COME TO DANCE,
WALK AWAY INSPIRED!

KAR Dance Convention 2014 | Experience the hottest new choreography styles this season at our convenient one-day event!

Where
Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
When
November 23, 2014
8am – 5pm

Faculty Members

Kevin Hermann
Jazz

KEVIN HERMANN, now residing in San Diego, CA, began his dance training as a child in Albuquerque, NM. He went on to receive his formal training from the University of Arizona, where he graduated Cum Laude with a B.F.A. in dance. He has had the privilege of performing works by world-renowned choreographers Mia Michaels and Dee Caspary, and has danced with Malashock Dance and Company and the San Diego Opera. Kevin is a full time teacher and choreographer at The Element Dance Center in La Mesa, CA; winner of the 2008 FDC Pinnacle Cup. His students can be seen in national commercials for Welch's Grape Juice, Divaz Dolls, Target, Kraft, Mattel and McDonald's. He has also been awarded Teacher of the Year and Choreography of the Year from Kids Artistic Revue National Dance Competition. Kevin has also added video and television work to his credits including commercials for Allstate Insurance, videos for Los Angeles based singer Brooke Wilkes, Melissa Lowe's The New Ballet Workout (Kultur Productions), and has appeared dancing on CBS with Miss America 2000, Heather Renee French. Mr. Hermann continues to travel from coast to coast setting his high energy, unique choreography for kids of all ages and is in high demand for master classes and summer intensives. In addition, Kevin travels with the highly acclaimed Fusion Dance Workshops, a personalized in house intensive, to studios around the country. He enjoys sharing his love and passion for dance with kids around the country!

Marco Cruz
Hip Hop

Marco Cruz is a Choreographer, Dancer, Artistic Director, Judge, Master Class Instructor, and Leader in the Contemporary and Hip Hop Arenas. His musicality and attention to detail have been described as captivating, inspirational and breathtaking. His passion for dance is what has made him one of todayʼs most sought after choreographers and a true original in his field. His professional persuits have no end, he has performed in, choreographed, and directed music videos, commercials and award shows for recording artist such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Naturi Naughton, Olivia Newton John, Kenny Loggins, and Kwanza Jones; and production companies including Paramount Pictures, ABC, Nickelodeon, Disney, Power of Youth, Variety Magazine, and Nigel Lythgoe’s Dizzy Feet Foundation. Cruz is no stranger to the world of competitive dance. His works have placed first against some of today’s most elite dance studios. He has earned several National Championship Titles at some of the most prestigious competitions: ShowStoppers, Hollywood Vibe, Starpower, Hall of Fame, Hollywood Connection, Jump, The Dance Awards and KAR just to name a few. Dance education and instilling a respect of the art of dance is of primary focus for Cruz. Several of his students have chosen to pursue dance education at the collegiate level. Likewise, many of Cruz’s students have excelled in dance and the entertainment industry and have moved on to dance professionally for companies such as Joffrey, Ballet Hispanico in New York, Lines in San Francisco, Santa Barbra’s State Street Ballet, and many more.

