Biography
Kalani Brooke Hilliker was born on September 23, 2000, in Mesa, Arizona. She started dancing at age 2 at Dance Connection 2 in Arizona. From her very first recital, it was clear she was born to perform. At age 5, Kalani advanced her training at Club Dance in Arizona and began ballet at the Master Ballet Academy at age 10. With flawless technique and captivating performances, she regularly competed in the U.S. dance circuit, earning numerous solo regional and national titles at competitions such as Dance Awards, Nuvo, Jump, Showbiz, Hall of Fame, and KAR. In 2011, Kalani and her dance group, AKsquared, won Disney Channel’s Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off contest, earning a featured role on the show Shake It Up in the episode "Camp It Up." This on-camera experience solidified her ambition to become a professional dancer. In 2013, she became a series regular dancer on ABC Family’s Bunheads, appearing as Baby Bun in multiple episodes. That same year, she participated in Lifetime’s Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition, finishing fourth. Afterward, Kalani and her mother, Kira Girard, were invited by Abby Lee Miller to join Lifetime’s Dance Moms, debuting in season 4’s "Big Trouble in the Big Apple" and becoming main cast members from season 5 onward. Beyond performing, Kalani has expanded her career as a Capezio athlete, launched a dancewear line for Purple Pixies, and created a clothing collection for Mod Angel. She has also become a prominent social media influencer for tweens and teens, amassing a large global following. Kalani continues to work professionally as a dancer and model, appearing in numerous music videos and print campaigns. Her rising star promises much more to come.
