Kathy Thibodeaux, Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Magnificat!, studied under American Ballet Theater’s Albia Kavan and Rex Cooper at the Jackson Ballet School. She became one of the Jackson Ballet Company’s (later Ballet Mississippi) first contracted dancers in 1978, dancing as principal until 1986. After becoming a Christian in 1979, Kathy’s desire was to serve and honor her Lord Jesus with the gifts He had given her. She stepped into the spotlight of the international dance world in 1982, winning a silver medal at the II USA International Ballet Competition which rotates between Russia, Finland, Bulgaria, and Jackson, MS.  For the third contemporary round in that competition, Kathy chose to express her faith in a dance to  Sandi Patty’s, "We Shall Behold Him". Gregory B. Smith who was very instrumental in the early formative  stages of Ballet Magnificat, choreographed the piece at Kathy's request.

Longing to see the art of dance restored to the church for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ, she founded Ballet Magnificat! Tour Company, the world’s premier Christian ballet company in 1986, attracting dancers from professional companies around the world and later from within Ballet Magnificat’s own school and trainee programs. 2 professional tour companies perform nationally and internationally eleven months each year, coming home to host their life-changing Summer Dance Intensive and Teachers’ Workshop each summer, averaging 400 in attendance from many nations. This ministry has also produced performance videos, dance class music CDs and T-shirts.

After sharing graciously donated space for an office and practice studio at Belhaven College, Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts, opened in 1989 in their own studio. Ballet Magnificat! Studios currently reside in a conveniently located, 12,000 square foot, air-conditioned facility housing four large, spacious dance studios with sprung marley floors, three music studios, and school and tour company administrative offices. More than 300 students are currently in dance and music classes, including Trainees from many states and nations, with performance training provided through the trainee companies, Omega Company and local Alpha Company performances.

To present the gospel of Jesus Christ to the widest possible audience through the medium of dance, dance/drama and personal witness.

To help in the restoration of dance as a worshipful part of the life of the Church, by exploring with congregations the part that movement and action can play in the expression of faith.

To present public performances for special audiences, such as children’s homes, hospitals, prisons, and senior citizen’s centers, in recognition of their special place in the eyes of God.

To provide a visual and artistic witness to the arts community in particular.

We believe the Bible is the only infallible, authoritative Word of God, the supreme rule for truth and life.

We believe the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the one and only eternal God, who is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

We believe in the incarnation, virgin birth, sinless life, death on the cross, substitutionary atonement for sin, bodily resurrection and future return of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the present power and work of God, the Holy Spirit, in the conviction of sin, regeneration, sanctification, and the giving of spiritual gifts to believers for the building up of the body of Christ.

We believe in salvation by the free gift of grace apart from works, through repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord, and that true salvation will result in the manifestation of the Lordship of Jesus Christ – a Godly life.

We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the saved, unto eternal joy in the presence of God, and the lost, unto eternal damnation, shut away from the presence of God.

Ballet Magnificat! is called by God to maintain the highest standard of excellence artistically, technically, spiritually, and morally. A highly unique ministry, Ballet Magnificat! is receiving increasing public exposure, both within the Body of Christ and in the secular realm through the various media.

Whether we realize the full extent of our responsibility or not, we are accountable to supporters, the public, the Body of Christ, and parents. Most importantly, we are accountable to God for all that we have been given within this special ministry. Our public exposure and increasing visibility make it more important than ever that we be strong artistically and above reproach spiritually and morally. In order to strive toward spiritual excellence, Ballet Magnificat! maintains and asserts three types of accountability:

• Peer Accountability
• Accountability to a Local Church
• Accountability to a Council of Pastors

All professional level dancers at Ballet Magnificat!, including the tour companies, trainees, and apprentices, are expected to conduct themselves according to the standards of the Ballet Magnificat! Code of Conduct to ensure the integrity and faithful witness of Ballet Magnificat! in all areas.