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, and rehearsal director 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.
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.
Lily Campbell
Instructor
Ms Campbell is a company member, choreographer, and instructor with Praise His Name with Dancing. She began as a student at Praise His Name in 2015 at the age of 7 and joined the company level in 2017 and the teaching staff in 2026. Ms Lily continues to increase and intensify her dance training through master classes, intensives, and company technique classes. Ms Lily helped lead Praise His Name with Dancing’s Princess Camp 2026 and performed in outreaches to nursing homes and church events. She loves to see how the Lord can work through dance and music to reach everyone, from the youngest to the oldest audience members. It is her goal to always point her students back to the Lord through the way she teaches and shares God’s love with her students. As they grow physically in class, she desires to participate in their spiritual growth too. She wants them to experience the same joy and worship she feels when she is dancing for the Lord every time they are in class.
Hazel Boruvka
Instructor
Ms Hazel is a company member, teacher, and choreographer. She began taking classes at Praise His Name with Dancing in 2021 when she was eleven years old. Ms Hazel started dancing at the company level in the fall of that same year. She became an apprentice at Praise HIs Name in 2024, but did not join the teaching staff until 2025. Ms Hazel continues to refine her technique through masterclasses, workshops, intensives, and company technique classes. Ms Hazel has participated in nursing home outreaches and assisted in summer princess camps. These have both led to the realization of how the beauty and art of dancing connects people to the Lord. It is an honor for her to help set the scene of worship for many people to experience the Lord's presence. Through her teaching, Ms Hazel desires to see her students overflow with joy as they discover the gift of dance and worship the Lord with the talents He has specifically given each of them. It is a blessing to watch her students grow in communion with the Heavenly Father and increase in their passion for dance.
Clara Houck
Instructor
Ms Clara is a company member, choreographer and teacher with Praise His Name with Dancing. She initially began as a student at Praise His Name in the summer of 2021 at the age of 11, and joined company level in the fall of 2021. Ms Clara began apprenticing with the teaching staff in January 2025 and was a teacher’s assistant until 2026 when she officially joined the teaching staff. Ms Clara continues to strengthen and intensify her training through company technique classes, summer dance intensive in training outside the studio. Ms Clara has assisted in Praise His Name with Dancing Princess Camp 2026 as well as performing an outreach program at Concordia at Sumner. Her heart is to see the Lord work through her as she dances for His glory to be used as an instrument to reach the lives of those around her. She loves to instill in her young students the importance of enjoying dance class as a form of expression and worship. It brings her deep joy as she watches her students grow in their love and adoration for the Lord as well as their technique.
Lily Tinkham
Instructor
Ms Tinkham is a company member, instructor, and choreographer with Praise His Name With Dancing. She began as a student at Praise His Name in 2011 at the age of 4 and has moved on to join company level in 2015 and teaching staff in 2024. Ms Tinkham continues to intensify her training with additional technique classes and has attended various workshops, intensives, and master classes offered by the company, Ballet Magnificat!, and the University of Akron. Ms Tinkham has served through various nursing home outreaches and church events. She loves to see the Lord impact the lives of others through dance and through the ministry. Through her teaching, Ms Tinkham strives to set an example of worship and encouragement to the students and looks forward to seeing them grow in their joy for dance and love for the Lord. She is committed to offering all the gifts that the Lord has given her to bring Him praise and to further His Kingdom.
Iyla Utter
Instructor
Ms Iyla is a company member, choreographer, and teacher at Praise His Name With Dancing. She first began dancing at Praise His Name in 2018; she later joined the company level in 2021, and the teaching staff in 2026. Ms Iyla continues to deepen her dance training through company technique classes, master classes, and intensives. Ms Iyla has felt called to ministry for a long time and loves how dance can be used as one way to reach people. Along with teaching at Praise His Name With Dancing, she has had the opportunity to teach worship dance to children in Guatemala as well as children at her church. Not only does Ms Iyla want to help her students grow in their technique, she also wants to lead them to growth in their faith. In her classroom she hopes her students learn to use dance as a beautiful way to worship God. Ms Iyla encourages her students to learn a lot while still having a great time.
Elizabeth Thompson
Instructor
Ms Elizabeth is a company member, teacher, and choreographer at Praise His Name With Dancing. Building on previous experience at All About Dance studio, Ms Elizabeth started dancing at Praise His Name in the summer of 2019. She taught here and there throughout the years, but officially joined the staff in 2026. Ms Elizabeth has cultivated her training through master classes, Ballet Magnificat intensives, workshops, and company technique classes. Additionally, Ms Elizabeth has served at nursing home outreaches, along with teaching dance classes at her co-op. She enjoys watching people experience the Gospel in such a beautiful and artistic way. While teaching, she strives to show her students that God created us differently and we can use those differences to showcase the variety of gifts God has given us. At the same time, while we are all different, we can all come together to share the glorious truth of the Gospel! She considers it a blessing and a privilege to get to teach and love those who walk in and out of the classroom.