Hope Borthick
Founder of Shalom Movement School of Dance (established 2015)
Rebekah Hope Borthick began dancing in the late 80’s at Springfield School of Classical Ballet where she was introduced to a solid foundation of ballet, jazz, and tap under the instruction of Cheri Coleman.
Hope’s training includes the Vaganova method and teachings from Cheri Coleman, Tatiana Sevostianova Kvasova (graduate from the Vaganova Academy), Batsheva Summer Coursework in Israel, Moscow Ballet (1997, 2007), Nashville Ballet (1999, 2000, 2001), NYC Broadway Dance Center, ABT New York City (Summer 2004), Pamela Atha, Stacie Floodpop, Mia Michaels, Frequent Flyers Aerial Ballet in Colorado, Banning Bouldin (graduate from Juilliard), New Dialect, Flamenco and Bollywood Dharmsala, India and many more.
“It truly is an honor to return to my hometown and open a school of dance in the building next to where my journey started.”
Hope is a graduate of Cumberland University where she obtained her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and a Minor in Dance.
“Living in India changed me. Upon returning to the United States, I knew that dance was more than just a personal passion, it was a universal language and I was meant to share it with the upcoming generation.”
In 2010, Hope founded Hope Again International, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a performing arts focus existing to bring awareness and to rescue trafficked children from exploitation.
Hope choreographed and directed workshops for Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, Middle Tennessee State University and Cumberland University students. Through her non-profit she created performing arts events throughout the state. Hope has traveled to teach dance abroad in India, Israel and Mexico. Hope’s genre of choice is Classical Ballet but has enjoyed training all over the globe in Contemporary, Flamenco, Bollywood, Folk, Tribal, Modern Israeli and West African Pop.
Hope has developed confidence in her teaching with ongoing Ballet Pedagogy courses and The Mentorship Program. She has gathered and implemented teaching styles from around the world from women and men who have effective educators in the world of dance.
“It is important that each step builds upon the next and that each Dancer has a strong foundation. I love that ballet is both art and science. As a teacher, it is my responsibility to connect the principles of safe movement through technique, kinesiology and most importantly, the artistic expression of ballet. We were all created to tell a story and we can all learn and grow through storytelling. Shalom Movement School of Dance was birthed in 2014, after my husband and I moved back from India. Our hope was to create a community for all dancers to refine their individual gifting and to use dance for something far greater than themselves.”
Hope and her husband John moved home from India in 2014 and have four precious children Judah, Zara, Yasiel and Jericho.
Over the past decade, (2015-2025) Hope has been the Artistic Director of Shalom Movement teaching thousands of students, choreographing hundreds of pieces and has written four original ballets Hope Again (2010), Queen Esther (2016), Yahweh (2018), The Shulamite (2024).
“Dancers, remain a lifetime learner, move and speak with kindness. What a privilege it is to grow together in the gift of dance. Shalom Movement is a place to honor our movement with excellence in technique and to cultivate each dancers artistic abilities.”
