The Company

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! Brasil, 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! Brasil 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

Silas is originally from Holland, Michigan. He began his dance training at the age of 11 at Turning Pointe School Of Dance under the direction of Rick and Lara Faucher. While training in his home town, he also attended Ballet Magnificat Summer Dance Intensives.

In 2017, he moved to Jackson, Mississippi, to join the Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Program, in which he had the opportunity to go to many different states along with Mexico, Honduras and Cuba, to share the gospel through dance. Silas was promoted to Student Apprentice with the Company in 2019, Senior Apprentice in August of 2020, and Company Artist in August of 2021. In July of 2022, Silas set his first original story ballet, Not Abandoned, on the Pre-Professional Level at Ballet Magnificat!'s annual Summer Dance Intensive. In August of 2023, Silas was promoted to the role of Assistant Artistic Director.

Silas' previous training in martial arts and gymnastics provide him with a unique combination of soaring jumps and flexibility.

Silas' favorite passage is Jude 1:24-25: "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

Bio

Taylor Stewart was born and raised in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She started taking dance classes at the age of 5 in a local church and later trained in classical ballet at Northwest Arkansas Conservatory of Classical Ballet.

Taylor also had the privilege of being taught by Anna Buck at Joy of Motion in Siloam Springs. This is truly where her passion for praising the Lord through her dancing began.

At the age of 15, Taylor attended Ballet Magnificat!’s Summer Dance Intensive, which was her first summer intensive. In 2015, Taylor moved to Jackson, MS, to join Ballet Magnificat!’s Trainee Program, and was part of the Events Company from 2016-2017. In August 2017, she was promoted to Apprentice, and in August 2019, she was promoted to Company Artist.

Taylor has completed all of her Royal Academy of Dancing exams.

Taylor's favorite Bible passage is Psalms 96:1-3, "Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; Proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all people. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise."

Bio

Ashton Gordon grew up in Orlando, Florida dancing with Showtime dance studios from ages 3-8. She then began dancing with the Central Florida Ballet where she studied under Vasile Petruchio and Vladimir Bykov until her senior year of high school.

At 17, Ashton moved to Toronto to further her ballet training at the National Ballet School of Canada. During her years in Toronto, Ashton had the privilege of training under Deborah Hess, Peggy Baker, Raymond Smith, Shaun Amyot and Vera Timashova with guest teachers from the National Ballet of Canada, the Royal Ballet School, the Royal Danish Ballet, and the Ballett am Rhein Düsseldorf of Germany.

Her repertoire consists of Serenade, Yondering, Nutcracker, La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Sleeping Beauty, and Paquita, among others.

Moving to Jackson after Ballet Magnificat! Summer Dance Intensive in 2017, Ashton began the Trainee Program, touring Ballet Magnificat!’s production of Deliver Us nationally and internationally to Mexico and Honduras. In August of 2018, she joined the Company as a Student Apprentice. In August 2019, she was promoted to Senior Apprentice, and in August 2020 she was promoted to Company Artist.

In 2019, Ashton began contributing to the company through designing and managing Ballet Magnificat!’s new products while getting her degree in business administration from Belhaven University.

Ashton’s desire for quality drives her to excellence, on stage as well as off, knowing that all glory belongs to Christ alone!

Ashton's favorite verse is, "Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah." -Psalm 62:8

Bio

Cherie Pelser was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa and started ballet at age 4. She grew up dancing in church and began ballet training with Karen-Koen Jooste and Johan Jooste of West Coast Dance Academy. Under their instruction, Cherie was trained in both the Cechetti method of ballet and also the Royal Academy of Dance. In addition, she took classes in flamenco, rhythmic gymnastics, and Latin dance. She had the privilege of dancing as a graduate at age 16 with Cape Town City Ballet, performing in productions of Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, and Romeo and Juliet.

In 2017, Cherie moved to Jackson, Mississippi to be a join Ballet Magnificat!’s Trainee Program. During her time as a trainee, she performed Deliver Us in Mexico and Honduras, and the Prodigal in Zambia and Kenya. In 2020 she graduated from the Trainee Program and was promoted to Student Apprentice with the Company. In August of 2022 she was promoted to Company Artist.

Her favorite scripture verse is Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”

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 was promoted to Senior Apprentice. In August of 2022 he was promoted to Company Artist.

Bio

Arielle is from Springfield, Ohio. From the age of 3, she danced at Ohio Performing Arts Institute under the instruction of Scot and Amy Davidge. While dancing at OPAI, Arielle had the opportunity to perform various roles in The Nutcracker including Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara.

