Kim Seim
School director, company director, choreographer and teacher for Ballet 4, teacher of private lessons
A classically-trained ballet dancer of more than forty years, Kim is also a proud homeschooling mom of three and a follower of Jesus! Her heart is to not only instill a love of ballet in her students and to train them to become great ballet dancers, but to foremost disciple them to be followers of Christ. In her high school years, she danced at the acclaimed Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan (where she danced the roles of Prayer in Coppélia and Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty). Upon graduation, she spent one year dancing for a university with a highly acclaimed ballet program where the staff offered her a scholarship after seeing her direct and choreograph student works. Instead of remaining there, she decided to move on to train and graduate from Christian University in the areas of cross cultural missions and Bible. She went on to direct a Rejoice! Ballet school in Southern California for five years and a professional-level ballet company called His Grace Dance Ministry for two years. She has now directed Rejoice! Ballet of Bentonville for nine years. Kim's aim for Rejoice! Children's Ballet Theater is to train up quality dancers who will eventually perform as a professional Christian youth company that will raise money for water well ministries that share the gospel with people in Third World countries.
School director, company director, choreographer and teacher for Ballet 4, teacher of private lessons
A classically-trained ballet dancer of more than forty years, Kim is also a proud homeschooling mom of three and a follower of Jesus! Her heart is to not only instill a love of ballet in her students and to train them to become great ballet dancers, but to foremost disciple them to be followers of Christ. In her high school years, she danced at the acclaimed Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan (where she danced the roles of Prayer in Coppélia and Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty). Upon graduation, she spent one year dancing for a university with a highly acclaimed ballet program where the staff offered her a scholarship after seeing her direct and choreograph student works. Instead of remaining there, she decided to move on to train and graduate from Christian University in the areas of cross cultural missions and Bible. She went on to direct a Rejoice! Ballet school in Southern California for five years and a professional-level ballet company called His Grace Dance Ministry for two years. She has now directed Rejoice! Ballet of Bentonville for nine years. Kim's aim for Rejoice! Children's Ballet Theater is to train up quality dancers who will eventually perform as a professional Christian youth company that will raise money for water well ministries that share the gospel with people in Third World countries.
Esther Seim
Associate Artistic Director, teacher and choreographer for all ballet and musical theater dance levels, Media Specialist
Esther has been dancing practically since she began walking! She's twenty-six years old and a homeschool graduate. She attended Rejoice! Ballet in Southern California as well as other classical ballet academies in both Southern California and later Northwest Arkansas before joining her mom in starting Rejoice! Ballet Academy Bentonville in 2014. She danced as an intermediate gold medalist in the 2015 and 2016 Christian Ballet Olympics, an advanced bronze medalist in 2017 (with honors), and an advanced silver medalist in 2018. She competed in the dance categories at the Assembly of God's National Fine Arts Festival in 2017 (Louisville, KY) and 2018 (Anaheim, CA). There, she received the second highest and highest ratings in the competition, receiving 4th in the nation in 2018. (She also coached two male RCBT performers who have won state titles in the same competition.) She is a regular soloist in RCBT's various productions, having danced "Messenger Angel" in It's Finally Christmas, "Lady Tremaine" (the stepmother) in Cinderella: A Tale of Answered Prayer, and "Carabosse" in Sleeping Beauty and the Dwarfs Message, the Teacher in Pinocchio: The Prodigal, and "Miss Mary" in Miss Mary. She spends most of her time working with children in one way or another--but her favorite way to do that is to teach them how to praise the Lord through ballet! Esther is actively involved in church, enjoys outdoor activities, and loves to spend quality time with her family and friends.
