’m talking with New York City-based professional dancer, Courtney Ortiz. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to audition and perform in New York City, she shares some great advice on the mental aspects of being a professional adult performer and how to pick up choreography quickly.
Courtney’s career spans from stage to screen with credits including the Broadway National Tour of Finding Neverland, Lin Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes, and so much more. Outside of performing, Courtney is an international dance educator and in-demand dance adjudicator as well. She’s been teaching on faculty with numerous dance conventions and is currently on guest faculty at the legendary Steps on Broadway.
Courtney has some great points about being able to pick up choreography quickly in an audition and adapt in a professional setting. Spoiler alert: you have to count! There’s even more to the conversation when we discuss teaching, judging, how you build your confidence as a judge, and if judges can really tell if you're nervous based on your walk on. Enjoy my conversation with New York City-based professional dancer, Courtney Ortiz!
“I’m sure that all dancers have the butterflies and jitters before they go onstage, but also remembering that that is your safe place, and you are here because you love it and you are here to show us your hard work and your passion for dance. If you really dig deep to try to find that, I think that you can get that performance quality up a bit and let that lack of confidence, if that’s what it is, or terrified, scared expression just pass by and dig deep to find that performance because that is a part of the score – performance.”
– Courtney Ortiz
Key Highlights –
- [2m 20s] – Courtney’s Dance Journey
- [5m 27s] – Courtney Talks In The Heights
- [11m 10s] – The Mental Skills Involved in Judging
- [22m 33s] – Creating a Safe Space in Class
- [33m 48s] – Courtney’s Tips for Picking Up Choreography Quickly
- [40m 37s] – Rhythm and Counts
- [45m 13s] – Courtney’s Take on Success
Resources –
Follow Courtney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtney.ortiz
Follow Impact Dance Adjudicators on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactdanceadjudicators
Listen to the Making The Impact Podcast: https://www.impactdanceadjudicators.com/podcast
Leave a voice note for the podcast: www.chelseapierotti.com/message
Sign up to my Email List: www.chelseapierotti.com/email
The Relevé Dance Coach Membership is there to replenish your personal, mental, and emotional energy and help you create dancers who are mentally tough, resilient, and motivated. Join the Relevé Membership here: www.chelseapierotti.com/membership
Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers
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Transcript
Courtney Ortiz
Courtney Ortiz is a New York City based professional dancer, educator, adjudicator and proud YoungARTS award winner. Her professional dance and teaching career has allowed her to travel the world performing in places such as: Dubai, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Australia, and France. Her career spans from stage to screen with credits including: the Broadway National Tour of Finding Neverland, Lin Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes, and the first ever revival in 30 years of Jerome Robbins’ Broadway at The Muny’s 100th Season! You can also catch Courtney’s feet tap dancing in the hit FX series, “Fosse/Verdon”, where she was the dance double for Young Bob Fosse! One of her favorite and most memorable credits was performing original Jerome Robbins’ choreography throughout Europe on the International Tour of the classic musical West Side Story.
Outside of performing, Courtney is an international dance educator and in-demand dance adjudicator. She has been teaching on faculty with numerous dance conventions for over 10 years. Courtney is on guest faculty at the legendary Steps on Broadway and currently serves as the audition choreographer for RWS Entertainment Group where she travels worldwide to audition dancers for future opportunities on cruise ships. Courtney is also the proud owner of Impact Dance Adjudicators and the host of their popular dance podcast Making The Impact – A Dance Competition Podcast. This season, she will be on tour with The Streetz Dance Convention as their jazz faculty and teacher judge! She absolutely loves sharing her passion for dance with the next generation and encourages all dancers to do what they love and live their dream! Follow her on Instagram @courtney.ortiz and tune in to her dance podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
