Local dancers from Seven Lakes Dance completed the 2009-2010 competition season in North Wilkesboro at Dance Machine Nationals.

All four Seven Lakes Dance competition groups - beginner, intermediate, junior and senior - attended the national competition the weekend of June 25. The dancers competed against more than 20 other studios from all over North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The beginner troupe members, Amanda Jones, Alexa Giovanni, Kennedy Cross and Savannah Dwiggins, competed with a small group hip-hop that earned an awesome gold ranking as well as a sixth place overall in the petite small group division. They also competed with a tap dance that earned an awesome gold ranking as well as third place overall in the petite small group division. This tap dance also received the entertainment award for all mini, petite and junior groups. All the girls in this group were chosen to be members of the Dance Machine Nationals Dream Team.

The intermediate troupe members, Charlotte Herbst, Amanda Gosline, Carly Veit, Kearsten Dozier, Paige Adkins, Liza Nance, Caitlyn O'Hara, Aimee Pincock and Meghan Quinlan, competed in the recreational large group tap division. Their tap dance received an awesome gold as well as first place overall ranking in the junior large group division.

The junior troupe members, Kirsten Alvarez, Amanda Felix, Amy Felix, Kate Morris, Mary Kathryn Hurst, Amy Hinds and Savannah Duncan, competed in the intermediate division with their tap dance. The junior troupe was awarded an awesome gold as well as second place overall in the junior small group division. All the girls in this group were chosen to be members of the Dance Machine Nationals Dream Team.

The senior troupe members, Roxanne Batson, Briana Goodwin, Katie Kearns, Brittany Keyser, Samantha Matthews, Sydney Turner and Samantha Laurita, competed in the intermediate division with a hip-hop dance that was awarded an awesome platinum and a fifth place overall. They also performed an a capella tap dance that received an awesome platinum as well as first place overall in the teen small group division. All the girls in this group were chosen to be members of the Dance Machine Nationals Dream Team.

Senior troupe members, along with junior members Kate Morris and Savannah Duncan, intermediate troupe member Carly Veit, and beginner troupe members Alexa Giovanni, Kennedy Cross and Savannah Dwiggins, competed in the intermediate division with a large group jazz dance. This dance received an awesome gold and a third place overall in the teen large group division.

All senior troupe members, along with junior troupe members Amy Felix, Amanda Felix, Kirsten Alvarez and Kate Morris, competed in the intermediate division with their large group tap dance. This dance was awarded an awesome gold as well as second place overall in the teen large group division.

At Dance Machine Nationals, there is a final stage of competition called "The Showdown of the Stars." This is where the top five routines from the petite, junior, teen and senior age groups compete to earn the title of "National Showdown of the Stars Champion." This year, the Seven Lakes Dance Senior Troupe members Roxanne Batson, Briana Goodwin, Katie Kearns, Brittany Keyser, Samantha Matthews, Sydney Turner and Samantha Laurita were chosen to compete in the showdown with their a capella tap dance titled "Quiet." They competed against the other top four routines from the teen age group. "Quiet" was named "National Showdown of the Stars Champion," scoring higher than all other top scoring routines in the teen division.

All competition dancers are students at Seven Lakes Dance under the direction and instruction of co-instructors Marcie Overcash Milbredt, Lauren Kicklighter, LeAnn Garrison and Katie Ritter.

Classes for the 2010-2011 dance year will begin Monday, Sept. 13. For more information, visit 7lakesdance.com or e-mail Marcie Milbredt at 7lakesdance@nc.rr.com.