School Staff & Faculty

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

Anna Lee 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 Zak Joyner.

Bio

Marcie was born in Vicksburg, MS. She began training at age five with Debra Franco in Vicksburg and later with Lisa Howell at Ballet Mississippi in Jackson. Marcie was a student teacher and choreographer, and she attended numerous advanced study workshops with artists such as Anna Fowler (Berlin Ballet Company), Eugene "Luigi" Louis, Joe Tremaine, Gus Giordana and Jo Rowan.

Marcie received a four-year ballet scholarship to the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Cum Laude) in Dance and French, and a Master of Arts in Education (GPA 4.0) in Exercise Physiology/Cardiac Rehabilitation. She attended the University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, France, where she completed a UAB International Studies Program. Marcie was named "Outstanding Undergraduate Student in UAB's Department of Theatre and Dance" for two years and "Outstanding Dance Major" by the National Dance Association.

At UAB, Marcie trained extensively with Stevan Grebel, Melanie Grebel, and Marcus Alford.

She performed with UAB Ballet for seven years and BAD & Company (Ballet Against Drugs) for two years. Marcie danced many principal roles in her repertoire of more than twenty productions, including Miss Sarah Lennox in George III, A Mad King, Esmeralda in Esmeralda, Cerrito in Steps For Four, Plus One, and Lost Child in Ancient Voices Of Children.

Marcie was Principal Instructor for the UAB Youth Ballet and an instructor in the UAB Department of Theatre and Dance, Birmingham Dance Theatre, and Birmingham Ballet Academy. She choreographed and directed two original productions at UAB, designed costumes, and has choreographed numerous ballet, jazz, tap, and acrobatic pieces.

In 1997, Marcie returned to Mississippi. Her love for the Lord and desire to share her talent with young dancers led her to join the ministry of Ballet Magnificat!, where she has the privilege of nurturing the hearts and talents of even the youngest of our precious students.

Bio

Pam Hindall started her training in ballet, tap, and jazz under Mary Blake at Blake’s Studio of Dancing in Marine City, MI.

Pam has performed in La Sylphide on Canadian Television and danced with Shekinah (a group of professional Christian dancers from around the world) in Toronto, Canada. In 1970, she was mentored by Bernice Harper RAAD (Dual Examiner for the Royal Academy of Dancing in London).

Pam became a registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance, London, England, and owned, operated, and taught in three dance studios in Algonac, MI (1970-73), Pontiac, MI (1978-85), and The Classical Academy of Dance in Bay Village, OH (1986-2005), where she produced an annual Nutcracker ballet, held top-rated student recitals, directed two competition teams and prepared her students for the yearly RAD Examinations. During her time as a studio owner, Pam brought many students to Ballet Magnificat!’s Summer Dance Intensive, including her 3 daughters, 2 of which became part of the ministry of Ballet Magnificat!: Jessica Hindall Brock, Alpha Company Member and Angela Hindall Ewing, Trainee Program.

Pam sold her studio of 435 students in 2004 and moved to Brandon, MS, with her husband Gary to be with their 3 daughters and families. Pam and Gary are blessed with those 3 daughters and their husbands, a son and daughter-in-law in Ohio, 5 granddaughters, and 5 grandsons.

Bio

Jennifer, from Rochester, New York, trained and performed with the School of Classical Ballet of Rochester and the Flower City Ballet, and also earned a degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant.

Jennifer moved to Jackson to participate in the Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Program and performed with Ballet Magnificat! II. She toured with Ballet Magnificat!'s professional company throughout the United States and internationally.

Jennifer has been teaching since 1997 and currently teaches ballet in our School of the Arts, as well as ballet and conditioning classes in the Trainee Program, bringing her combined experience in art and science to the classroom. Jennifer is married to William, and is the mother of three boys, Dante, Kaden and Rylan, and a daughter, Layla.

Bio

Born and raised in upstate NY, Leah began her classical ballet Training at the age of 5 in a small town called Apalachin, NY. From ages 8-16, she trained under Tina Christina Price (formerly of the Russian Ballet) at Ballet Arts Theatre in Endicott NY. Her junior and senior year she joined the pre professional company, the Ithaca Ballet, in Ithaca, NY and preformed as a soloist and in the corps de ballet.

After attending Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Intensive in 1999 she auditioned and was accepted into their Trainee Program. After a little more than a year as part of the Trainee Program she was asked to be Tour Director for the Company. She toured with them all over the US and made two international Tours during the next two years.

Leah met her husband during that time and was married in 2003, at which she came off the road and settled down in Ridgeland, MS. At this point she began to teach at Ballet Magnificat’s School of the Arts and also work as a designer at a local shop in Jackson, The Pine Cone. After doing both for a year she decided to take a break from dancing and explore the field of interior design exclusively. She achieved great success as a designer and had her holiday work featured in an issue of Mississippi Magazine.

Thirteen years and two children later, Leah decided it was time to return to her first love of dancing, and continue to pass on her knowledge to a new generation of Ballerinas. She accepted a position as instructor at Ballet Magnificat’s School of the Arts and resides in Brandon with her husband and children.

