Moving bodies while moving souls, Kira immersed myself into the dance culture twenty-eight years ago. Studying relentlessly, I moved through Dance Connection Scottsdale, Ballet Arizona, Ballet Etudes, Edge Performing arts California and Millennium Dance Center mastering all styles and movement as well as incorporating a fierce history in theater arts. Professionally, dance led her to the Phoenix Suns Dance Team, Royal Caribbean Broadway Revue, Superbowl XXX, Miss Dance of Arizona, Ballet Arizona’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and various Industrials. Her performance credits also include a back-up dancer for Ricky Martin’s, “She Bangs”, MTV’s “N-Synce Reunion Special,” “Broadway Review”, model/dancer for Matrix Hair, and local commercials for Toyota and Fiat. However, Kira’s true passion has always been teaching and choreography. Currently, she is one of the most sought after Master Dance Teachers in Arizona who is currently teaching and choreographing for some of the industry’s top dance students.

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!"

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 Richey received her education in dance from Long Beach State in California and CSUF. She worked for United Spirit Association (USA) for 6 years as a songleading head coach. For over 10 years, Michelle made her home at Disneyland Park, performing in both parades and live shows such as the “Queen Mary” and the “Spruce Goose” show. Michelle has performed for many superstars including Milton Berle, Dustin Hoffman, Michael Jackson, and Frankie Avalon. Some of her choreography credits include Grease, Anything Goes, Cabaret, Oliver, Peter Pan, Bye Bye Birdie, Godspell, The Wiz, and Beauty and the Beast. Michelle also was the proud owner of MKR Productions. 

Michelle’s choreography and students have been the recipients of countless regional and national titles. Many of her students have performed on TV and in music videos, received dance scholarships to major universities, and have become nationally ranked choreographers themselves. Michelle judges for competitions and is in her 12th year of being a faculty member of KAR Dance Convention. She was also honored to be one of the judges for the very first KAR Live event in Australia. 

Michelle’s warm heart paired with her vast experience and thoughtful approach to teaching dance makes her a truly exceptional part of the KAR Dance Convention faculty.

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.