Arielle ministered through dance and mime with her family's ministry, In Him Expressions, from a very young age. She grew up dancing in churches, nursing homes, schools and various outreaches. Arielle had the unique opportunity to dance in Times Square with her brother and sister through Project Dance.
Arielle is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and was on a demonstration team that shared the Gospel through Tae Kwon Do all over the United States.

Arielle attended multiple summer dance intensives including Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio and Ballet Magnificat.

In the fall of 2019 Arielle moved to Jackson, Mississippi and joined Ballet Magnificat's Trainee Program. She had the opportunity to perform Ruth with the Events Company in 2020. In 2021 Arielle graduated from the Trainee Program and was promoted to Apprentice with Ballet Magnificat's Professional Company, and in August of 2022 she was promoted to Company Artist.

Arielle's favorite Bible verse is 1 John 4:19, "We love because he first loved us".

BIO

Blaire was born in Monroe, Louisiana, but moved to Pearl, Mississippi when she was just a year old. She started dancing at age two at Beverly’s School of Dance and Baton. Blaire took ballet, contemporary, jazz, and tap classes until the age of six.

Blaire saw Ballet Magnificat! perform often at her church from a young age, and after watching them dance she knew that the Lord was calling her to give her life to Him, and follow the calling He had placed on her life to dance for His glory. Blaire decided to pursue a professional career in dance, and transferred over to the Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts at age seven. She trained there for eight years, performing in both MiniMag and Magnificat Youth Ballet. In 2014, at age twelve, Blaire attended an International Ballet Competition class, where she received a scholarship for their 2018 Summer Intensive.

At age fourteen Blaire participated in the Youth America Grand Prix, training under Jessica Brock, Sol Maisonet, and Tara Thibodeaux (Drew) to prepare. After competing in both Atlanta, Georgia, and Dallas, Texas, she was awarded top 12 in the contemporary division and top 24 in the classical division. Blaire was given the opportunity to perform many leading roles throughout her time in the School of the Arts, and attended Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Dance Intensive from ages 10-15. In 2016, she was given the opportunity to portray a main character in the Pre-Professional Level’s performance of The Scarlet Cord. To this day, it has been her favorite role to portray.

At the age of fifteen, Blaire joined Ballet Magnificat’s Trainee Program. During her time as a Trainee, Blaire toured with the Events Company nationally and internationally to Zambia and Kenya, performing The Prodigal’s Journey and Ruth. Her most memorable experience was performing at a school for disabled kids in a village in Zambia, and having the opportunity to worship with them and show them the love of Christ.

At the age of 19 Blaire was promoted to Apprentice with the Professional Company. She is one of the two people in the current Company who trained in the Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts. In August of 2022 she was promoted to Company Artist.

Some of Blaire's favorite bible verses are Ephesians 3:20-21, Galatians 2:20, and Romans 6:5-7.

Bio

Timothy Downing was born and raised in the small town of Wasilla, Alaska. He started dancing when he was four and fell in love with ballet and all styles of dance. Starting at the age of twelve, Tim began to travel out of state to further his training at various summer intensives including: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, The Rock School in Philadelphia, and Alvin Ailey. During his senior year of high school, Tim made the decision to move to New York City to pursue further training in Musical Theater. While he was there he joined a program called the Professional Semester with The Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. Tim has also worked as a dancer at Hersey Theme Park in Hersey, Pennsylvania and spent two years dancing on Holland America Cruise Line.

When the pandemic hit NYC in 2020, Tim moved back to Alaska for a year. During that time he rededicated his life back to the Lord and found out about Ballet Magnificat! through his church. Stepping out in faith, he joined the Trainee Program in the fall of 2021 and was promoted to the Company as an Apprentice for the 2022-2023 season.

Timothy's favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight".

Bio

Josie Hawkins was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She began her dance training at the age of six with Colorado Ballet Society, under the direction of Patricia Hoffman. There, Josie was taught by multiple former Ballet Magnificat! Company Artists, who introduced her to the Company and instilled a love of worship through ballet in her spirit.

Josie the Colorado Ballet Society's pre-professional companies at age twelve; including Colorado Youth Ballet, Connecxus Dance Collective, and Praise Dance Ensemble. These companies would provide many performing opportunities in beautiful theaters and local tours to schools, churches, and nursing homes.

Josie has danced numerous principal roles; such as all lead parts in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, a soloist in the Swan Lake Pas De Trois, Effie in La Sylphide, and many other soloist roles in contemporary and worship pieces.

Josie has received multiple high-ranking awards and scholarships at the Esther Geffrey Scholarship and Denver Ballet Guild competitions in Colorado for consecutive years. She also received recognition for her work in the National Honors Society of Dance Arts in High School.