Bio

Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Emily began dancing at the age of 8 under the direction of Rebecca Smith. From 2009-2017, Emily was a student at Ballet Praise, taking classes in ballet, Scottish Highland, and pas de deux while performing a variety of lead roles in Christmas and spring productions. In 2012, Emily stepped into the role of teacher’s assistant, being mentored by Rebecca Smith. Eventually rising to the role of student teacher in 2014, she also choreographed and assistant directed Ballet Praise’s first student directed show: Christmas Praise. Emily trained with North Star Ballet under the direction of Courtland Weaver, Wendy Walker, and Norman Shelburne from 2017-2018 performing lead roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker and Snow White along with other contemporary works. Her training also included summer intensives with Ballet Magnificat! and the Fairbanks Summer Fine Arts Festival.
Moving to Tacoma, Washington in the fall of 2018, Emily participated in Paradosi Ballet Company’s Trainee Program from 2018-2020. While a trainee, she was blessed to teach for Paradosi Ballet Company’s school of the arts Surrendered School of Dance. In 2020, Emily moved to Jackson joining Ballet Magnificat’s Trainee Program. She became the School of the Arts Office Assistant in the fall in 2021.

Bio

Natalie Heard, born and raised in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia (Canada) finds great fulfillment in sharing her passion for dance and professional expertise to eager and willing students.

Natalie became an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance at the age of 18, after completing the RAD vocational examinations under the instruction of Janet Gittens. While Natalie’s student and teacher training was primarily RAD, and having received excellent results in all grade, vocational, and teacher examinations, she ventured to find her love and exuberance for the performing arts later after graduating high school, working with various coaches (Tania Brossoit, Annette Jakubowski, Suzanne Ouellette, and Beverley Bagg, to name the most influential), choreographers, and fellow artists across the world. Curious and excited to learn how to use professional ballet as a way to worship and glorify God, Natalie moved to Jackson, MS in the Fall of 2008, to continue pre-professional training with Ballet Magnificat’s Trainee Program. Her relationship with Ballet Magnificat has continued ever since in various degrees. After retiring from the Alpha Company in 2017, Natalie moved back to Canada to teach for several years, and in the meantime set some choreography for Ballet Magnificat’s Events Company. In May of 2023, she was invited back to be a full time teacher and choreographer in the School of the Arts! Natalie is overjoyed, and praises God for the opportunity to serve once again at Ballet Magnificat!

Bio

Laurita Koll is a Mississippi-based dance educator who is committed to instilling a strong technical foundation while fostering worship, creativity, and personal expression. She has Master of Education degrees in both Dyslexia Therapy and Exercise Physiology. She has taught many dance classes at Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts in Jackson, MS. Additionally, she was the owner, founder, and artistic director for dance programs in Hattiesburg and Laurel, MS.

Laurita worked at Global Vision Faith Center in Philadelphia, MS teaching creative movement to Choctaw children. She has also choreographed for City Dance, a ballet program in Jackson, sponsored by the USA International Ballet Competition. Laurita has had the privilege of teaching dance and creative movement workshops for adults and children in churches and studios throughout Mississippi. For the past 2 years, she has instructed ballet, tap, and jazz/contemporary dance classes at the Yazoo City School of Dance.

She began her study under Almyra Jackson, a former Rockette, where she received RAD technique training in ballet, as well as tap, jazz and broadway production. Under Almyra’s training she also was educated in story telling through dance movement, moving dancers on and off stage smoothly, staging and choreography. While at college, Laurita was an Instructor for Performing Arts Camps, running auditions nad facilitating camps for the Bologna Performing Arts Center. She has also directed placement classes with Philadanco Dance Company, helped with the music theatre at DSU and church choir choreographed productions, and worked as a children’s instructor at Worship Dance / Creative Arts Conferences in Charlotte, NC, Hattiesburg, Laurel, and Jackson, MS. She studied cultural and character dance styles such as Asian, Jewish, African, and Irish dance and has syllabi for teaching Scripture based streamer or Chinese ribbon dance, flag, and tambourine dance, liturgical dance, Jewish and Irish dance. She enjoys working with dancers to set an atmosphere that facilitates worship.

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Bio

Tiffani is originally from Nashville, TN and began her ballet training at the age of five. Growing up, she trained at Centennial Youth Ballet and Vanderbilt Dance Theater. She began coaching gymnastics at the age 15 at the Master’s School of Gymnastics, where she worked until she graduated high school. After graduating, she spent two years as a Company Trainee with Ballet Palm Beach. She spent the next two years as a professional guest artist in addition to being a Trainee at Cincinnati Ballet. In 2020 she received a professional contract with DeLa Dance Company and danced there for three years. While living in Cincinnati she worked at The Gymnastics Center where she was the dance coach for the USAG competition team, head coach of the NS competition team and choreographer for the gym.

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! as their Costume Mistress. She is so excited to have been asked to teach in the School of the Arts this year and cannot wait to share and pour into the students this year!

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BIO COMING SOON!