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
Billings Hotel & Convention Center
1223 Mullowney Lane
Billings, MT 59101
When
September 30, 2014
8am – 5pm

Faculty Members

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.

Molly Najmolhoda
Musical Theater

Molly has been training in all style of dance since the age of two. She grew up at her mother’s studio where she has now been teaching for 10 years. She is now co-director at Kathy’s Dance Co, who is now entering their 30th year of business. Throughout her career, Molly has studied under industry-leading instructors. As both a dancer and choreographer, she has received top honors at regional and national levels. Even when not working with her competition team, dance is who Molly is. She looks forward to working with KAR and appreciates the opportunity to be around young dancers who share her passion for dance.

Nick Gates
Hip Hop

As the son of the first DJ to spin a hip hop record on radio, Nick grew up around entertainment and the hip-hop culture. His inspiration for music, dance and art started at an early age. This all self-taught breakdancer, actor and sculptor is taking the hip hop world by storm. In the first season of So You Think You Can Dance, Nick earned his stripes as the only breakdancer in Chicago to make it through to the top 25. Nick has choreographed for and worked with artists such as Cali Swag District, Rock Steady Crew, Black Eyed Peas, Nelly, Ebony Eyez, Cirque du Soleil, Chemical Brothers, Lululemon Athletica, the Step Up movie premiere, and more. Nick has recently appeared in the viral music video: Teach Me How to Dougie. He has also taught numerous master classes and shared the stage with Pharrell Williams. He has also worked alongside with Michael Jackson's choreographer—Fatima Robinson in BET'S Played By Fame. This jack-of-all-trades also shares a passion for art. Nick has sculpted for various artists including Jay-Z, Ice-T, Nelly, Kanye, Aaliyah, and more. He was recently commissioned by Disney to create sculptures for the cast of Step Up 3D, as well as appearing in the film. Nick has introduced a hip-hop clothing line called Kid-N-Clay, which is inspired by his artwork. For more information, visit kidnclay.us, KidNClayTV on YouTube, facebook.com/HipHopFoundationFanatics or facebook.com/Kid-N-Clay-Clothing. Nick is a proud owner of the first all hip-hop dance studio in St. Louis—Hip Hop Foundation Fanatics. He is well known for his unique and fresh approach to teaching breakdance. Nick's stage name—FURY—stands for freedom under rough years. He truly believes dance is the tool to free anyone.

Sara Brendel
Jazz

Sara Brendel is a native of St.louis, MO and has years of dance training and performance experience. She started her professional career dancing for Norwegian Cruise Lines and Princess Cruise Lines. She has worked industrial shows and special events for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nissan Motors, Siemens Technologies, and several other companies with Event Show Productions. She performed in Branson, Missouri with the production shows "Dino's - Somewhere in Christmas" and "The Shoji Tabuchi Show”. Sara also danced in the Broadway-style production of "Katonga" at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay. Sara has performed beside talented dancers with the Les Grand Ballets Canadians and appeared in the musicals “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, "The Music Man", and "42nd Street". Sara received her education from Columbia College Chicago and Webster University as a dance major with a concentration in choreography. She has choreographed numerous nationally award-winning pieces and has received several choreography awards as well as having her work featured on ESPN. Her work has also been performed by the SueMo Dance Company in Milwaukee,WI. Sara's students have been accepted into prestigious dance programs at the Edge Performing Arts Center, Oklahoma City University, Chapman University and several other universities. Many of her students have successful dance careers performing with world tours, professional dance companies, production shows, music videos and cruise lines. Sara is a faculty member for KAR Convention and a judge for Rainbow Connection and Kids Artistic Revue Dance Competition. She has had the honor of teaching and judging talent across the country as well as internationally with Kids Artistic Revue in Australia. Sara encourages her students to push their boundaries and to never settle.

Tiffany Schlater
Tap

Tiffany has over thirty-five years of dance experience in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, musical theater and several styles of tap dancing including Broadway to Hoofing. She received a full dance scholarship to the prestigious Gus Giordano Dance Center in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 17. She has performed at the Capital Building in Washington D.C., the Chicago Theater, in the promotional tour for the movie “TAP”, various industrials, charity events and on television. Tiffany has performed with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Savion Glover, Lane Alexander, the late Gregory Hines and was an original member of the “ETC” Tap Company. She has also had the honor of studying under such greats as Gus Giordano, Henry LeTang, Derick Grant and the Emmy winning Jason Samuels Smith. Tiffany has earned the titles Teacher Of The Year & Top Choreographer on Regional and National level and her choreography has been featured in the New York City Tap Extravaganza and Industry Dance Awards in Hollywood, CA and Las Vegas. Her students can be found on television, Broadway, movies and professional dance companies. Tiffany has been recognized by Stanford Who’s Who of America, Ohio House of Representatives for her dedication to the Arts and is a member of the International Tap Association. She now serves as a International Adjudicator, Master Teacher/Choreographer, NYC Tap Legacy Foundation Ambassador and the Elite Company Director at JDSD in Columbus, Ohio. Tiffany is committed to sharing her love of dance through mentoring, educating and teaching proper technique across the country.

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