AMA LAW DANCER / CHOREOGRAPHER Ama Law began her dance training with Kankouran West African Dance Company. Literally being born into the African culture, as both of her parents are founding members, she was a company member for most of her youth and teenage years. She is an alumnus of DyNaMiC dance team at the University of Maryland-College Park and was president for the 07-08 season, leading the team to place 3rd at Culture Shock DC’s East Coast Dance Competition! Graduating with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a certificate in Women's Studies, she took a break from academia to expand her dance vocabulary. She completed a rigorous internship at Broadway Dance Center in Manhattan, NY fall 2008 as a hip-hop concentration, training under world-renowned choreographers such as Luam, Rhapsody James and Jared Grimes. Since returning to the DMV, it's been her goal to share her training with everyone. She is the former Artistic Director of B.Funk Dance Company’s Hip hop Crew teams. She and her husband Chris often teach, mentor and battle together as Project ChArma. She is a Culture Shock DC alumni and a forth year member of the all-girl crew, Kickrocks! As an artist with Cruz Productions, she hopes to help inspire and expose others while continuing to immerse herself in various hip-hop styles. House, Vogue, Waackin’ and African dance are a few areas in which she is currently working to expand her versatility as a dancer. She hopes to provide inspiration for the future generation of dancers to not only become fierce but, knowledgeable individuals. Headline Credits: *Project ChArma *Dynamic (alum) *Culture Shock DC (alum) *Cruz Productions Artist *Kickrocks Crew *Monsters Of Hip Hop *World Of Dance *Kankouran West African Dance Company

Amanda Casas, born in Riverside, California, grew up a competitive dancer at the age of six. She has won numerous titles including representing the United States in Australia winning the international title of ‘Dancer of The World’ in 2006. She toured the world dancing on a cruise ship, was a background dancer for ‘Foreigner’, and performed with contemporary company “Atlantis Dance Theatre”. She was featured on the Fox series ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, season 5 making it to Top 30 girls. Amanda danced two seasons in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers. She continued to represent the NFL as an All-Star Cheerleader and was an ambassador at the international games in London. Amanda graduated college from California State University, Long Beach with a BA in Dance, and is Pilates Certified (BASI). She currently teaches conventions and master classes throughout the nation with Kids Artistic Revue, is a nationally recognized choreographer, and judges internationally in countries like Mexico and Japan! 

At the young age of 3, Cori Heckmann-Moody began her dance training and fell in love with the rhythms and sounds of tap. After thirteen years of training and assisting, it wasn't long before Cori knew she wanted to share her passion for tap with others. For twelve years, Cori directed the tap programs for several studios throughout California, and in 2015 opened her own studio, Roseville Academy of Dance in Roseville, CA. With recognition from today's most popular dance competitions, Cori has won numerous awards for her choreography, most entertaining acts, and highest scoring tap performances at both the regional and national level. Her students have received high point awards, title awards, scholarships, and have taken home top honors from many dance competitions. Cori spends her free time continuing her dance education, choreographing and teaching master classes for studios throughout the United States, judging dance competitions, and running a private lesson based business, CHM Dance Productions. Cori loves teaching dance and is very excited to be returning for her fourth year with the KAR Dance Convention.

Moving bodies while moving souls, Kira immersed myself into the dance culture twenty-eight years ago. Studying relentlessly, I moved through Dance Connection Scottsdale, Ballet Arizona, Ballet Etudes, Edge Performing arts California and Millennium Dance Center mastering all styles and movement as well as incorporating a fierce history in theater arts. Professionally, dance led her to the Phoenix Suns Dance Team, Royal Caribbean Broadway Revue, Superbowl XXX, Miss Dance of Arizona, Ballet Arizona’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and various Industrials. Her performance credits also include a back-up dancer for Ricky Martin’s, “She Bangs”, MTV’s “N-Synce Reunion Special,” “Broadway Review”, model/dancer for Matrix Hair, and local commercials for Toyota and Fiat. However, Kira’s true passion has always been teaching and choreography. Currently, she is one of the most sought after Master Dance Teachers in Arizona who is currently teaching and choreographing for some of the industry’s top dance students.

Suzie has been dancing since age 4, and has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and contemporary. At the age of 8, she performed in the Pittsburgh Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. Suzie won many top awards on the regional and national level, and in 2004, she was seen performing in the International Children's Olympics opening ceremony with recording artist Aaron Carter. At Youngstown State University, Suzie was a member and secretary of the YSU Dance Ensemble, and she was also seen on stage with Easy Street Productions in performances such as "Beauty and the Beast", "Annie", and "The Wizard of Oz". She is now a dance instructor at the Steppin Out Dance Center in Youngstown, Ohio, where her students have won numerous awards on the regional and national level, as well as multiple FDC and choreography awards. She has been named "Teacher of the Year" for the past four years at Kids Artistic Revue's National Finals. Her students have won top scholarships at many conventions across the country and have been invited to perform in the Choreographers Carnival in Los Angeles. Her students have also won top honors such as the 2012 Miss Dance of America, and National Grand Champions in hip hop and lyrical. Suzie is also a judge for Kids Artistic Revue and Rainbow competitions. She loves every second of teaching dance, and is so excited to join the KAR Convention faculty this year!