Mark Orsborn
Tap

Mark Orsborn is a tap dancer, choreographer and teacher born and raised in Washington, D.C. He is a former soloist with the Tap America Project (TAP) and was featured at the Kennedy Center 25th Anniversary and Smithsonian 150th Anniversary. Mark's early professional training started when he was a member of the pre-professional tap company "Tappers With Attitude" (TWA). He also studied with Debbie Allen and was an original cast member of her show, “Brothers of the Knight”. Mark co-founded his company, The JaM Project, in 2007 and has been recognized by The Washington Post, Dance Spirit, and numerous film festivals for his projects. The JaM Project was a winner at the 2016 Capezio Ace Awards, which recognizes the top emerging choreographers in the commercial dance industry. In 2017, the company's show, "Good Times, Bad Times" premiered a 30-minute set at Dancerpalooza's "25 Live" in Long Beach, CA and a 60-minute set at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The JaM Project was featured on Season 2 of NBC's "World of Dance" and continues to perform around the country. Mark is the Director of The JaM Youth Project, a youth tap company focused on choreography and dance film production. The company attracts young tap dancers from all over the country and has received support from news outlets and national recording artist, The Doobie Brothers. Tap dance films created by the company have screened at the L.A. Dance Film Festival, Cucalorus Film Festival, Philadelphia Screendance Festival, American Dance Festival's "Movies by Movers" and Cascadia Dance & Cinema Festival (Vancouver, BC). They have also been featured in Dance Teacher Magazine. Mark's choreography was recognized in 2015 by the Young Choreographer's Festival in NYC and he co-choreographed the closing number at both the 2015 and 2016 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards in New York City. He was a contributing choreographer and performer for YouTube's "Brandcast" at Radio City Music Hall. Mark was also a part of the Signature Theater's choreography team for its production of "Billy Elliot" and was nominated for a 2019 Helen Hayes Award. Mark Orsborn is a tap dancer, choreographer and teacher born and raised in Washington, D.C. He is a former soloist with the Tap America Project (TAP) and was featured at the Kennedy Center 25th Anniversary and Smithsonian 150th Anniversary. Mark's early professional training started when he was a member of the pre-professional tap company "Tappers With Attitude" (TWA). He also studied with Debbie Allen and was an original cast member of her show, “Brothers of the Knight”. Mark co-founded his company, The JaM Project, in 2007 and has been recognized by The Washington Post, Dance Spirit, and numerous film festivals for his projects. The JaM Project was a winner at the 2016 Capezio Ace Awards, which recognizes the top emerging choreographers in the commercial dance industry. In 2017, the company's show, "Good Times, Bad Times" premiered a 30-minute set at Dancerpalooza's "25 Live" in Long Beach, CA and a 60-minute set at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The JaM Project was featured on Season 2 of NBC's "World of Dance" and continues to perform around the country. Recently, Mark began directing The JaM Youth Project, a youth tap company focused on choreography and dance film production. The company has already attracted young tap dancers from all over the country and received support from news outlets and national recording artist, The Doobie Brothers. Tap dance films created by the company have screened at the L.A. Dance Film Festival, Cucalorus Film Festival, Philadelphia Screendance Festival, American Dance Festival's "Movies by Movers" and Cascadia Dance & Cinema Festival (Vancouver, BC). They have also been featured in Dance Teacher Magazine. Mark's choreography was recognized in 2015 by the Young Choreographer's Festival in NYC and he co-choreographed the closing number at both the 2015 and 2016 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards in New York City. Recently, Mark was a contributing choreographer and performer for YouTube's "Brandcast" at Radio City Music Hall. He was also a part of the Signature Theater's choreography team for its production of "Billy Elliot" and was nominated for a 2019 Helen Hayes Award. Mark has recently been on faculty for numerous tap dance festivals including DC Tap Fest, Jersey Tap Fest, OC Tap Fest, Orlando Tap Fest, Make Some Noise Tap Festival, RIFF: Rhythm in Fusion Festival, and Taps Alive.

Michelle Chandler-Smith
Lyrical

Michelle has studied under the guidance of Joe Tremaine, Gus Giordano, Dave Massey, Doug Caldwell, Sean Greene, and several others. She has also had the privilege of performing as a member of the jazz-based Eastside Moving Company and the modern-jazz Company Fusion, both in Seattle. After three years at Chapman University in Orange, California and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Theatre, she began her teaching career in Bellevue, Washington at Backstage Dance Studio. Several of Chandler-Smith’s students have won title awards regionally and nationally and have gone onto careers with Holland America, Carnival Cruise Lines, Stiletto Entertainment and are seen in many industrial pieces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and New York City, as well as Company work in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Pennsylvania, Saipan and London. Michelle also sits on the judging panel regionally and nationally for KAR, Rainbow Dance and other esteemed Dance Competitions. Michelle continues to teach master classes, convention classes on staff at Kids Artistic Revue (KAR) and Dance Masters of America (DMA), and shares her choreography across the country, all of which she feels so honored and blessed to continue to do. Michelle is now Co-Owner/Director at Inspire Academy of Dance which opened this past summer 2016 in the Seattle area. Michelle is truly excited to be sharing her choreography, knowledge and insight with students willing to pursue the heart and soul of dance as an innovative and expanding art form.

Sarah Hilarides
Musical Theater

Sarah Hilarides has been teaching professionally for 13 years now . After graduating from Oakland University with a Bachelors of Arts in Musical Theater and Dance she moved to San Francisco where she worked as a professional Stage actress and choreographer. She has choreographed many shows such as Miss Saigon, Grease, Into the Woods and many more. She has danced in many shows and music videos along with her musical career. Sarah has been choreographing around the country for the past 5 years and has worked with many dance schools and colleges along the way. She is really excited to be on staff this year and can't wait to put the love of learning and dance into children's hearts!

Your Dancers
Will Thank You!

Convention Price List / 6 classes + showcase at only $235

6 Classes

$185
 Jazz
 Tap
 Contemporary
 Hip Hop
 Musical Theater
 Audition Workshop

6 Classes +
Protege Performer Audition +
1 Parent Observer Band

$255
 Jazz
 Tap
 Contemporary
 Hip Hop
 Musical Theater
 Audition Workshop

$20 Parent Observer Band

Register Now