For more than 12 years, Christian dance troupe Ballet Magnificat! has glorified God through dance. When they move, dancers are inspired and audiences are captivated. Founded in 1986 by Kathy Thibodeaux, Silver Medalist in the USA International Ballet Competition, Ballet Magnificat! has grown from a company without dancers, money or studio space to a 12-member dance troupe with five studios, three music rooms and many offices.

Before the founding of the dance company, Thibodeaux served as principal dancer for Ballet Mississippi. Though she was already a prominent member of the dance community, Thibodeaux's medal at the International Ballet Competition opened more doors for her to perform in the secular dance world.

Despite offers, Thibodeaux knew God had other plans. "I felt the Lord wanted me to dance," she says. "He showed me how I could use dancing for Him. God had given me a special gift of faith to believe Him."

In 1986, she resigned from Ballet Mississippi and looked to the Lord and His guidance. When the local newspaper printed an article about her plans to start Ballet Magnificat!, a professor at Belhaven College, Newton Wilson, read the story and decided he wanted to assist Thibodeaux any way he could. "He said, I believe this is something the Lord wants you to do," Thibodeaux says. "He gave us office/studio space, and people in the community all of a sudden started donating whatever we needed. We sat back and watched God do it all."

Today, the troupe tours around 80 dates annually throughout the United State and Canada, taking their worshipful dancing to churches, colleges and arts organizations. Most of the music the company dances to is by such contemporary Christian music artists as Twila Paris, Sandi Patty, Michael Card, and Steve Green. The Gospel is shared at every concert, there is prayer for any needs audience members might have.

In addition to Ballet Magnificat's touring ministry, God has blessed the company with ways to expand the Christian dancing community. In 1989, Ballet Magnificat! opened the doors to a School of the Arts, hoping to attract a new generation of dancers who share Thibodeaux's desire to glorify God with dancing. The school has indeed attracted many dancers -- dancers not only from the U.S. but also places like Canada and the Czech Republic.

The company's summer dance workshop is another popular event for dance students worldwide. Although the company doesn't send out fliers or invitations to other countries, the workshop annually draws dancers from places like Canada, Costa Rica, Brazil, Singapore, Russia and Australia. "I'm not sure how they hear about us," Thibodeaux says.

Although dancing plays an important part in the lives of the dancers involved in Ballet Magnificat's amny ministries, their relationship with God is the foundation upon which they base every step. Before each day of dancing, performers involved in any part of the ministry gather for a devotional to get their hearts focused on the reason for their dancing. "Our desire is to glorify the Lord with all that we are and all that we have," Thibodeaux says. "To share the hope we have in our hearts."