Board of Directors
Rachel Roepke
- CEO & Artistic Director -
Rachel Roepke began her classical ballet training under the direction of Sherida Sullivan in 1986. Under the direction of Mrs. Sullivan, Rachel performed the roles of Carabosse (The Sleeping Beauty), Little Swans and Pas de Trois (Swan Lake), and the Summer Fairy (Cinderella). She continued training with Jolynda Lyon at SONdance Ministries in 1999. She completed grades 1-4 and professional levels 5-6 Cecchetti syllabus examinations, earning certificates from the Cecchetti Council of America. Additionally, she began to teach and choreograph for SONdance Ministries and became a certified teacher in the Cecchetti method grades 1-2. In 2002 Rachel moved to Jackson, MS where she spent two years training professionally with Ballet Magnificat!, and dancing with Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Company. While at Ballet Magnificat!, Rachel received instruction from teachers including ballet mistress Sol Nazario, Tennille Carver, Kathy Thibodeaux, Jiri Vaborsky, and National Ballet of Cuba's Laura Alonzo. She performed in Deliver Us!, Unveiled Hope, Burlap to Cashmere, A Christmas Festival, God Gets the Glory, The Mission and Real Life.
In 2004 she moved to Jackson, MI to teach for the Academy of the Arts, dance for the Jackson Ballet Company and receive additional training from former Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Director Tennille Carver.
In 2005 Rachel returned to California and was asked to assume the position of Artistic Director for Aroma - SONdance Ministry Team. She continued as Artistic Director for Aroma until June of 2009, directing, choreographing, dancing and touring to various events in California including the Southern Baptist Tsunami Youth Convention. She was also on staff with SONdance Christian Dance School teaching ballet technique, pointe, pre-pointe and jazz until June of 2009.
Rachel began her certification process in the STOTT Pilates method in the Spring of 2007 and became a fully certified STOTT Pilates instructor in January of 2008.
In May 2007, Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Management and a minor in Communications from Regent University. In June 2007, she traveled to Amsterdam, Netherlands to dance for 10 days in an effort to use the arts as an outreach to share the love of Christ with the people of Amsterdam. In June of 2008, Rachel led the Aroma dancers on a 2 1/2 week to Amsterdam where they worked extensively with ministries based in the city and had the opportunity to minister to the Dutch people.
Rachel now acts as the CEO and Artistic Director for Anastasis Ballet Company, as well as the Director for Radiance School of Ballet, and is excited about pursuing God's calling on her life to use dance as evangelism and worship.
Erica Bergfalk
- Director & Secretary -
Mrs. Bergfalk has had extensive training in classical ballet. She has also been a company member and teacher for non-profit dance ministry Celebration Ministry of Arts (Littleton, CO) for fourteen years. Erica has twenty-four years dance experience including one year training with Ballet Magnificat! (Jackson, MS). She holds a Bachelors Degree in Human Communications with an emphasis in Biblical Studies (2003) from Colorado Christian University (Lakewood, CO) and has worked for four and one-half years in marketing and business administration. Erica is passionate about using dance as ministry and has been to Japan many summers with Celebration Ministry of Art spreading the good news of Jesus Christ through dance. Mrs. Bergfalk serves as Anastasis' secretary.
Jeff Bradshaw
- Director -
Mr. Bradshaw has held church leadership positions including Home Group Leader, Adult Sunday School Teacher, Parenting Ministry Administrator, and others. He served three years on the Board of another Christian dance organization. He has spent the majority of his professional career in the engineering and sales of factory automation components and systems. Mr. Bradshaw holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University. He also owns and operates Jeff Bradshaw Photography, a professional photography business. He is the official photographer of Anastasis. Mr. Bradshaw will celebrate 29 years of marriage to Bobbi October 18, 2014. Together, he and Bobbi have two children: Peter who is in the US Coast Guard and is married to Rebecca, and Katherine who is currently a college student and a former Company Dancer with Anastasis.
Jon Orellana
- Director -
Mr. Orellana has held various church leadership positions including Home Group Leader; Adult Sunday School Teacher; Premarital Counselor; Marriage Retreat Leader; Men’s Retreat Group Leader; and Member of Board of Deacons and Board of Directors Church Corporation.
Mr. Orellana’s professional career included various management positions with the County of Alameda where he spent 34 years. His responsibilities included representing Alameda County at administrative hearings; conducting management analysis studies; providing human resources services; overseeing department budgets; coordinating the Alameda County budget; overseeing major County programs; and facilitating financial transactions. He spent his last ten years before retiring in 2007 as Assistant General Manager responsible for all administrative services for Zone 7 Water Agency in Livermore, CA.
Since his retirement, Mr. Orellana has served in various volunteer capacities including V.P. Board of Directors, Retired Employees of Alameda County; high school tennis coach; various community service activities with Cornerstone Fellowship; as well as other volunteer activities.
Mr. Orellana holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Industrial Management from San Jose State University and a Master in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Orellana is married to Lynn and they have two adult children, Josh and Abby and two grandchildren, Haven and Mia.
Mr. Orellana has had an interest in the arts for sometime, including the theater, film, symphony and now ballet.
Esther Weins
-Director-
Esther graduated from Business School in 1962 and married her High School sweetheart, Larry, in 1963. She spent 5 years helping her husband through University and Seminary. Larry and Esther worked for 12 years in Youth for Christ and as Youth Directors for Friends Community Church. They started a family in 1973 and have two children, Ryan and Stacy.
Esther's business background helped them seize the opportunity to start J.W. Bentley Gifts, which they ran for 13 years and had stores in Danville, Lafayette and Stanford Shopping center until they sold them in 1995. In 1995 Esther started her own design business and eventually moved on to remodeling homes. In 2006 Esther founded Mother's Together, a ministry for young moms. This ministry served over 100 moms who gathered weekly. Later Esther enjoyed speaking on Marriage and Family at many MOP's groups in the Bay Area. More recently she has stayed busy with helping her children with their 6 grandchildren.
Esther and Larry were introduced to Anastasis in 2012 and were captivated with the company's commitment to excellence in their art. After Larry invited Anastasis to present for The Barnabas Group, Esther began becoming more involved with the company and joined as a Board Member in 2015. Esther has enjoyed helping ministries and churches with her designing skills and in 2014 considered it a pleasure to help with the designs for Radiance School of Ballet. Her interest in the arts, and arts as ministry, has continued to grow as she has become further involved with Anastasis.
Dan Thompson
- Director -
More about Dan coming soon! Stay tuned