COME TO DANCE,
WALK AWAY INSPIRED!

KAR Dance Convention 2019 | Experience the hottest new choreography styles this season at our convenient one-day event!

Where
GICC Convention Center
2000 Convention Center Concourse
College Park, GA 30337
When
November 11, 2019
8am – 5pm

Faculty Members

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.

Kristi Fair
Lyrical

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.

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.

Rachael Leitson
Musical Theater


Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Rachael began her training at the age of 3 at Jordan Center Dance. She trained in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Musical Theater, and Tap, often receiving numerous awards and scholarships over the years. While training at JCD, she also studied at UNLV - Ballet Seminars, Florida Youth Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, and Dance Educators of America

Rachael graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance from Chapman University. While at Chapman, Rachael was a selected dancer to perform in the piece Falling Angels by Jiri Kylian from Nederlands Dans Theater. Right after college, she was asked to perform in A Night of Entertainment in Prague, Czech Republic. Once returned from overseas, Rachael moved to New York City to further her dance career. 

Rachael then performed in A Christmas Carol at McCarter Theatre, the Dr. Oz Health Corp Gala, and at the City Center in NYC and Maui, Hawaii with Nextstep Dance Company. Rachael has taught dance all over the world and enjoys sharing her love for dance with others. Her choreography continues to win numerous awards across the nation, including several Teacher of the Year Awards. Beyond dancing and teaching, Rachael has a passion for fitness. She is certified in barre and has become one of New York City’s top teachers at Exhale Spa. 

Along with her love of movement in all forms, Rachael excitedly brings her impressive skills and knowledge to the KAR Dance Convention to be shared with each and every dancer.



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