Marcie Milbredt--Co-Owner of Seven Lakes Dance
Seven Lakes Dance Co-Owner, Marcie Milbredt, is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in Elementary Education, a concentration in Psychology, and a minor in Dance. Before college, Marcie studied tap, jazz, and ballet for 10 years, as well as dancing competitively in many regional and national competitions. Marcie was a member of the Appalachian Dance Ensemble while in college. A first-grade teacher for 13 years, Marcie decided to give up teaching to pursue full-time studio ownership and instruction for Seven Lakes Dance. Marcie has trained with many world-renowned choreographers including Kit Andre, Mallory Graham , and Mia Michaels, to name a few. Marcie’s choreography has won many special awards at various competitions, with her dances also receiving various top 10 and first-overall placements over the years. She has been teaching dance for 26 years and continues to instruct and choreograph at Seven Lakes Dance.
Lauren Tierney--Co-Owner of Seven Lakes Dance
Seven Lakes Dance Co-Owner, Lauren Tierney, is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in Psychology, and a concentration in Business. Lauren studied tap, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop for 13 years, as well as dancing competitively before college, and as a member of the Appalachain State University Dance Team. Since college Lauren has continued developing her dance and choreography skills by attending class and conventions at Millennium Dance Complex in LA, BuildaBEAST Intensive, Dancer Palooza, and Hollywood Vibe Nationals to name a few. She has been fortunate through these opportunities to train with world-renowned professional dancers and choreographers such as the infamous tWitch, Blake McGrath, Bobby Newberry and Misha Gabriel. As lead competition choreographer at Seven Lakes Dance, Lauren's choreography has won various special awards including numerous entertainment and choreography awards. Her routines have also been named as highest scores of the day at regional competitions and she also has earned 13 years of consecutive national titles. Lauren has been teaching and choreographing with Seven Lakes Dance for the past 20 years, with her focus being on contemporary, hip-hop and jazz.
Kia Korsunskaya
Kia Korsunskaya began dancing at the age of 2 and got her first job as a dance instructor at the age of 13. She spent 6 years during middle and high school on a competitive dance team, performing for events like the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics, and she then began winning awards for her competition choreography at the age of 15. In college, Kia joined two performance dance teams, one for Lyrical and Hip Hop, the other for Latin dances. She also performed at Salsa Congresses in New York and in Los Angeles. Kia has been teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Hip Hop for 22 years and she has been teaching Pointe and Tumbling for 16 years. Kia has certifications in 14 different Ballroom and Latin dances, and she has been teaching these styles to adults and children for 16 years. Kia has been with SLD for 8 years all while teaching ballet, tumbling, and choreographing for all ages on the competition team. Kia has received special judge awards for Top Teacher, Creative Choreography, and Entertainment.
LeAnn Garrison
LeAnn Garrison studied tap, jazz, and ballet for 12 years before attending college to pursue a degree in business. LeAnn also competed for many years in regional and national dance competitions. She has been instructing and choreographing for Seven Lakes Dance for 18 years. As the lead tap instructor at Seven Lakes Dance, LeAnn has trained under world-renowned tap artists including Aaron Turner and Anthony LoCascio, as well as attending classes at Broadway Dance Center in NYC. LeAnn's tap choreography has been awarded with many choreography awards, as well as top scores of the day at regionals. LeAnn has also earned many National titles. LeAnn's focus is tap choreography/instruction for our competition teams.
Kate Medlin
Kate Medlin started dancing at Seven Lakes Dance around the age of five beginning in jazz, tap, and ballet. After several years, she joined the competition team and found her second family. Throughout her years at the studio, she had additional training by attending conventions, Governors School, and Rockette summer intensives. In 2016, she graduated from high school to continue to NC State where she double majored in statistics and economics, minored in dance, and was a member of the NC State Dance Team for all four years. While on the NC State dance team she led the morning stretch and across the floor technique at their 6am practices, competed at Nationals in Daytona, FL in both routines every year (minus 2020 due to COVID resulting in the cancelation of the competition). She danced at all home football and men’s basketball games, and was a captain her senior year. Upon graduating at the peak of COVID, she began her career at Blue Cross NC. Last year was Kate’s first year back to the studio as an instructor, helping Marcie and Lauren with multiple routines as well as taking on a few of her own. She is excited to be a part of the future growth of the studio and provide all the students with as much knowledge and love of dance as she can. She thanks her parents and her husband for all the endless support, and for the dedication of the other instructors, especially Marcie and Lauren, for giving her some of the best years of her life.
