Hope Borthick
Dance will always be a part of my identity. Movement changes things. It changes us, for the better!” 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. “I remember if we arrived late to class we would have to knock on the closed wooden studio doors and wait until she allowed us to come in. She had high standards for us, which raised our standards for ourselves as dancers. It truly is an honor to own a dance school in the building directly beside where my first years as a dancer took place.”
Rebekah Hope has been dancing for 30 years but here are a few of her favorite highlights: In the early 90’s Hope auditioned with Nashville Ballet for the Russian Nutcracker who had traveled to the United States to perform at TPAC and was one of eight children chosen from the Middle Tennessee region. In 2004 she attended Florida’s Talent Search and was one of twelve selected out of 2,000+ dancers and actors to spend the summer in New York City at the NYC Broadway Dance. During 2006-2007, Hope traveled to India with University of the Nations (YWAM) where she taught dance and worked in a medial clinic in the Red Light District. Upon returning to the United States she knew that dance was more than a passion, it was a universal language.
Hope is a graduate of Cumberland University where she obtained her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and a Minor in Dance. During her time at Cumberland University she was a company dancer and co-founded a dance curriculum used during 2008-2012. Hope directed numerous Contemporary, Ballet and Modern dance workshops for Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, Middle TN State University and Cumberland University students. During college she taught pointe, ballet, tap and musical theater at The Dancers Studio under founder Lea Dalley Caplenor from 2008-2011. Over the years she has attended intensives across the globe including Aerial Ballet with Frequent Flyers in Boulder, Colorado, American Ballet in New York, Nashville Ballet, and workshops with choreographer Mia Michaels. She has had dance training while living in India and Israel in styles such as Flamenco, Bollywood, Folk, Tribal, Modern Israeli and West African Pop.
In 2010, Hope founded Hope Again International, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a performing arts focus existing to rescue trafficked children from slavery and exploitation worldwide; establish safe, stable homes with programs designed to holistically address physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs through a fine arts-based curriculum using dance, music and art therapy. She has a heart for justice, advocacy, and children. She has directed twelve performing arts events throughout the state and has travelled to teach dance abroad in India, Israel and Mexico. Her genre of choice is Contemporary Ballet.
After moving home from India in 2014, Hope opened Shalom Movement School of Dance in 2015 while continuing to work as a registered nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Hope and her husband John have three precious children Judah, Zara, and Yasiel. “We will create and appreciate the gift of dance here. This is a place to honor our movement, our fellow dancers, and our creator.”
Psalm 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my rags and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever!
