About Us

9627 Newburg Road, Livonia MI 48150

Staff

Bunny Sanford
Bunny Sanford's dance career began in Dearborn, Michigan where she studied, performed, and eventually began teaching at the Dick Reppa Dance Studios. Training in the dance styles of ballet, tap, and jazz, Bunny has taught from beginner through advaced levels, and furthered her own dance education through classes from many master teachers, including Gus Giordano, Joe Tremaine, David Howard, Henry LeTang, and Cecchetti classes with Betty Bandyk. Since assuming the role of owner and director of Bunny Sanford School of Dance in 1973, Bunny has also mentored many of her former students as they first began their teaching careers, including longtime teachers, Miss Marie and Miss Angie.

Bunny is proud of the many students who have furthered their dance studies via university programs, or have joined professional companies, or dedicated themselves to teaching. She is equally happy to see former students return to the studio bringing their own children to experience the fun (and discipline) of dance classes. "I feel so blessed to have a job I love," says Bunny. "Teaching hundreds of dancers and training and working with such talented teachers has been a joy."

One of Bunny's major endeavors is to "give back" and maintain a relationship with the local community while providing dancers with extra performing opportunities. Dancers have performed at senior centers, nursing facilities, and other fundraisers and events, including the annual Livonia Ice Cream Social, Eastern Michigan Univerisity's "Community Dance Day," and Livonia Symphony Orchestra special events.

Angie Hahn
Miss Angie began her dance training at Bunny Sanford School of Dance at the age of 5. At the age of 13, as an assistant dance teacher, she knew she had found her calling. A firm dance foundation allowed Miss Angie to become a professional dancer at the age of 18. Angie's training includes the National Ballet School, Jillana intensives, Marygrove College, and various Cecchetti summer intensives. She has studied jazz under the Giordano style and is a self trained hip hop dancer. Angie has studied under the guidance of Marie Aversa Rabey, Iacob Lascu, Christina Kammueller, and Betty Bandyk. She has performed in numerous productions such as the Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and many variety shows at the Windsor Casino. The highlight of Miss Angie's dancing career was dancing in Areatha Franklin's U.S. tour. Angie is a certified Cecchetti teacher and holds a grade 6 teacher's degree. She has guest taught for the Cecchetti Ballet Days in Canada as well as in Ann Arbor, Plymouth, and Livonia. Currently, Miss Angie is happily raising three children and is managing and teaching at Bunny Sanford School of Dance.

Marie Rabey
Miss Marie began her ballet studies with Connie Reppa in Dearborn, Michigan, and continued her dance training at Bunny Sanford School of Dance. Also studying under Sandra Severo, and at the Interlochen Arts Camp, she went on to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance at Marygrove College, where she studied with Iacob Lascu. Performing as a principal dancer in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's annual Nutcracker for 17 years, Marie also acted as the production's Ballet Mistress. She has also danced solo and principal roles in the Michigan Theater productions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and Romeo and Juliet, and in several operas, including choreographing the dance sequences for La Traviata. Marie enjoyed the opportunity to dance in a national touring production of The Phantom of the Opera and danced on tour with the "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin. Other companies she has performed with include Harbinger Dance Company, More and More Dances, and the Ohio Ballet. Her teaching credits include nearly 30 years of teaching at Bunny Sanford School of Dance, as well as teaching for other local schools and at Oakland University and Eastern Michigan University. Currently, Miss Marie enjoys her teaching time, at Bunny Sanford School of Dance, and passing along the tradition of ballet to her students. She also enjoys spending time with her husband Bruce and 6-year-old son Kyle, who enjoys his dance classes at Bunny Sanford School of Dance immensely.

Carrie Riley
Miss Carrie received a degree in dance from Marygrove College under the instruction of Iacob Lascu and Penny Godboldo as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University as an Honors Psychology Major. Carrie has over 20 years of dance teaching. She specializes in Modern dance, incorporating the Lester Horton and Katherine Dunham techniques. She has performed at the Fox Theatre in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Nutcracker, was a Detroit Piston's Tuxedo Girl, and did local modeling in commercials, fashion shows and videos. Her award winning choreography has been showcased in Los Angeles, Walt Disney World, Detroit Area Fashion Shows, Chicago and Detroit Area dance competitions, Eastern Michigan University performances, Oakland University's Dance Team as well as Churchill High School's annual CAPA Spring concerts. Many of her students have gone on to professional dance careers in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and ballet companies across the United States. Currently, Miss Carrie is teaching Modern at Bunny Sanford School of Dance.

