Gratitude Performing Arts

Rebekah Proshek- Founder, Artistic Director, Choreographer and Performing Artist

Rebekah grew up in Toledo Ohio where she began her dance training with Ballet Theatre of Toledo at the age of nine. She has had the privilege to study classical ballet, jazz, tap, modern and contemporary. Her love for dance blossomed after attending the summer intensives of Ballet Magnificat!,

Ballet 5:8, and many in-studio master classes. Following her graduation she became a Trainee with Ballet Magnificat! for four years and danced with their Events Company for one year touring the United States Uganda and Zambia Africa.

Growing up in a home filled with the visual and performing arts, she learned at an early age to create in ways that were beautiful and brought glory to God. When she was 13 years old, she had the privilege to travel to California on a missions trip. Through a youth summer fine-arts camp, they used the arts of singing, dancing, and creating cut paper props to share stories about the gospel while also equipping the students to do the same. This ignited something in Rebekah and to this day, she is passionate about making opportunities for kids not only to learn to create in beauty and truth but also to know Jesus and make Him known.

During her high school and college years, she also developed a passion for choreography and sought any opportunity to create new pieces to grow her skills to speak through the art of dance. She has choreographed many worship sets, classical pieces and looks forward to creating her first full ballet in the near future! In this coming 2024 summer she also has the privilege to travel to San diego California to dance and study under the renowned choreographer Kevin Jenkins.

Rebekah's summarized mission for Gratitude Performing Arts is to share and create current, relatable, and truth-based stories displaying Christ, and to liberate artists to create in truth and freedom in light of one's identity in Christ. She desires to see the bondages of comparison and pride broken down and replaced with humility, gratitude, and a bold confidence in the unique gifts God has given each individual. Rebekah also has been pursuing a degree in Christian Ministries at Masters's University as she is passionate about equipping believers to love the gospel and understand how to articulate their faith, not only through the language of dance but through verbal conversations.

Allie Kurfis- Performing Artist

Allie grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio where she started her dance training at the age of 11. A majority of her training was completed at Black Swamp Fine Arts School under the instruction of Hayley Havener.

At age 16 she started dancing in the pre-professional program. As a student she attended numerous out-of-state intensives, including Messiah College, Ballet 5:8, and Ballet Magnificat! To develop her teaching skills, she attended the Energize Conference for Dance Educators in 2019 and the Discover Dance training in 2020.

In 2022 she was promoted to Resident Artist and had the opportunity to dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Black Swamp Fine Arts School’s 3rd and 4th annual productions of Masha and the Nutcracker. She also helped lead the school’s Miriam Ministry group for several years and had the opportunity to minister through dance at many nursing homes, schools, and worship night events. Allie has a passion for using dance as a way to connect others with Jesus and appreciates any opportunity she has to glorify Him through this gift

Elyn VanderEnde- Modern Instructor

Elyn VanderEnde was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, and is a current ballet and modern instructor for Black Swamp Fine Arts School. She fell in love with ballet at an early age and began classical training with the Cassandra Ballet of Toledo at the age of eight. As Elyn majored in the Dance/Theater program at the University of Toledo, Her love for modern dance began to blossom. During her training, she had the opportunity to study under many guest teachers, including teachers from the Paris Opera Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, the Kirov Ballet, and Butler University. She also was able to attend many summer intensives, but her most memorable intensive was at Ballet Magnificat!, where Elyn fell in love with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was then that she decided to be a positive and encouraging dance instructor. Her first teaching experience was at Mini Motions Dance Center in Toledo, Ohio, and later went on to teach at the Midwest Contemporary Ballet Theater, Becky's School of Dance, and the Fort Meigs YMCA. Elyn has been teaching ballet and modern dance for nearly 30 years and hopes to enjoy many more.

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