Kalani Brooke Hilliker was born on September 23, 2000, in Mesa, Arizona. At the tender age of two, she began her dancing journey at Dance Connection 2 in Arizona, showcasing her natural talent from the very start.
As she grew, Kalani further honed her skills at Club Dance in Arizona, and at the age of ten, she started her ballet training at the prestigious Master Ballet Academy in Arizona. Her impressive technique and captivating stage presence earned her numerous solo regional and national titles at various competitions, including Dance Awards, Nuvo, Jump, Showbiz, Hall of Fame, and KAR.
In 2011, Kalani, along with a group of her dance friends, entered the Disney Channel's Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off contest, vying for a featured role on the hit show Shake It Up. Her group, AKsquared, emerged victorious, and they were featured in the Shake It Up episode "Camp It Up." This on-camera experience left Kalani convinced that she wanted to pursue a career as a professional dancer.
In 2013, Kalani became a series dance regular on the ABC Family show Bunheads, appearing in multiple episodes as Baby Bun. The same year, she participated in Lifetime's Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition, a dance reality competition series. Kalani impressively finished in fourth place, making it to the final four.
Following her top-four finish, Kalani and her mother, Kira Girard, were invited by Abby Lee Miller to join the cast of Lifetime's Dance Moms. They first appeared in the season 4 episode "Big Trouble in the Big Apple" and later became series cast members at the beginning of the competition season during season 5.
Kalani has expanded her role as a dancer beyond the dance floor. She has been honored as a Capezio athlete, launched her own dance wear line for Purple Pixies, and designed her own collection for clothing label Mod Angel. Moreover, she has made a significant impact in the social media world, becoming a social influencer for tweens and teens, amassing a large following across the globe.
Kalani continues to work professionally, having appeared in numerous music videos and print campaigns as a dancer and model. With her star on the rise, fans can expect to see more exciting projects from this talented dancer in the future.