Jackie Vine
Miss Jackie graduated from Madonna University with her Elementary Michigan Teaching Certificate. She began her dance training at Bunny Sanford School of Dance at the age of 5 taking ballet class from Miss Angie. Jackie began assisting in the dance classrooms at the age of 13. After many years of assisting, she became a part of the Bunny Sanford School of Dance teaching staff. Jackie has taught ballet and jazz to students between ages of three and eleven. While dancing at the studio, Jackie performed in the yearly dance recitals, performing ballet, jazz, Chorus Line, and Senior Line. She has also performed in the studio Nutcracker. Jackie studied and passed the Cecchetti Grade One Teacher Exam. Her love of dance and children can be seen daily through her interactions with the youngest dancers. Currently, Miss Jackie is teaching ballet and jazz at Bunny Sanford School of Dance as well as teaching third grade.

Wendi Roberts Stepchuk
Miss Wendi received her Bachelor of Fine and Applied Arts degree from the University of Akron. She is a former student, beginning her dance training at Bunny Sanford School of Dance at the age of 4. Wendi danced in the Detroit Nutcracker Ballet, at the Ford Theater, the Fox Theatre, and at the Detroit Opera House for many years. She has been teaching dance for the past fifteen years. Currently, Miss Wendi teachers at Bunny Sanford School of Dance as well as The Dance Center in South Lyon. She is also a guest artist at Churchill High School in the CAPA program, where she is an alumni of the dance program.

Jeana Laney
Miss Jeana graduated with honors from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance and Choreography. With over fifteen years of teaching and choreographic experience, her passion for dance definitely shows. She has performed in several companies and schools including the Chicago Ballet School, WMU's Children's Repertory Dance Theater, Interlochen School of Arts, and the International Ballet Theater Co. She has also held the positions of Jazz Dance Director for St. Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana, as well as the Associate Director of the Conservatory of Dance Co. Inc. Miss Jeana has taught weekend intensives and master classes for various dance companies and has taken six Royal Academy of Dance graded exams. Currently, Miss Jeana is teaching at Bunny Sanford School of Dance while raising her family.

Amelia Brady
Miss Amelia graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor degree. Miss Amelia began her dance training at Bunny Sanford School of Dance at the age of 4. She danced throughout her senior year of high school as well as being an assistant teacher. During her years at Western Michigan University, she was a member of the Bronco Dance Team earning the "Most Spirited Dancer" award. Currently, Miss Amelia is teaching tap and boys hip hop at Bunny Sanford School of Dance as well as teaching Health, Fitness, First Aid, and CPR at West Middle School in Ypsilanti.

Kristi Fata
Miss Kristi is a sophomore at Churchill High School. She began dancing at Bunny Sanford School of Dance at the age of three. She started taking ballet, at the age of three, and soon added tap, jazz, and modern. Kristi has taken classes from Della Hamby and Iacob Lascu and has completed Cecchetti, Grade One. She has performed in the Nutcraker with the Livonia Symphony. Kristi began her teaching career as an assistant teacher. Currently, Miss Kristi is teaching jazz at Bunny Sanford School of Dance. She works hard to maintain good grades and plays tennis.

Addison O'Day

Jessica Lamarre

Miss Jessica is a trained dancer in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, African, Pointe and Hip-Hop, who has been able to display her passion for dance on a local and international scale. She has performed as a background dancer for music artists Yung Joc, Mariah Carey, J Moss and 21:03 and was a Detroit finalist for The Ciara Dance-off on The Russ Parr Bus Tour . Not only has Miss. Jessica had the opportunity to perform on concert stages, she also had a rewarding theatrical stage experience, as a cast member in The Harlem Nutcracker. Expanding her love for dance, performance and choreography, Miss Jessica and her partner Tristan Fisher, founded the dance group ASIID, who electrified the season 2 stage of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. Miss Jessica has had the opportunity to grace many stages and looks forward to sharing her experience and passion for dance.

Karen Young

Miss Karen received a Masters of Education from Chapman Univeristy. She began her dance training when she was 2 1/2 years old. At the age of five she began dancing at Bunny Sanford School of Dance. She became an assistant and then a teacher during her senior year of high school. Karen moved to California where she was a lead dancer at the local college, choreographer for local bands, and elementary teacher. She continued to teach at various dance studios throughout Southern California. In 2008, Karen returned to Michigan with her husband and three daughters. In addition to teaching ballet at Bunny Sanford School of Dance, Karen is a curriculum designer and University professor.

Carol Villenueve- Office Manager
Carol Villenueve has been a part of Bunny Sanford School of Dance for 30 years. She first came to the studio as a mom. Carol watched as two of her three daughters danced their way from pre-ballet classes to advanced ballet, tap, and jazz classes. She began working behind the scenes with sewing, video, and anything else that was needed. Her love of the studio and the dancers led her to the position of Office Manager 15 years ago.