Kristi Fair
Lyrical/Contemp
Kristi Fair began dancing at the age of three in Riverside, California. At the age of 10 she began dancing for the prestigious West Coast School of the Arts in Cypress, California. During Kristi’s competition years she took top honors in tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical. In 2001 Kristi opened her own dance studio where she teaches tap, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical. In the past four years Kristi’s students have received high top honors at competitions at both the regional and national level. Kristi has choreographed for local theaters, high schools, and colleges earning top honors. Kristi spends a lot of her time traveling teaching master classes. Kristi received her training from teachers and choreographers such as Cory Finn, Tina D’Amato, Paula Kessinger, Amy Bates, Dawni Novak, and many teachers\choreographers in the LA area.
Stephanie Fica
Tap
Stephanie Fica is the Assistant Competitive Director of Karen’s School of Dance in Highland, Michigan, where she also directs the award-winning tap program. Stephanie’s students and choreography have been consistently recognized for technicality, precision, and performance quality at national and regional competitions, often receiving top overall high point awards, scholarships, and title honors. Over the years, many of her students have gone on to belong to some of the best university dance teams and dance programs in the nation. Stephanie began her dance training with the Dance’Sations dance company of Michigan in which she competed nationally and regionally for many years, often being recognized as a top soloist. She also spent these years of training taking master classes at conventions such as NYCDA and LA Dance Magic, as well as at Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Stephanie went on to graduate from Michigan State University, and has since devoted her time to teaching and choreographing unique competitive routines. Stephanie continues to receive numerous accolades for her work in the styles of tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theater. She is thrilled to begin her fifth season of inspiring dancers on the KAR Convention National Tour.
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.
Bernadette Natasha
Musical Theater
Bernadette Foth is an accomplished dancer with a diverse performance background, as well as, being a board certified instructor, award winning choreographer, master class instructor and sought after competition adjudicator. She is a certified member of Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of Michigan, Universal Dance Association and Dance Masters of America. She has performed with Enrique Iglesias, Sesame Street Live, West Side Story, The Wiz, and also was a principal dancer for Detroit Talent. Bernadette is the co-owner of Tina Marie School of Dance in which she operates two successful dance studios in Michigan. Her dancers have received extensive nation-wide accolades for their technique and performances, and many have gone on to dance on Broadway, Cruise Lines, Commercials, Music Videos and for the Radio City Rockettes. She currently travels throughout the country teaching on conventions & intensive programs, along with judging for many competitions such as Lifetimes Hit Show, “Dance Moms”.
She also choreographs the opening routines, television appearances and various floats for the Hobble Gobble and Thanksgiving Day Parade, along with a performance with Kenichi Ebina the Season 8 Winner from “America’s Got Talent”. In addition, she is the director of her own in-studio workshop, DanzJam, and has worked side-by-side with numerous highly acclaimed master teachers and choreographers from stage, television and film. Bernadette has dedicated her entire life to cultivating talent and enabling her students to reach their fullest potential.
Jen Tompkins
Jazz
Jen Toby has been teaching all disciplines of dance and choreographing competition routines for more than 20 years. She has studied Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Contemporary and Hip Hop. Currently she is the owner\director of planetdance in Canton, MI. Her students have won numerous scholarships, overall awards at conventions and competitions and have obtained numerous choreography awards at multiple dance competitions. She has had students perform in the Choreographers Carnival in Los Angeles, California, back up dancers to several different recording artists, assist many different dance conventions and seen on the MTV hit, "Americas Best Dance Crew." Her cutting edge choreography has won numerous awards at both regional and national levels. Jen judges for numerous dance competitions and teaches on workshops around the country. Jen loves teaching and the love of dance instills in students carries throughout all their years of dance.