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.

Daniel Aries began his journey in the dance world at the age of 15 competing for a local dance studio in his hometown in Northern California. Before dance, he was an all star baseball player. After competing at numerous competitions in his short competition career, in 2001 Daniel took home the title of Mr. Dance America at KAR National Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shortly after graduating from high school, Daniel signed a contract to perform for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines touring the Western Caribbean on the Monarch of the Seas. Once the contract ended Daniel relocated to Southern California where he continued his career in the dance industry teaching for a couple of studios in the Southern California area as well as joining the incredible team at Kids Artistic Revue. Today, Daniel has been working at Kids Artistic Revue for 14 years. Now a National Director with KAR, Daniel has really found his passion working in the dance competition circuit traveling all over the U.S. and watching the incredibly talented dancers as well as seeing old friends and meeting new ones.  

Kristen Hibbs was born and raised in sunny San Diego. She started dancing at the early age of 3. At the age of 14, she was assisting dance classes under the guidance of San Diego Dance Centre owner, Sharon Keller. While being mentored by Sharon, Kristen was also busy competing for SDDC in regional/national dance competitions. She was also a member of the Rancho Bernardo High School dance team. Kristen graduated from Rancho Bernardo High School in 2000. In the summer of that same year, Kristen joined the United Spirit Association staff and taught dance camps for high schools all along the California coast. She then went on to dance on the national championship dance team at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Ca. In 2002, Orange Coast College won a berth to the UCA national finals in Orlando, Florida. "Coast" was the first junior college to win the national title in division 1A. It was a great experience for Kristen and her dance career. While dancing with OCC, Kristen made her way to North Hollywood to train at the nation's famous dance studios; Millennium Dance Complex and The Edge Performing Arts Center. Later that year the OCC dance team was asked to be part of the hit comedy "The Hot Chick". Kristen moved home from Orange County in 2003 and became a head instructor for the San Diego Dance Centre. Kristen has had the pleasure of training with some of the nation's most respected instructors and choreographers, including Dee Caspary, Mandy Moore, Mia Michaels, Cory Finn, and Mark Goodman. Kristen has always aspired to one day own and operate her own dance studio. In August of 2007, Kristen acquired the San Diego Dance Centre. She is happy to be living her dream as a studio owner and is looking forward to her future endeavors.

Mario Velez Jr. is a professional hip-hop choreographer and dancer\performer. Mario has toured and worked with artists such as Omarion, TLC, Rock Steady Crew, Fergie, My Chemical Romance, Brandy, Boyz II Men, Doug E. Fresh, Paula Abdul & many others! He has also toured with the world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters! Mario is currently performing and choreographing for the National Recording Artist, Jasmine Hormez and for Automatic Response Dance Crew which was featured on the show’s first season of “ America’s Best Dance Crew!”. He has also done work with the NBA and WNBA Phoenix Suns Dance Team, The Seattle Supersonics, The Warrior Girls , The Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Mercury Hip-Hop Squad. He has trained dancers that have worked with artist such as: Lady GaGa, The Jabbawockeez, Jason Derulo and pricipal dancer David Hallberg from ABT, and many others. Mario has also started an exciting and very passionate Dance Studio called Diverse Elements. His diversity also includes choreography for shows, Splash and Bottoms UP in Las Vegas NV, and Jubilation in Reno, NV. This was all possible because of his long time partner and wife Melissa Velez. Mario has one saying that he lives by-"Hip-hop is not just rapping and music, it is a culture, a way of life!"

Nicole Doerr is an award-winning dancer and choreographer with many accomplishments. She owns and directs a studio in Farmington Hills, MI with her mother. Her students have received many top awards at regional and national competitions, including 2 National Championships in 2016. She was the co-director of Burn The Floor...with the Doerr's Performing Arts Camp, an annual camp that took place in Fenton, MI that drew in dancers from all over the USA for 10 years. Nicole developed a love for dance growing up in her mother's studio. She was a member of the Detroit Pistons Dance Team: Automotion. During her time with Automotion she was hand-selected by Brian Friedman to perform with him in the opening number of ESPN's PRODANCE along with many other great opportunities. Nicole also performed at a Superbowl XL event in Detroit and helped to promote Britney Spears' perfume line, Curious. She graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, was accepted into the dance program, and was a member of Impact Dance Theater while she was there. Nicole has traveled all over the United States through her dancing, and she also toured in Australia performing and taking master classes from Australian teachers. Nicole has trained with the Joffrey Ballet of New York and many professional choreographers and instructors. She was also accepted into the National Ballet of Canada School. Many of Nicole’s students have went on to pursue college dance programs, college dance teams, performing arts schools, Cirque de Soleil, Broadway, and many have continued on to be dance teachers. She has been judging nationally for many years and also teaches on convention circuits throughout the United States and Canada. Nicole strives to instill her love, passion and knowledge for dance with all dancers.