Associate Artistic Director, teacher and choreographer for all ballet and musical theater dance levels, Media Specialist
Esther has been dancing practically since she began walking! She's twenty-six years old and a homeschool graduate. She attended Rejoice! Ballet in Southern California as well as other classical ballet academies in both Southern California and later Northwest Arkansas before joining her mom in starting Rejoice! Ballet Academy Bentonville in 2014. She danced as an intermediate gold medalist in the 2015 and 2016 Christian Ballet Olympics, an advanced bronze medalist in 2017 (with honors), and an advanced silver medalist in 2018. She competed in the dance categories at the Assembly of God's National Fine Arts Festival in 2017 (Louisville, KY) and 2018 (Anaheim, CA). There, she received the second highest and highest ratings in the competition, receiving 4th in the nation in 2018. (She also coached two male RCBT performers who have won state titles in the same competition.) She is a regular soloist in RCBT's various productions, having danced "Messenger Angel" in It's Finally Christmas, "Lady Tremaine" (the stepmother) in Cinderella: A Tale of Answered Prayer, and "Carabosse" in Sleeping Beauty and the Dwarfs Message, the Teacher in Pinocchio: The Prodigal, and "Miss Mary" in Miss Mary. She spends most of her time working with children in one way or another--but her favorite way to do that is to teach them how to praise the Lord through ballet! Esther is actively involved in church, enjoys outdoor activities, and loves to spend quality time with her family and friends.
Katherine Grote
Teacher of Ballet 2, 3, and 4; and Contemporary 4
Katherine Grote danced with The San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Arizona, The Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet Austin. She was the founder and director of The Pointe Dance Studio in San Marcos, Texas, from 1999-2010 where she also founded River City Dance Theatre, a non-profit, pre-professional dance and theater group for dancers interested in pursuing professional careers. Some of her former students have gone on to dance professionally with Ballet Magnificat, American Repertory Ballet, and Disney World. The last 12 years have found her busy working in church ministry, from teaching to Children’s church and evangelism, as well as directing multiple dramas for special outreach services. She has been married to her husband for 20 years. They have 4 beautiful children, 3 cats, and a neurotic dog named Asa.
Teacher of Ballet 2, 3, and 4; and Contemporary 4
Katherine Grote danced with The San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Arizona, The Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet Austin. She was the founder and director of The Pointe Dance Studio in San Marcos, Texas, from 1999-2010 where she also founded River City Dance Theatre, a non-profit, pre-professional dance and theater group for dancers interested in pursuing professional careers. Some of her former students have gone on to dance professionally with Ballet Magnificat, American Repertory Ballet, and Disney World. The last 12 years have found her busy working in church ministry, from teaching to Children’s church and evangelism, as well as directing multiple dramas for special outreach services. She has been married to her husband for 20 years. They have 4 beautiful children, 3 cats, and a neurotic dog named Asa.
Sarah Matteri
Vocal Coach for Junior and Senior Musical Theater Dance Sarah began dancing at the age of 3. She was able to realize her dream of taking ballet when she became a student in one of Esther Seim's adult ballet classes. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a vocal emphasis, and also attended UCA to receive her Master's Degree in Science of Education. Sarah is continuing her education this spring at Liberty University to earn a Master's Degree in Music Education as well. Sarah has taught music and choir for 8 years in the Bentonville School District, and is currently the choir director at Washington Jr. High School. Sarah loves spending time with her husband and daughter, being outdoors, and dancing with her daughter in their living room! |
Jenee Grassle
Drama Camp Coach
Jenee is in the Arkansas registry as a professional teaching artist in Arts in Education department of the Arkansas Arts Council. She has worked in schools, churches, and non-profits and is currently the arts director at ETCNWA, a nonprofit school for the homeschool community, where she also provides training and coaching for speech and debate tournament students. She has taught acting classes, directed plays and musicals, developed and directed the first summer camp program for youth at the nonprofit Rogers Little Theater (Arkansas Public Theater) in Rogers, AR, where she has also served as chairman of the KidWorks Theater Program, and later as chairman of Education Outreach. She loves teaching and believes that any child can act!
Drama Camp Coach
Jenee is in the Arkansas registry as a professional teaching artist in Arts in Education department of the Arkansas Arts Council. She has worked in schools, churches, and non-profits and is currently the arts director at ETCNWA, a nonprofit school for the homeschool community, where she also provides training and coaching for speech and debate tournament students. She has taught acting classes, directed plays and musicals, developed and directed the first summer camp program for youth at the nonprofit Rogers Little Theater (Arkansas Public Theater) in Rogers, AR, where she has also served as chairman of the KidWorks Theater Program, and later as chairman of Education Outreach. She loves teaching and believes that any child can act!