Born and raised in Maryland, Ciara Hines began her dance journey at the age of two. Immersed in the convention and competition world from a young age, she developed a passion for dance that shaped her into the dancer she is today.

 Ciara is trained in all styles of dance and appeared on Season 17 of America’s Got Talent. She is a respected dance instructor and competition judge, committed to inspiring and mentoring the next generation of dancers. 

Her versatility extends to on-screen appearances, including features in short films and documentaries. With a passion for movement and storytelling, Ciara Hines continues to leave a lasting impact on the dance world through performance, education, and social media.

Dance has always flowed through Alex Kessinger’s veins. Raised in Southern California, she began her journey as a dancer at the age of 4 at her mother’s studio, West Coast School of the Arts. Alex started working as a dancer and child actor at the age of 6, where she developed her portfolio through numerous commercials, print work, and feature films like Disney’s The Santa Clause 3. While building her professional career, Alex also trained as a competitive dancer, winning impressive awards and national titles along the way. After winning a national title in the United States in 2011, she was chosen to represent the US at the international competition Spotlight in Australia, where she won the gold. 

After her competitive dance career, Alex furthered her education at Chapman University, where she was one of the few students awarded both a talent scholarship and a scholastic scholarship. She graduated Cum Laude from Chapman in 2016 with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Theater Technology. 

Currently, Alex works as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer to dancers across the country. Some of her achievements as a dancer include dancing with Jojo Siwa, assisting Michael Rooney on national commercials, performing on television shows such as GLOW with Marguerite Derricks, working as a digital backup dancer in Paula Abdul’s tour “Straight Up Paula”, and dancing in and choreographing for various music videos.

Alex’s teaching philosophy involves creating a safe environment for dancers to feel comfortable in exploring their capabilities while challenging themselves to be better, bigger, and stronger with every step.

Sloan-Taylor Rabinor is a celebrated dancer and emerging fitness expert, joining the KAR Dance Convention as our newest faculty member. Raised and trained in Phoenix, Arizona, Sloan's dancing prowess shone through early on when she bagged her first national title at the age of 17 at The Pulse dance convention. This victory marked the beginning of her illustrious dance career, leading her to assist esteemed choreographers such as Brian Friedman, Laurieann Gibson, Wade Robson, and Mia Michaels.

In 2009, Sloan relocated to Los Angeles, where her exceptional talent catapulted her into a role as a backup dancer for the pop music sensation, Lady Gaga. She debuted in the 2009 VMA performance and has since danced in three of Gaga's world tours - The Artpop Ball, Born this Way Ball, and Monsterball. Her notable appearances extend to music videos such as GUY, Applause, Bad Romance, and Telephone.

Sloan's dynamic portfolio extends far beyond one artist. She has displayed her talents alongside a constellation of stars, including Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Rosalia, Panic at the Disco, Kelly Clarkson, Halsey, Fletcher, Gwen Stefani, and Avril Lavigne. With Selena Gomez, she is seen in the music video Come and Get it, while her performances have been featured on a wide array of shows, including Ellen, X Factor (UK), Oprah, AMA’s, Grammy's, Billboard Awards, and VMA’s. Her versatility was evident in her appearances on Glee, where she portrayed a hardcore Cheerio, thrilling audiences with her compelling Janet Jackson mashup.

While forging a successful career in dance, Sloan has also pursued her passion for fitness. She achieved her yoga and Pilates certifications between tours, even having the privilege to train Lady Gaga in these disciplines. Presently, she is studying to become a health coach and personal trainer, aiming to harmoniously blend her passions for dance and fitness.

Now a valued faculty member of the KAR Dance Convention, Sloan is eager to impart her rich experience and fervor for dance and fitness. We eagerly anticipate the inspiring journey our students will undertake under her expert guidance.