About Anna
Biography
I am 21 years old, the sixth of seven children. I was home educated all the way through high school graduation, and enjoyed every bit of it. After a year at Belhaven College in MS, I returned home in 2009 to continue my education through independent study while teaching and directing.
In addition to ballet, I have many interests, including but not limited to theatre, music, reading, writing, sewing, cooking, and other feminine arts. I aim to be a life-long learner, and am enjoying the opportunity to use my single years for God's glory, and to serve my family and those in this community. In April 2011 I also started working as the part-time secretary for Fountain of Grace, my home church.
Training
Dancing has always been a part of my life. With this enjoyment of dancing, God has also given me a passion for using it for His glory. From age 5-10 I participated in worship dance groups, took baton lessons for a year, gymnastics for a summer, and longed to take ballet. Finally, at 11 years of age, I got the opportunity.
I took praise dance from Danette Ellis for 5 years. When I was 13, I started pointe, taking from Lisa Johnson and Barbara Bloomquist for 2 1/2 years. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, I attended Ballet Magnficat's Summer Dance Intensive. I took classical ballet technique and pointe from C.J. Martin in 2006-2008. In 2008-2009 I studied classical ballet and modern dance technique at Belhaven College in, where I also received theatre training, majoring in Theatre Ministry. In the summer of 2009 I attended Ballet Magnificat's Teacher's Workship and gained valuable skills and ideas for teaching.
Teaching/Directing Experience
In 2002-2003, I helped my teacher Danette Ellis with a younger girl's class. Little did I know that one day - sooner than I imagined - I would be teaching on my own.
In September of 2006, I started The King's Praise Ballet. By May 2007 I had 20 students, and the following fall, the number of students doubled. After a year away a college, I began teaching anew in the summer of 2009, and currently have 54students enrolled in 8 different classes.
I've also directed and choreographed for quite a few musicals. "Esther-Ordinary Faith" (August 2005) and "Fat Fa t Jehoshaphat" (July 2008) were written by Kathie Hill, and "The Amazing Jerusalem Makeover" (August 2009) was created by Herb Owen, Ed Kee and John Lemonis. "Ruth: From Rejection to Redemption" (August 2007), "Mary: Chosen by God" (December 2007), "Beyond Bethlehem" (December 2009), and "The Manger Way" (December 2010) were ones Iwrote the script for and found songs to use. The Christmas musicals also incorporated my dance classes in a special way. "The Cord of Courage" (August 2010) was the first fully original musical, with me writing the script and music composed by Caleb Hart, an 18-year-0ld family friend. "Esther-Ordinary Faith" was also directed again in July 2011.
Vision
For however many years God leads me to teach The King's Praise Ballet, my prayer is that I will be used as His instrument to touch many lives. I am aware of the big responsibility I have to set a good example for my students, and I pray that I'll be a blessing to all of the families involved in the ministry. It is a joy for me to teach girls to praise the Lord with dancing!
For His Praise,
Anna Lofgren
