Rachel Gustafson
- CEO & Artistic Director -
Rachel Gustafson 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 Ceccetti 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!, Miss Gustafson 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 Miss Gustafson 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 and is excited about pursuing God's calling on her life to use dance as evangelism and worship.
Marie Baysinger
- Director -
Mrs. Baysinger's bio is coming soon
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 27 years of marriage to Bobbi October 18, 2012. Together, he and Bobbi have two children: Peter (23) who is in the US Coast Guard and is married to Rebecca, and Katherine (21), who is a college student and a Company Dancer with Anastasis.
Richard Feehs
- Director -
Mr. Feehs has held positions in Church Leadership including Superintendent of Sunday School Departments, Member and/or Chair of Boards of Trustees, Board of Deacons and Finance Committees in Wilmington DE, Woodstown NJ and Concord CA. When in those positions, he volunteered 10-20 hrs per month. He has held management/leadership positions during a 34 year career with DuPont (Bachelor and Master degrees in Chemical Engineering) including positions as Research Division Head, Research Laboratory Manager, Plant Manager and Asst Director of Corporate Compensation & Benefits Division. Mr. Feehs has been retired since 1990 and currently enjoys living in Colorado with his wife Helen.
Cathleen Sparks
- Director & Treasurer -
Cathleen has twenty-two years dance experience. She has a High School Diploma from North Carolina School of the Arts (Winston-Salem, NC) with a major in Ballet. Miss Sparks danced for two years with Ballet Magnificat! (Jackson, MS) and spent one year dancing for Paradosi Christian Ballet Company (Seattle, WA). Cathleen acted as the Administrator of Surrendered School of the Arts for one year (Seattle, WA). She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2008) with double major in Psychology and Religious Studies. Miss Sparks moved to California in January of 2009 in order to join Anastasis as a company dancer. Cathleen serves as the treasurer for Anastasis.