• Why did you choose to dance at KML?
  • I started with KML in season 1. Sarah and Serena combined their passion for dance, extensive dance training, and love for the community when they opened KML.

• How has dancing affected your life?
  • Dance has affected me personally and professionally. I learned many life lessons and useful skills. Dance taught me how to be successful as a person and as a team. To this day, dance brings me joy and relaxation. Most importantly, I learned how to live a healthy lifestyle.

• Why do you recommend KML to other families?
  • By dancing with KML, you gain so much more than dance technique. You gain an entire family when dancing with KML.

• What you are up to these days?
  • I am currently in graduate school for my Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner. I will be graduating in April and moving to Bismarck with my husband and son!

Angela was a member of Kay Michael Lee Studio’s first Diamond Competition Line in 2012-2013. She is now an elementary teacher in Williston.

• Why did you choose to dance at KML?
  • I chose to dance at KML because I heard it was a great dance company with awesome values and strong dance technique. I have danced pretty much my whole life starting at age 3 and I decided to finish my dancing career at KML and it was the best decision because I got to experience so many new competitions, dance techniques, and make so many wonderful memories with my friends.

• How has dancing affected your life?
  • Dancing has truly taught me so much about life. I was often at dance class most days of the week and it was truly my second home. It has taught me discipline, patience, and perseverance which I use in my career today.

• Why do you recommend KML to other families?
  • I will and continue to recommend KML to other families as it is a very organized company with strong values. Like I said earlier it was my home away from home and I always looked forward to dance class each night.

• What you are up to these days?
  • Currently I am living in Minot, ND and I work as a registered nurse. I’m also busy planning my wedding which will be next summer. As my fiancé and I plan to build our family we’ve already had discussions that I would like my children to dance and I’m hoping to find a dance company as good as KML. KML has not only enhanced my dancing techniques but also shaped me into the person I am today.

• Why did you choose to dance at KML?
  • I chose to dance at KML because I love the family vibe the studio has. The studio encourages all dancers to participate in activities that they are passionate about including competitions, pageantry and extracurriculars at school.

• How has dancing affected your life?
  • Dancing has been a way to express myself and an outlet for stress. I love how there is a genre for every feeling.

• Why do you recommend KML to other families?
  • KML provides an inclusive and supportive environment. They provide opportunities for growth, not only in dance technique, but in a young persons confidence. KML gave me life-long friends that are more like family.

• What you are up to these days?
  • Currently I’m living in Colorado finishing my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program through CSU. After graduation in May I plan to return to Williston.

Courtney was a member of Kay Michael Lee Studio in 2013-2014. She has opened up LaBella Spa in Williston and is also Head Coach of the Williston Junior Varsity Drill Team.

• Why did you choose to dance at KML?
  • I chose to dance at KML because of the large variety of classes offered and because Sarah and Serena not only cared about my development as a dancer, but as a person as well. I knew they’d challenge me and make me better.

• How has dancing affected your life?
  • Dancing was always a huge part of my life, it was an escape for me. Now, I know even without dance, how important it is to have something that you’re passionate about that can help you disconnect and take care of yourself. I also hold dear the lessons of teamwork, perseverance, and grit I learned from years and years of dance.

• Why do you recommend KML to other families?
  • I recommend KML to other families because the undivided attention I received there was unmatched by any other dance experience I’d ever had. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re new or have been dancing forever, everyone receives the same plethora of support. Also Sarah is fantastic at correcting dance form in order to make you a more technical dancer.

• What you are up to these days?
  • Awhile after graduating from the University of Minnesota, I got a job as a reporter at KFYR-TV in Bismarck where I covered state and federal politics and energy. I also anchored from time to time so you may have seen me on your TV screens anchoring the KUMV-TV cast! Now I work for our junior senator, Kevin Cramer, as his digital director and am preparing for a move to Washington, DC in a few months.

• Why did you choose to dance at KML?
  • I chose to dance at Kay Michael Lee because I felt at home, having danced with both owners when I was younger. After taking private lessons, I knew that the studio was my home, I felt so comfortable, and Sarah and Serena did everything they could to help me excel in my Dance skills.

• How has dancing affected your life?
  • Dancing taught me so many life skills, as well as gave me an expressive outlet for my emotions. It showed me how to keep working towards something even when you mess up over and over again, because eventually you will get it.

• Why do you recommend KML to other families?
  • I recommend Kay Michael Lee to families, because it’s a place for your child to learn, and grow, where they feel safe,the studio was my safe place to express myself growing up, and I hope that it can be that place for your child too.

• What you are up to these days?
  • I am currently finishing my last year of my bachelor’s in Special Education, at Minot State University. I work as a competitive team coach at the Dance Company of Minot, where I get to use the dance skills I learned while at Kay Michael Lee.

• Why did you choose to dance at KML?
  • I remember the day I first learned of Kay Michael Lee dance studio, I was so excited to get on board. I could see how happy the dancers were to be apart of such an amazing family, and I knew I had to go there. I had known of the famed Sarah and Serena and had seen them perform many times since I was a kid! I knew that if they had started a dance studio, it would be the most remarkable learning experience I could ever receive! Choosing KML was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Sarah and Serena.
• How has dancing affected your life?

• • Dancing has taught me many valuable life lessons that I still find myself using today! Determination, commitment, and discipline are some of the values that I hold very dear to me and have helped me get to where I am now. I have also made life long connections to the instructors and dancers that I had the honor of dancing with, and we still keep in touch to this day! My time at KML was definitely some of the best years of my life! Thanks to everything I learned and the people I met at KML, I can say that I’ve become the person I always dreamed of.