Ashley Lafell
Ashley Lafell, has been a part of the Seven Lakes Dance family for 15 years. She started out as a competitive dancer with SLD where she was in numerous national winning dances and she then competed at the Worlds Dance Championship. Ashley transitioned into teaching upon graduating high school. This is her fifth season teaching and she has already choreographed National winning dances. Ashley is also an X-Ray Tech at First Health Convenient Care.
Hannah Punimata
Hannah Punimata, was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and was blessed enough to be born into a family of artists and to grow up in a town full of creativity and art. She says, “Throughout my small professional career, I found that teaching was my true passion. I have dedicated my teaching career to being the teacher I always wanted. You don’t have to be “THE best,” in order to do “YOUR best.” Every student is different and everybody has a different way they learn best. My goal is to find the best way for every dancer I come in contact with”.
Training: Jazz, Jazz Funk, Hip Hop, Ballet, Heels, Contemporary, Lyrical (specialties include: Strength and Stability for Healthy Young Athletes, Turn Technique, pre-professional private coaching).
•Teaching Experience: All contracted studios- Dellos Dance Studio (Walnut, CA), Dynamite Dance (Pomona, CA), Studio West Dance Academy (Olympia, WA), The Box Dance Studio (San Diego, CA), All That Dance (Chino Hills, CA), New Hope Arts and Sports Academy (San Diego, CA), Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy (Salem, UT), UDA (United Dance Association/San Diego, CA)
•Choreography for YAGP, Showstoppers, KAR, BEBE, various studio and high school productions, Fluid, 24 Seven, Elevate, etc.
•Highlights of Professional Experience (includes film and stage):
-Musical Theater credits: Alan Cumming’s “Cabaret Moment”
-“Legally Blonde” The Musical Workshop
Ensemble
-Wendy Ho (The Wendy Experience/2007
•Tour/Video/Show credits: Kenna, Savage, Avant, Rihanna, Sean Kingston, Pit Bull, P Diddy, Film “Step Up” 2006, Nelly, P. Diddy, Jagged Edge
•High School and Collegiate competitions/Adult Exhibitions 2000-2011
Showstopper, KAR, United Spirit Association, United Dance Association, World of Dance Pomona/Los Angeles, BRIDGE, etc.
Hannah has also participated on several competitive and exhibition teams including, Barkada Modern, Flight, X-Factor Girls (jazz/burlesque), Paul James Project, “People Say I Move Funny” Brian Kim Project, Hall of Fame-founding team, Illuminate, and more.
Training: Jazz, Jazz Funk, Hip Hop, Ballet, Heels, Contemporary, Lyrical (specialties include: Strength and Stability for Healthy Young Athletes, Turn Technique, pre-professional private coaching).
•Teaching Experience: All contracted studios- Dellos Dance Studio (Walnut, CA), Dynamite Dance (Pomona, CA), Studio West Dance Academy (Olympia, WA), The Box Dance Studio (San Diego, CA), All That Dance (Chino Hills, CA), New Hope Arts and Sports Academy (San Diego, CA), Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy (Salem, UT), UDA (United Dance Association/San Diego, CA)
•Choreography for YAGP, Showstoppers, KAR, BEBE, various studio and high school productions, Fluid, 24 Seven, Elevate, etc.
•Highlights of Professional Experience (includes film and stage):
-Musical Theater credits: Alan Cumming’s “Cabaret Moment”
-“Legally Blonde” The Musical Workshop
Ensemble
-Wendy Ho (The Wendy Experience/2007
•Tour/Video/Show credits: Kenna, Savage, Avant, Rihanna, Sean Kingston, Pit Bull, P Diddy, Film “Step Up” 2006, Nelly, P. Diddy, Jagged Edge
•High School and Collegiate competitions/Adult Exhibitions 2000-2011
Showstopper, KAR, United Spirit Association, United Dance Association, World of Dance Pomona/Los Angeles, BRIDGE, etc.
Hannah has also participated on several competitive and exhibition teams including, Barkada Modern, Flight, X-Factor Girls (jazz/burlesque), Paul James Project, “People Say I Move Funny” Brian Kim Project, Hall of Fame-founding team, Illuminate, and more.
Danielle Duncan--Office Manager
Danielle graduated from Watertown High School in New York. She went on to graduate from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo with a Bachelor’s Degree with a Major in Mathematics and dual certification in Special Education and Elementary Education. She received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education in Mathematics from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She teaches at Southern Pines Elementary School. She is currently in her 24th year of teaching Special Education. She has been with Seven Lakes Dance for 14 years. She enjoys spending time with her family (Jim, Will, and Maggie), watching her daughter dance, and the Carolina Hurricanes. If you need to reach Danielle, please email her at danielle7ld@gmail.com.