COME TO DANCE,
WALK AWAY INSPIRED!

KAR Dance Convention 2016 | Experience the hottest new choreography styles this season at our convenient one-day event!

Sold Out!!

Where
Long Island Marriott
101 Doolittle Blvd
Uniondale, NY 11553
When
November 20, 2016
8am – 5pm

Faculty Members

Andrea Woodward
Lyrical


Andrea Woodward is the owner of Hermitage Dance Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, where she has been training, inspiring, and educating dancers since 1997. Andrea is certified by Dance Masters of America and holds a B.S. degree from Cumberland University. Along with her dance training and certifications, Andrea is also licensed in Strong Nation Fitness, Zumba, and Zumba Toning.

Andrea has won countless awards for her stylistic and emotional choreography, as well as her students’ technical ability. In 2014 she was nominated for Choreographer of the Year at the Industry Dance Awards. She has also won Teacher of the Year and Choreographer of the Year numerous times over the years at Kids Artistic Revue Nationals. Andrea has been on KAR Dance Convention’s faculty since 2011.

Along with teaching in the studio and on the convention circuit, Andrea continues to choreograph for a variety of events, including awards shows such as the Nashville Women Who Rock Awards, in which she was also the recipient of the “Inspiring Arts” award. She has also served as the choreographer for the Opening Number for several National Finals events. Some of her student success highlights include dancers on So You Think You Can Dance, convention tour faculty, NBA dance teams, recording artists and more. Andrea is passionate not only about teaching, but also the business side of studio ownership and sharing what she’s learned with the dance community. 

Andrea hopes to bring a challenge and fresh perspective to every student, allowing them to leave behind their image of perfection and dive deeper into their artistry.


Jessica Etzel
Jazz

Jessica has been dancing since the age of 8 and has trained in all genres of dance, making her a versatile teacher and choreographer. She trained with many studios & dance companies before settling into the world of teaching. Jessica currently owns & directs her own studio and dance company in Maryland, where her students are national champion competitors and performers. She has been a featured performer at the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center in Hanover, PA, and she has participated in several events to honor National Dance Week. She was awarded with the Frank Hatchett Broadway Dance Center Scholarship along with the Los Angeles Dance Force, "Dance with the Force Award." Jessica was also named the American Dance Awards "Young Choreographer of the Year,” and her award-winning choreography can be seen throughout the country on both the competition & convention stages. Jessica is a part of the Dance Olympus/DanceAmerica and International Dance Challenge Faculty, where she has had the opportunity to travel to numerous cities, teaching master classes, judging dance competitions, and performing. Jessica graduated from McDaniel College with a degree in Exercise Science and Physical Education. She was also awarded the Richard Clower Award for Excellence.

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.

Michelle Colon-Tijerina
Musical Theater

Michelle has taught Dance for 24 years and has taught for the KAR Convention for the last five years. Her training includes all forms of dance from local and world-renowned instructors. Michelle has won numerous awards and national titles, and has been awarded scholarships to Broadway Dance Center in New York, and Tremaine Dance Center in Los Angeles. Her credits include Capezio Model, Taffy’s Model, HBJ Model, “Welcome Freshman”, “Clarissa Explains It All”, “Fifteen”, “Mickey Mouse Club”, SeaWorld, Wet-n-Wild, Florida Lottery, and “Parenthood”.She has also choreographed for popular musical acts “NSB”, “REAL”, “2 for 1”, Emily & Amy Pratt, and “Next Generation Kids”. Her dancing has taken her to tour South America with Pollyanna Dorough and Howie D of the “Backstreet Boys”. Michelle owned and operated her studio Starz Studios Inc/Starz Dance Galaxy for 15 years. Her instruction earned her studio the honor of being in Dance Teacher and Dance Spirit Magazine naming Starz one of the top 50 studios in the country. The Federation of Dance awarded her studio in the top 25 for five consecutive years. Also naming them 7th in the country in 2011. Michelle’s love for dance has led her to a successful career in dance instruction. She had the honor of being the choreographer for the Orlando Magic Minis for Eight NBA seasons. In 2012 her dancers and choreography were selected to be a part of the NBA ALL STAR GAMES. She feels that she can make every child a “star” by giving them the proper training, love and encouragement necessary to help each student reach their full potential. Currently she continues to share her love of dance with her new students in Southern California.

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