In 2018 and 2019, Josie came to Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Dance Intensive, where she was honored to be a part of the Pre-Professional Level, where she danced lead roles in both Face to Face and Hiding Place.

In the fall of 2020, Josie was accepted into the Ballet Magnificat! Events Company and toured nationally and internationally for the following three seasons. In June of 2023, Josie was promoted to Apprentice with the Professional Company.

Josie gives all the glory to God with everything she does and lives in the Joy that the Lord provides. "For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy". Psalm 92:4

Bio

Kathryn Paulos is from Roswell, New Mexico. At the age of three, Kathryn began instruction in Ballet and Tap under Minnie Wright. Throughout the following years, her classes extended to include Contemporary, Jazz, Graham and Cunningham Modern Technique, and Irish Step Dancing. Kathryn performed many classical works including Coppelia, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, Cinderella, and The Firebird. From 2015 to 2020, she studied primarily under the tutelage of Kate Reigler of Texas Ballet Theater, Yespari Miller of the National Ballet of Cuba, and Colleen Klein of Ballet Magnificat!

Kathryn was classically trained in both the Cecchetti Method and the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabi. In Cecchetti, she completed all exams through Professional Advanced Grade VII, receiving her certificate under Diploma Fellow Tracy Davenport. With the instruction of Kate Reigler, she also examined through the RAD Advanced Foundation vocational certificates. Kathryn received commendations on all of her exams, and today, she is a certified Teacher Member of the Cecchetti Council of America.

In 2014, Kathryn attended her first Ballet Magnificat! Summer Intensive and returned for many subsequent summers. Through various workshops and programs she received training from Tony Nominee-Lara Teeter, Steve Rooks, Arkadiy Orohovsky, Acia Gray, and Anthony J Russo. As a student, Kathryn was privileged to perform with Forum Sinfonia of Krakow, Poland, Rodney Gustafson’s State Street Ballet, and National Ballet of Cuba’s Jonhal Fernandez.

Kathryn has a passion for teaching and choreographing. Since 2016, she has been frequently requested as a guest teacher for workshops in Southern New Mexico and the Performing Arts Center in the Greater St. Louis area.

In 2020, Kathryn moved to Jackson, MS, to join Ballet Magnificat!’s Events Company. She was blessed to tour for three years, nationally and internationally to Zambia and Uganda, before being promoted to Apprentice with the Professional Company in 2023.

Kathryn’s favorite Bible verse is Romans 8 : 38-39: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".

Bio

Aubree was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and began dancing at the Cincinnati Ballet Academy at the age of 9. She trained under Dawn Kelly, Sabir Yapparov, Catherine Batcheller, and Sarah Hairston. She had many opportunities to perform as a student in company productions such as Victoria Morgan's The Nutcracker, Septime Webre's Alice in Wonderland, and Kirk Peterson’s Coppelia.

She attended summer intensives at the Rock School for Dance Education, Houston Ballet, Ballet West, and Cincinnati Ballet. Aubree competed in the group category with the Cincinnati Ballet Academy at the Youth America Grand Prix finals in New York City in 2017, and placed top 12 in the senior women's category at the Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals in 2018.

From 2017 to 2019, Aubree danced with the Trainee Program at Cincinnati Ballet under the leadership of Sarah Hairston, where she did outreach performances at schools and nursing homes, in addition to performances with the company. In 2019, she was promoted to the Second Company at Cincinnati Ballet, where she got to work directly alongside the company under the leadership of Victoria Morgan, Ogulcan Borova, Dale Shields, and Suzette Boyer Webb. Some of her favorite ballets she performed were George Balanchine’s Serenade, Kirk Peterson’s Swan Lake, Septime Webre's Wizard of Oz, and Devon Carney’s The Sleeping Beauty.

From 2019 to 2021, she taught at the Christian Dance Alliance school in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the years she taught, the Lord instilled a love of teaching and choreographing in her. In the summer of 2020, the Lord gave Aubree the desire to surrender dance into His control, and a heart to share the Gospel among the nations.

While searching the internet for Christian ballet companies, she came across Ballet Magnificat’s website. After reading their mission statement about bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations and using dance as their ministry, Aubree had a desire to be a part of the ministry.

Aubree attended the Fall Dance Intensive at Ballet Magnificat in 2020 and was accepted into the Trainee program in August of 2021. The following year the she was promoted to the Events Company and had the opportunity to perform in Zambia and Uganda, as well as across the United States sharing the Gospel through dance. She was promoted to the Professional Company in 2023 and is thankful and excited for more opportunities to minister through the gift of dance.

Her favorite verse is Romans 12:1-2: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect".