Our Team

Bio

Keith Thibodeaux, Executive Director of Ballet Magnificat! since 1993, first came to national attention as the drum-playing son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on the now classic I Love Lucy show. Hailed as a child prodigy, Keith started drumming at the age of two in Lafayette, LA. His abilities led him to a national tour, a starring role as "Little Ricky Ricardo," and various acting stints on television, including on The Andy Griffith Show, Route 66, The Shirley Temple Playhouse, Hazel, and many more. While attending the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, Keith joined and recorded with the then mainstream rock band, "David and the Giants."

Keith left the group after several years, but following his (and fellow band members) Christian conversion, the band regrouped under the same name and went on to become one of the nation’s top contemporary Christian music groups. As a drummer, singer, and songwriter for the Dove nominated "David and the Giants," Keith toured extensively for 10 years in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, and England, recording 9 albums before leaving the group in 1989 to pursue other interests. Since 2016 David and the Giants has produced 3 additional albums: 40th Anniversary, Still Rockin’, and What Are You Waiting For? Keith has been featured in such publications as Newsweek, People, Saturday Evening Post, Modern Drummer, CCM, and Classic Drummer Magazine. He has also been a guest on NBC's The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, CBS's Good Morning America, and The O'Reilly Show.

In January of 1991, he joined his wife Kathy on the road with Ballet Magnificat! and in 1993, Keith became Executive Director. In addition to his current responsibilities at Ballet Magnificat!, Keith still finds time for drums and recording. Keith's book, Life After Lucy, tells the story of his life as Little Ricky on the I Love Lucy show, and subsequent encounter with Jesus Christ as Savior.

Keith and Kathy have one daughter, Tara, who is a dancer and choreographer and is married to Bryce Drew, former player in the NBA and former head basketball coach at Valparaiso and Vanderbilt University.

Bio

Kathy Thibodeaux began her dance training at the age of six with the Jackson Ballet School under the direction of Albia Kavan and Rex Cooper. When the Jackson Ballet Company turned professional in 1978, Kathy was one of the first dancers to be contracted. Soon after being a contracted dancer, Kathy soared to the highest levels of the company, becoming a Principal Dancer, a position she held successfully until 1986.

During her tenure with the Jackson Ballet (later Ballet Mississippi), she appeared as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, the Pigtail Girl in Graduation Ball, Odette in Swan Lake - Act II, Taglioni in Pas de Quatre, and had leading roles in Les Sylphides and La Bayadere - Act II. She has danced principal roles in John Butler’s Othello, Todd Bolendar’s Stillpoint, Jean-Paul Comelin’s Daughter of Morning, and William Christensen’s Bravura, as well as such traditional grand pas de deux as Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, and Raymonda.

In 1982, Kathy was awarded a silver medal for her performance at the II USA International Ballet Competition (IBC), where she premiered her solo piece, “We Shall Behold Him.” She was featured in the 90-minute ABC/PBS documentary, “To Dance for Gold," which documented her progress through the II USA IBC and her silver medal win. She has been a guest instructor at several of the USA International Ballet Competitions and has performed for their Gala in Jackson, Mississippi.

Her desire to use her God-given talent of dance to share her faith in Jesus Christ led Kathy to resign from Ballet Mississippi and found her own company, Ballet Magnificat!, in 1986.

Through the creation of Ballet Magnificat, Kathy has performed many ensemble, solo, and principal roles, as well as choreographed several works for the company, including Creation (1987), Regathering (1988), Light Eternal (1989), Joy (1989), Thy Kingdom Come (1989), A Christmas Festival (1991), Praise Magnificat (1992), Sanctuary (1992), sections of Savior (1996), Unveiled Hope (1997), Freedom (2002), A Christmas Dream (2006) sans the “Battle Scene”, and sections of Snow Queen (2011).

In 2006, Kathy authored a children's book based on the ballet A Christmas Dream which she choreographed in honor of Ballet Magnificat!'s 20 anniversary.

In 1983, “Kathy Thibodeaux Day” was proclaimed by order of Mississippi Governor William Winter, a commendation by Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus was issued in 1989, and a resolution commending Kathy was given by the Alabama Senate in 1998. In 2008, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, along with Peavey Music Founder Hartley Peavey, presented Kathy with the annual Hartley D. Peavey Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

In February 2017, Kathy and Keith pioneered Ballet Magnificat! Brazil, a professional trainee program and performance company headquartered in Curitiba, Brazil. Later in 2017 Kathy transitioned from full time touring with the Alpha Company to oversee more of the day-to-day operations of the companies, Trainee Program and School of the Arts in the Jackson, MS office. She and Keith travel to Brazil several times each year to direct and build the Ballet Magnificat! Brazil program.

Kathy’s passion for the Lord is so evident and she pours herself into serving God and His people through praising Him with the dance. She feels very grateful to be living this life of service and working with her husband, Keith Thibodeaux.

Kathy and Keith have one daughter, Tara Drew, a dancer, teacher, and choreographer, who is married to Bryce Drew, former player in the NBA and former head basketball coach at Valparaiso and Vanderbilt University. Tara trained at Ballet Magnificat!, performed with the company for several years, and has set many works on the companies including The Arrival and Stratagem. Tara and Bryce Drew have one son, Bryson.

Bio

Brenda began her association with Ballet Magnificat! as a “ballet mom.” She eventually became a volunteer in the office, using her work experience in law offices and the mortgage bank industry to assist where needed. Brenda also home-schooled both her children, conducted Organization Equals Happiness time-management seminars, Good For You cooking classes and food co-op, and assisted her daughter with her Cross-Tied Ministries outreach productions and classes. From 2002 until 2018, Brenda held the position of Operations Manager for the ministry. She now serves as an Assistant to the Directors and works with the Brazil expansion. Brenda and her husband John have two grown children, Ben and Abigail, and one granddaughter, Elliana.

Bio

Cassandra Voborsky received training from Pamela Lauer, the Peabody Conservatory, the Hartford Ballet, the Washington School of Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her performing experience includes Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, contemporary modern and jazz works with Hartford Dance Theater, and classical repertoire such as Swan Lake with The Washington Ballet’s Young Dancers. Her final year of high school was spent in Oldenburg, Germany, where she had the opportunity to perform with the ballet company of the Oldenburgishes Staatstheater.

In January 1992, Cassandra joined Ballet Magnificat! She became a member of the touring company in 1993 and toured for over twelve years both nationally and internationally. Together with husband Jiri Sebastian, Cassandra served as one of the technical directors on the road. She was promoted to the Assistant Artistic Director to Kathy Thibodeaux in 2000. Cassandra retired from her professional career as a dancer in December 2004 during the annual Christmas gala performances of Ballet Magnificat! in Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson, Mississippi.

Since the completion of her performing career, Cassandra has directed the Trainee Program, developing it into an international division of Ballet Magnificat, with students from the United States and many foreign countries, including Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Germany, Poland, Macedonia, Canada, South Africa, and Japan. Cassandra has conducted ballet technique Master classes all over the United States, as well as in Singapore, Greece, Belgium, Israel, the Dance Center Conservatory in Prague, the Czech Republic, and most recently in ballet schools in East London and Cape Town, South Africa. Cassandra was featured in the Braun Buffel world-wide ad campaign, shot in Singapore during the 2003 Ballet Magnificat! tour. Cassandra and Jiri have three beautiful children, Benjamin Isaiah, Maya Terezka, and Solomon Jeremiah.

Bio

Erin Beaver is originally from Kerrville, Texas. As a student, Erin received ballet instruction at the Performing Arts School of Kerrville. In 1999, Erin moved to Jackson, Mississippi, to join Ballet Magnificat!’s Trainee Program. She was promoted in 2002 to an Apprenticeship with Ballet Magnificat!'s Alpha Touring Company. In the spring of 2003, Erin moved to California to serve the Lord in a traveling drama ministry. She returned to Ballet Magnificat! in 2004 to take the position of Tour Director for Ballet Magnificat!’s Omega Company, coordinating tours for the company throughout North America, Central America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Erin came off the road in 2017 to take the position of Director of Personnel and Operations.

Bio

Ms. Sol Maisonet was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. At age 12 she started her training in classical ballet. Ms. Maisonet received many scholarships from the Puerto Rico Institute of Culture to continue training in Cuba and in New York City. Her instructors included Madame Maggie Black, Ramón Segarra, David Howard, Melissa Hayden, Juan Anduze, and José Pares.

For more than 25 years, Ms. Maisonet performed professionally as a Soloist and Principal Dancer with companies such as Ballet Puertorriqueño, Ballet Theatre of San Juan, Ballet Concierto, and Ballets of San Juan. In 1983, she was invited by the government of Colombia to perform as a Principal Dancer with the “Ballet Nacional of Colombia,” under Artistic Director Ramon Segarra. During her time there, she danced as the lead role in several original ballets choreographed especially for her, such as Val’s of Ravel, Stravinsky’s Firebird, Symphony in Three Movements, and Ciclos.

She performed principal roles in many classical ballets, including The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, Rites of Spring, Tango Expectro, The Merry Widow, George Balanchine’s Rubies, Serenade, Who Cares.

In 1990 she was invited to represent Puerto Rico in Barcelona, Spain, at the 5th Iberoamerican Festival. Performing Cuban choreographer Petra Bravo’s piece, “Que Signo Lleva el Amor,” she became a finalist. In 1992, she joined recognized choreographer Gabry Christa from Holland and Gloria Llompart from Puerto Rico to found the dance company "Danzadentro."

In 1994 she once again represented Puerto Rico in Barcelona, this time with her own choreography, "Una Vez al Mes." Ms. Maisonet represented Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, performing in the Latin-American Dance Congress with Bravo's choreography, "Un Solo Dueto," and Gabry Christa's "Matutina.”

Ms. Sol Maisonet has taught classical ballet since 1977. She developed and enhanced the Dance Department Ballet Curriculum for the School of the Arts in Carolina, Puerto Rico and choreographed for several children’s musicals including “Lilipun” and “Aladdin.” She has been the Guest Master Teacher for Summer Intensives at San Augustine Conservatory of Dance in FL, Rejoice Dance Academy in MS, Ballet Aviv in LA, and Ballet 5:8 in IL. She has served as the Ballet Magnificat Trainee Program Director and the Ballet Magnificat II Artistic Director. From 2001-2011 she served at Ballet Magnificat! as the School of the Arts Principal and developed the Upper School Ballet syllabus which is still in use today. From 2011-2016, she served as adjunct Dance Faculty for Belhaven University and was the Dance Ministry Ensemble Artistic Director. In addition, she served as Rehearsal Director for the fall and spring Belhaven dance concerts. She has trained many successful professional dancers during her career.

Currently, Ms. Maisonet is the Ballet Mistress for Ballet Magnificat! Company and School of the Arts, and is a Rehearsal Director and Master Teacher for the Trainee Company.

Bio

Rachel Nel came to Ballet Magnificat! from Lindsborg, Kansas. She began her dance training in 1997 with Tamara Dahlsten and continued with others such as Eve Kindall and Dunri Palmer. In 2008, she joined the Trainee Program and worked as an Office Assistant at Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts. During her time with the Trainee Program, Rachel had the privilege to perform in several works, including: Freedom, Lord of All, Grateful People, Wise Fool, I Believe, Your Great Name, A Christmas Dream and more. She graduated from the Trainee Program in 2011 and became the School of the Arts Administrator at Ballet Magnificat! and worked extensively with the Summer Dance Intensive. In 2014, Rachel became the Alpha Tour Director. In June 2019, she married Reece Nel. In the summer of 2021 Rachel transitioned from her role as Tour Director and became Senior Administrator. She also serves as the Summer Dance Intensive Administrator.

Bio

Melanie Joy Seeger was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she began her dance training at the age of 4. She began her professional dance training at 14 with the National School of the Arts and completed her Royal Academy of Dancing Advanced 2 with Sandra Castens. In 2001, Melanie was invited to dance with the South African Ballet Theatre; and in 2003 she moved to Cape Town to study at the University of Cape Town. While at UCT, she completed the RAD Teachers Certificate and was awarded with the RAD Solo Seal Award, the RAD’s highest performance award. At the end of 2004, Melanie joined Cape Town City Ballet.

While at Cape Town City Ballet, Melanie performed in many of the classical and contemporary ballets, including La Sylphides, Carmen, Camille, The Merry Widow, Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, 2 of the fairies in Sleeping Beauty, The Winter Fairy in Cinderella, Ballerina Doll in The Nutcracker, Waltz Solo in Les Sylphides and Swanhilda in Coppélia. Melanie performed in many national tours as well as an international tour to Dublin, Ireland.

In 2008, Melanie moved to Jackson, Mississippi, USA, to study and dance with the Ballet Magnificat Trainee Program, Level 2. Upon returning to South Africa, she re-joined Cape Town City Ballet. During her time at both UCT and CTCB, she was involved with teaching the CTCB Boys Development program.

In 2011, Melanie left Cape Town City Ballet to pursue full-time teaching. Melanie ran her own studio for 4 years, while also being part of the full-time course teaching faculty at Cape Academy of Performing Arts. In 2015, Melanie returned to UCT and graduated with a Diploma in Dance Education. She also taught classical ballet at UCT School of Dance, was vice-principle of the Cape Junior Ballet School, and served as assistant ballet mistress for the Cape Junior Ballet Company. Melanie aims to provide top quality teaching in an informative and enjoyable setting.

