WITH DANCING
Our Staff
Meet Our Team
Diana & Scott Hoffman
Founders and Chief Directors
Diana is the Artistic Director of Praise His Dancing. She has been teaching worship dance classes since 1993. Diana studied classical Ballet, Pointe, and Modern dance for fifteen years at Wadsworth School of Ballet, Pointe West Studio & North East Ohio Dance and continues her study through intensive programs. She has attended numerous worship dance and aerobic seminars for continuing education and inspiration. In addition, she has six years experience as an aerobics instructor. Her aerobic training consisted of an aerobic certification and knowledge of basic anatomy in relation to movement. Scott is the Technical Director of Praise His Name With Dancing. His heart for the Lord, heart for worship, as well as his giftings in vision and technical aspects of show production have been an excellent complement to our ministry. He has been to numerous worship seminars. He has also been on Covenant of Grace's Worship Team for many years.
Angela Ulrich
Assistant Director
Ms Ulrich is a company member, instructor, choreographer, rehearsal director, and tour manager with Praise His Name With Dancing. She started as a student with the company in 2000 and joined the teaching staff in 2010. Ms Ulrich supplements her dance training by participating in master classes, college courses, and summer intensives (Inlet Dance Theater 2011, Ballet Magnificat! 2012, 2018). In 2019, she trained and performed with Ballet Magnificat! Brazil as a member of their trainee company. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics with a minor in piano performance from the University of Akron (2016). Angela has choreographed various local theater productions, including “Patchwork” (2012) for Fruits of the Spirit Academy and “Lion King Jr” (2021) for Genesis Experience Theater. Miss Ulrich also gained invaluable ministry experience through her mission’s work in Nicaragua with the 4-Square Go Team (2013-2017), serving twice as the Childrens’ Ministry director, using dance, song and drama to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Angela is passionate about using everything that she has learned to train the next generation of dancers and worship leaders, who will cultivate their God-given gifts to see the Gospel spread and hearts changed by the love of Jesus.
Katie Kraynak
Assistant Director
Ms Kraynak is a company member, instructor, choreographer, and an assistant director with Praise His Name With Dancing. She began as a student at Praise his Name in 2007 and joined the teaching staff in 2018. Ms Kraynak subsidizes her training with various master classes, college courses, and summer intensives (Ballet Magnificat! 2018, 2019). She also earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Kent State University alongside many awards for academics, writing, and the visual arts (2023). In addition to choreographing and teaching, Katie also contributes to the Praise His Name ministry through the visual arts. Throughout her many years with the company, Katie has designed costumes, created sets and set designs, and made props for the various performances. Katie is committed and passionate about her ministry at Praise His Name! She loves to connect with students and help them grow not only in their dance abilities but also in their relationships with Christ. She believes that Praise His Name’s heart to worship, glorify God, and share the gospel truly sets the school apart from other companies.
Elizabeth Hoffman
Instructor
Miss Lizzie is a company member, instructor, and choreographer of Praise His Name With Dancing. She started as a student with the company in 2009, apprenticed many of the Praise His Name teachers and staff from 2016-2018, and officially joined the teaching staff in 2019. Elizabeth has attended numerous intensives and master classes alongside the ones offered by Praise His Name. She has attended Leap of Faith Dance Company intensive (2016), Ballet Magnificat Summer Dance Intensive (2019, 2022), Encounter Performing Arts summer Intensive in Ankeny Iowa (2020), Grace Ballet summer intensive (2021), Magnum Opus summer intensive (2023), and various different company master classes at the University of Akron. Miss Lizzie loves teaching, her favorite thing about it is getting to know her students on a personal level and reach out to them to make a positive impact on their lives. It is her joy and privilege to train the younger and older generations in dance, but also help them to grow in their relationship with the Lord! Elizabeth is committed and dedicated to her work with Praise His Name! She loves teaching her students not only how to do things but what is happening inside of their body while they do them. Her true heart behind teaching is to connect with the students, pass on what she has learned, and to show Christ in everything that she does!
Lucy Jones
Instructor
Lucy Jones-Miss Lucy is a company member, choreographer and teacher. She began dancing with Praise His Name With Dancing in 2018, when she was 11 years old. From the start, she took additional technique classes to sharpen her skills. She apprenticed from 2019 until she joined the teaching staff in 2022. She loves the choreography process and is always excited to create emotive and technical pieces. Miss Lucy continues to dance with one of Praise His Name's senior companies and is a senior in high school– taking college classes through Cedarville University. She has contributed to the choreography of many of her company's dances through the years. Miss Lucy loves to dance for Jesus. She loves that Praise His Name facilitates, by God's grace, an atmosphere of worship and friendship, and she's committed to perpetuating that as much as she can. She desires to help more students learn how to sharpen their skills so they can worship with all their might. It is her joy to help usher in the praises of the young ones she teaches. Dance has taught her more and more how God captivates hearts and leads them to himself in very personal ways and through expressive outlets. She desires the same experience for her students.
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Elisa Crowley
Instructor
Ms Elisa is a company member, teacher and choreographer. She began dance classes with the company in 2017 and in following years apprenticed alongside other fellow Praise his name with dancing teachers up until she joined the teaching staff in 2022. Ms Elisa, increases and intensifies her dance training through summer dance intensives, master classes and company technique classes. Throughout her years with Praise his name with dancing, Ms Elisa has had the opportunity to serve in summer arts Intensives through many nursing home outreaches, performances at women’s retreats and various church events. It is her delight to teach and encourage her students to worship the Lord with joy and gladness. She believes there is nothing more precious than a heart unraveled before God and she views it as an honor to be able to lead her students into genuine worship.
Estelle Abramides
Instructor
Ms Estelle is a company member, choreographer, and instructor with Praise His Name with Dancing. She began studying ballet at the age of 4, and in 2014 she furthered her career at the Ohio Conservatory of Ballet. She was invited to join the Stabrova Youth Ballet Company in 2016, with some of her repertoire including waltz queen and dream queen in The Nutcracker, as well as having danced excerpts from the ballets Raymonda and Paquita. She also took part in the Youth America Grand Prix competition in 2018 under the Ohio Conservatory of Ballet, receiving third place in ensemble. Ms Estelle attended numerous Praise His Name performances through the years, and at the age of 15 she felt a strong calling to ministry work through the art form of dance. She then joined Praise His Name with Dancing in 2019, and soon after took part in Ballet Magnificat’s summer dance intensive for four weeks in Mississippi (2019). She also traveled to Iowa for Encounter Ballet’s summer dance intensive for four weeks, under the instruction of Michael and Olivia Viator (2020, 2021). She is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Akron, with hopes to attend Law School. Ms Estelle joined the teaching staff in 2022, and her joy is to see the Lord’s presence ushered in and present in all classes and performances! Every show reveals something new to her about God’s provision and faithfulness, and she loves seeing her students encounter His glory through the expression of dance. Her heart's desire is to worship her Savior for many years to come!