• Why do you recommend KML to other families?
  • KML is truly the region’s premier source for dance and is the best place for anyone that wants to learn and improve their dance skills! They showed me a whole new world of dance that I didn’t even know existed! The one-on-one work that I received from the instructors helped me discover my potential, reach for it, and to continue working for it every day! Teaching dance requires a great deal of skill and patience, and KML has just that. I’ve seen my little sister grow and improve so much over the years, and I know she’s going to be the best of the best thanks to the instructors at KML and the lessons they instill in every dancer that crosses their path! I would recommend KML to anyone and everyone!
• What you are up to these days?
  • School, school, and more school! I currently live in Fort Collins, Colorado and go to Colorado State University. This December I will be graduating with my Bachelor of Science in psychology with a minor in criminal justice! Next year, I plan to go to graduate school to begin my Master’s degree and then it’s off to the big world of professional careers! Colorado is such a beautiful place and I’ve been shown so many new perspectives on life and even myself. I’m very excited to see what the future holds and I know I’ll always keep in touch with the wonderful people at Kay Michael Lee. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them!

Kiara was a member of Kay Michael Lee Studio from 2014-2018. She is teaching Contemporary at KML this year and is a hair stylist at Headlines in Williston.

I was with KML for 7 years. I chose KML because it is the premiere source of dance in Williston, ND. Dancing has given me so much confidence and built up my self esteem. I am now back in Williston, ND as a stylist at Studio 4th Avenue and starting in fall 2022, will be an Assistant Coach for the JV Williston Drill Team!

I came to Kay Michael Lee Studio when Sarah and Serena first opened in 2012. My aunt had told me and my mom that a couple of people she danced with back when she was in school were opening up a dance studio. Knowing this I knew it was an awesome opportunity to get to meet and be taught by people who danced with family. Sadly I was only able to dance for a couple of years because I got injured but the couple of years that I could dance were full of fun experiences and great people that I will forever call family. I am currently taking online classes to get my bachelors degree in Elementary Education, and I am going on four years as a dance instructor at KML. I have loved every second of dancing and teaching at Kay Michael Lee Studio and would recommend this studio to anyone. I not only learned great technical dancing but I also gained confidence in my dancing and was able to learn multiple genres that made me a well rounded dancer.

Lexi was with Kay Michael Lee Studio from 2013-2019. She is currently a junior at UND and pursuing a marketing major with dance minor.

Andrew was with Kay Michael Lee Studio in 2019-2020. He is currently a sophomore in the acting and musical theatre program at the University of Arizona.

• Why did you choose to dance at KML?
  • I chose to dance at KML because it was a new studio to Williston and I was ready for something new. I was around 9 years old when I first joined and can say that KML held opportunities for me like competitions, conventions, and even new friendships that lit a spark for my passion for dance.
• How has dancing affected your life?
  • Dance affected my life in the best way possible. I was able to learn many new techniques and styles not only through Sarah and Serena but through many other guest choreographers as well. Through dance, I was able to find myself and express my feelings in ways I didn’t think were possible. I also now have life long friends that I consider family.
• Why do you recommend KML to other families?
  • I recommend other families to KML not only because the dance aspect, but also because it was a second home to me. I learned very important life lessons and it was my emotional outlet where I could dance off every issue I had before stepping foot into the studio.
• What you are up to these days?
  • I am now graduated from high school and am attending The University of North Dakota pursuing an education for a Health Science career.

Annie began her dance career at 9 years old at Kay Michael Lee Studio in Williston, North Dakota. Since then, she has studied several different styles including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, modern, and musical theatre. She was a member of the Emerald Competition Line in 2014-2015 and the Ruby Competition Line in 2015-2016. As a competitive dancer, Annie was oftentimes recognized by the judges for her technique and performance ability in lyrical and jazz, she was also a part of many of Kay Michael Lee Studio’s award-winning ensembles in musical theatre, hip hop, ballet, and lyrical.

During the 2016-2017 season, she participated on the Williston Drill Team’s Junior Varsity Team, advancing to the Varsity Team in the 2017-2018 season. She enjoyed refining her dance skills through the drill team, as well as the memory of being a part of the North Dakota State Hip Hop Champions for 2017.

After her family moved to Georgia in 2018, Annie continued to study dance at Cumming Georgia Dance Studio, taking classes in ballet, lyrical, and jazz. She also made the Cumming Georgia Raider’s Varsity Cheerleading squad for the 2018-2019 season.

Annie has performed as halftime entertainment at several basketball games and also taken part in Kay Michael Lee’s original production of Halloween Alive! in 2014. As a member of our Emerald Competition Line, she received First Place for a Ballet Routine in the Mini/Junior Division at the JUMP Dance Convention in Denver, CO and First Place for both the lyrical and ballet group categories for the 12-14 year old junior category at Spotlight Dance Cup in Billings, MT. Studying under many dance industry icons such as Willdabeast, Colby Shinn, and Mia Michaels, Annie has competed against the nation’s best dancers in North Dakota, Montana, Arizona, and Georgia.

Annie first competed with a jazz solo with Kay Michael Lee Studio in spring of 2021, where she won a “Diamond” adjudication, awarded the “Entertainment Award” and was awarded 1st Place Overall Senior Soloist at the Regional Spotlight Dance Cup competition.

She taught at Kay Michael Lee Studio during the 2021-2022 season before relocating to Georgia.