In February 2017, God led Ballet Magnificat! to the beautiful city of Curitiba, Brazil, to open its first and only satellite. Ballet Magnificat! Brazil has now grown to include a small professional company as well as a School of the Arts. Melanie has helped develop the program from the outset and serves as the Brazil Program Director.

Teaching is one of Melanie’s passions and gifts and says that “leading the team in Brazil continues to be one of my greatest joys and privileges”. In January 2020 Melanie married Roberto Cristiano Plassmann Filho.

Bio

Megan is originally from South Lyon, Michigan, and began her ballet training at the age of eleven. Under the instruction of Kathy Cooke of Northville Ballet Theater, she performed lead roles in many classical works including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Paquita, and Les Sylphides. Recognizing her desire to use dance as a tool for ministry, Megan moved to Mississippi in 2017 to become a part of the Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Program. As a Trainee Megan had the opportunity to perform in Unveiled Hope, Spirituals, Prodigal's Journey, Snow Queen, and A Christmas Carol. During that time she had the privilege of performing nationally and internationally with the Ballet Magnificat! Events Company. In June of 2020 she transitioned into the role as Events Company Tour Director. She also serves as the Office Assistant. In March of 2021 she married Carson Rhoades, a former dancer with the Ballet Magnificat! Events Company.

Bio

Elisha Smith grew up Springfield, Ohio, and began his ballet training at the age of 10 under the instruction of Scot and Amy Davidge of Ohio Performing Arts Institute (OPAI). From age 12 to 17 he had the privilege of dancing the role of the Prince in OPAI's annual production of the Nutcracker.

From a very young age Elisha had many opportunities to share the Gospel through the arts. Growing up he ministered through mime and dance performances at churches, nursing homes, and schools with his family's ministry, In Him Expressions. Elisha also had the opportunity to minister through Tae Kwon Do all over the United States with the Salvation Army Demo team. He served with Arrows International in Panama and Costa Rica, and he was also given the opportunity to dance in Times Square through Project Dance.

Elisha joined the Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Program in 2017. During his time as a trainee he had the incredible opportunity to minister nationally and internationally in Cuba, Mexico, Zambia, and Kenya. In 2020 Elisha graduated from the Trainee Program and was promoted to Student Apprentice with the Company. Elisha is the oldest of twelve children, four of whom have special needs. Along with his passion for dancing, Elisha has a passion to minister to individuals with special needs. In the summer of 2021 Elisha took on the role of Technical Assistant, and in August of 2022 he was promoted to Company Artist.

Bio

Amelia Smith grew up in Upton, Massachusetts, where she began her ballet training at three years old. She trained with the Dancing Arts Center in Holliston, MA from the ages of 3-15 where she had the privilege to perform lead rolls in many classical ballets. Amelia had the opportunity to compete in Youth America Grand Prix from 2012-2014 where she received awards for her high scores and was given the honor of performing as a finalist in New York City. She continued her training under the direction of Margaret Tracy at Boston Ballet School in the Pre-Professional Program. Amelia had a desire to pursue ministry with her dancing, so in 2017 she moved to Jackson, MS to be a part of the Trainee Program at Ballet Magnificat! As a trainee Amelia had the opportunity to perform Ruth, The Prodigal Son, Deliver Us, Unveiled Hope, and Even in the Why. She also toured nationally and internationally with the Events Company, traveling to Mexico, Cuba, Kenya, and Zambia. In the spring of 2021, she graduated from the Trainee Program and stepped into the role of Tour Director. She is so thankful to have the privilege of traveling and sharing the Gospel alongside the company! In October of 2021, Amelia married Elisha Smith.

Bio

Anna Joyner was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. She began training with Ballet Magnificat! at the age of 4 and was inspired by watching the company perform when she was 8 years old. This awakened a desire to share the love of Jesus through her dancing so that others would come to know Him.

At age eleven, Anna was selected to play the part of "Little Amy" for the next three years in Ballet Magnificat!'s A Christmas Dream. Anna was a member of the Magnificat! Youth Ballet in high school, performing with the group for four years, and acting as Team Captain for one.

Her teachers included Tracey Thompson, Suzanne Sanders, Hannah Beaver, and Brittany Bischoff. She is grateful for the encouragement and training they poured into her while she was a student in the Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts.

Anna attended Ballet Magnificat!'s Summer Dance Intensive for four eyars and was selected to be a part of the Pre-Professional level at the intensive, performing the ballets Deliver Us and Will you or Won't You.

Anna joined Ballet Magnificat!'s Trainee Program in 2014. In 2015, she was selected to be in the Events Company and began performing with them for the next two years, traveling locally and across the world to Honduras, Guam, and East Asia. In 2017 she was promoted to Student Apprentice with the Company, in August of 2018 she was promoted to Senior Apprentice, and in August of 2020 she was promoted to Company Artist.

In August of 2022 Anna retired from her role as a Company Artist and became the Magnificat! Youth Ballet Director. In June of 2023 she stepped into the role of School of the Arts Director. She is excited to use her experience to teach students in the place where she was trained herself! In November 2023, Anna married Zakary Joyner.

Bio

Originally from Wisconsin, Barbara moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 1985, and then on to Jackson, Mississippi in 2022. Through the years she has worked in various corporate environments, as well as many ministry organizations. Her experience includes administrative work, graphic design, ghost-writing and editing books, teaching the Word and mentoring through Life Teams, Bible studies, and jail ministry.

Barbara's passion for photography began at the tender age of 10 at her sister’s wedding. Throughout the next 40+ years as a professional photographer, she has enjoyed capturing the essence of weddings and graduations, corporate, ministry, and family events, and her absolute favorite: dance and live theater. Barbara and her husband have two beautiful grown children, one of whom is part of the Ballet Magnificat! Events Company.

One of Barbara’s favorite passages of scripture is Psalm 16:8-9: "I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope".

Bio

Tiffani is originally from Nashville, TN and began her ballet training at the age of five. With that came a love of fashion and costume design. Growing up she trained at Centennial Youth Ballet and Vanderbilt Dance Theater. She also volunteered in both costume departments in high school. After graduating high school, she spent two years as a trainee with Ballet Palm Beach. Following that, she spent a year doing a costume internship at Centennial Youth Ballet, in addition to guest performing. In 2020 she received a professional contract with DeLa Dance Company and was also hired as their costume mistress.

In the spring of 2023 Tiffani felt a calling to move away from dancing full time. She is so thankful and blessed that the Lord opened up the door for her to move to Jackson, MS to work with Ballet Magnificat! She is excited to be Costume Mistress and cannot wait to see the work the Lord is going do in and through her at Ballet Magnificat!

Bio

Tara Drew, daughter of Keith and Kathy Thibodeaux, began dancing at the age of three at Ballet Mississippi, and continued her training at Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts.

At age fifteen, Tara was a semi-finalist in the 1994 USA International Ballet Competition. She received scholarships to ballet schools including Joffrey Ballet and Houston Ballet. As a young adult, she danced professionally with Ballet Magnificat, touring the United States and Europe.

Tara then moved to Atlanta, where she danced for the Atlanta Hawks Dance Team. During her career she had the opportunity to dance at the NBA All Star Game and the TNT Celebrity Game as well as choreograph for the team in 2004. She also took classes at Atlanta Ballet and taught at Impact Dance of Atlanta. She performed in many projects including the independent film “Petunia”, Mak Attack Fitness Fashion Show, and an IBM Industrial show

Tara has a passion for training students in Ballet, Contemporary, and Jazz. She has taught at Eclipse Performing Arts in Chesterton, Indiana, for the last 10 years. She has trained students for the Youth American Grand Prix and had the honor of taking one of her students to the finals in New York City. One of her students was accepted to compete in the 2014 International Ballet Competition. Her students are also scholarship winners at many competitions and conventions such as New York City Dance Alliance, Hall of Fame, and VIP to name a few. She has had students accepted to many summer programs across the country such as the School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Carreño Dance Festival. Her students have gone on to dance professionally for Miami City Ballet, Ballet Magnificat, Phoenix Ballet, Atlanta Hawks Dance Team, and the Indiana Pacemates. One of her students has been featured in Dance Spirit Magazine, and others have modeled for the Revolution Dancewear catalog.

Tara has also received top honors and placements at many competitions for her choreography and won first place overall at the Hall of Fame nationals with a work entitled “Angels”. In 2011, Tara choreographed The Arrival for Ballet Magnificat. In 2014 she completed a full length ballet for the company titled Stratagem, which was toured across the country and overseas. In 2017 Tara was awarded the ‘Outstanding Choreographer Award” at the Youth American Grand Prix Competition in Chicago for her work titled “The Dying Swan.”

Tara resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Bryce Drew, a former NBA player and former head basketball coach at Valparaiso and Vanderbilt University. They have a son named Bryson.