Anime-SPARK! is excited to announce that full-time martial arts instructors, Samurai Dan and Jillian Coglan, will be joining the convention coming up next month. The convention will be held February 10-14, 2011 at the Clarion Hotel & Convention Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The husband and wife team of Daniel and Jillian Coglan are full-time martial arts instructors, specializing in 16th century Samurai arts. When not teaching at their dojo, the Kojokan, they travel across the country performing and teaching the ancient ways of the most famous warriors in history. With a combined 35 years of experience, their show is a unique blend of history, combative skill, and humor, designed to educate and entertain audiences both large and small.

Beyond their martial arts skills, the dynamic duo collaborated to write, direct, host, and star in a 12 episode TV series entitled "The Way of the Samurai". Daniel is also an author with several martial arts articles published, and he is currently working on his second full-length novel.

Dan and Jillian will be at Anime-SPARK! alongside Quinton Flynn (voice of Reno from Final Fantasy: Advent Children, Kon from Bleach, and Axel from Kingdom Hearts) and Chris Rager (voice of Hercule Satan from DBZ, Butchie and Arlong from One Piece).

In addition, Anime-SPARK! will have special guest Jessie D. Eckles, who will be teaching the waltz prior to Anime-SPARK!'s formal ball. Jessie has over ten years of experience doing Swing, Blues and Waltz as well as other Ballroom dances, and is quite a fantastic waltz instructor.

Anime-SPARK! is an anime convention happening at the Clarion Hotel & Convention Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from February 10-14, 2011. Events include anime screenings, a cosplay masquerade, photoshoots, a formal ball, a dance, a dealer's room, an artists alley, panels, workshops, game shows, video gaming, and more. Anime-SPARK! is one of three anime conventions organized by the staff of QC Anime-zing!, which is happening June 17-19, 2011. Anime-SPARK!'s website can be found at http://www.animespark.org

Press Release for January 20th, 2011