School Staff & Faculty

KATHY THIBODEAUX

Artistic Director

  • 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.

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    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.

SOL MAISONET

Ballet Mistress

  • 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.

Danielle Bridgewater

School of the Arts Administrator

  • Danielle Bridgewater joins Ballet Magnificat!’s School of the Arts as Administrator after nearly two decades of leadership in ballet education, arts administration, and organizational development. As Founder, Owner & Executive Director of the classical ballet school she established in Kentucky, Danielle has provided both artistic and executive leadership since its inception, serving as Artistic Director throughout the school’s first nineteen seasons. She continues to serve as Executive Director while beginning this new role with Ballet Magnificat!.

    Throughout her leadership of the school, Danielle has developed curriculum, mentored faculty, directed original productions, expanded educational programming, cultivated community partnerships, and developed programs serving dancers from early childhood through pre-professional training. Her work has been driven by a desire to create meaningful opportunities that inspire students to grow artistically, personally, and in character.

    Danielle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Georgetown College. She is passionate about building healthy organizations where students, families, and faculty are supported, challenged, and encouraged to pursue excellence. She believes thoughtful leadership creates an environment where people can flourish, relationships are strengthened, and the mission of an organization can thrive.

    Ballet Magnificat! has been an encouragement to Danielle for many years, and she has long admired the ministry’s unwavering commitment to glorifying God through the art of dance. She is honored to join the School of the Arts and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a mission she deeply believes in while serving its students, families, faculty, and broader community.

    Danielle and her husband, Barrett, are the parents of two children and are grateful to become part of the Ballet Magnificat! community.

MARCIE ROBERTSON

School Faculty

  • 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 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. She was a ballet instructor for Birmingham Dance Theatre and Birmingham Ballet Academy.

    Upon completing her Master's degree, Marcie worked for St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham as an exercise physiologist in the cardiac rehabilitation unit. She was Principal Instructor of UAB Youth Ballet and an instructor in UAB'S Department of Theatre and Dance. 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.

    Marcie currently teaches in the Upper and Lower Schools at Ballet Magnificat! and is an Instructor of Dance in Belhaven's Dance Department.

PAM HINDALL

School Faculty

  • 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.

JENNIFER TYNDALL

School Faculty

  • 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.

NATALIE HEARD

School Faculty

  • Natalie Heard is originally from British Columbia, Canada. She is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), holding her RAD Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS). Guided by Janet Gittens and premier coaches worldwide, Natalie incorporates English, French, and Vaganova methods into her teaching, offering students an extraordinary depth of artistic and technical expertise. In 2008, she moved to Jackson, Mississippi, to train with Ballet Magnificat!, subsequently performing as a company dancer with the Alpha Company in 2009 and from 2015 to 2017. After several years of teaching and choreographing internationally, she rejoined Ballet Magnificat! in September 2023 as a full-time faculty member and choreographer for the School of the Arts Upper School and Trainee Program.

    Natalie is deeply committed to youth development, empowering students to embrace their inherent worth while applying the rigor of ballet to everyday life. Guided by grace and purpose, she seeks to disciple young people, inspiring them to live boldly and authentically for Christ. She takes great joy in witnessing her students' milestones, fostering their passion, and nurturing their personal and artistic growth.

    Honored to walk alongside the talented young dancers of Ballet Magnificat!, Natalie is committed to ongoing learning, and works tirelessly to help the students in her care unlock their fullest potential.

CASSANDRA DAVIS

School Faculty

  • Cassandra was born and raised near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and started dancing at the age of eight. The majority of her training took place at Delaware Valley Dance Academy, under the teaching of Lisa Wasserman. During this time, she had the privilege of performing as a soloist in The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, and Paquita.

    Cassandra attended five Summer Dance Intensives and three Fall Dance Intensives with Ballet Magnificat! She was selected to participate in the Pre-Professional level for four summers, and had the honor of performing the ballets Ruth, Scarlet Cord, Not Abandoned, and Unveiled Hope.

    In March 2023, Cassandra received her bachelor’s degree in Christian Leadership and Management from Liberty University. In August 2023, she moved to Mississippi to dance at Ballet Magnificat! She was part of Trainee II for two years.

    Cassandra has been teaching dance since 2016. She joined the teaching faculty of Ballet Magnificat!’s School of the Arts in August 2024. She loves teaching and encouraging her students to dance excellently and joyfully for the glory of God!

    In June 2025, Cassandra stepped into the position of School of the Arts Administrator. In August 2026, she transitioned to the position of Office and Facilities Administrator. She is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the ministry of Ballet Magnificat!

ALLIE MILKEY

School Faculty

  • Allie Milkey was born and raised in Concord, NC, and attended college at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She joined Ballet Magnificat! in 2023, drawn by the opportunity to combine professional dance with gospel-centered ministry. After completing the Trainee Program and touring with the Events Company in 2025, she joined staff as Events Company Tour Director and Office Assistant. In March, 2026, she stepped into her current role of Trainee Administrator and Events Company Tour Director.

    Allie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Applied Dance and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, graduating summa cum laude with University Honors and a Professional Training Certificate with Charlotte Ballet. During her time there, she explored the connection between faith and the arts through choreography, research in sacred dance, and Christian leadership on campus, even publishing research in peer reviewed papers.

    Allie has seven years of teaching experience and has worked with dancers of all ages across multiple styles. She especially loves teaching ballet and enjoys helping students build strong technical foundations while cultivating a deeper appreciation for the beauty and discipline of dance.

    Whether on stage or behind the scenes, Allie loves using her gifts to help make Jesus known through the beauty and power of dance.

    "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." – Colossians 3:23

LAURITA KOLL

School Faculty

  • 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 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, MS sponsored by the USA International Ballet Competition. Laurita has taught dance and creative movement workshops for adults and children in churches and studios throughout Mississippi. For the past 2 years, she instructed ballet, tap, and jazz/contemporary dance classes at the Yazoo City School of Dance. She also taught pre-school ages three, four, and five year old ballet classes at Madison Ridgeland Academy and has training in early childhood development for language and movement.

    She began 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 was also 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 the Performing Arts Camps, and ran auditions and helped facilitate camps for performing arts at Bologna Performing Arts Center. She directed placement classes with Philadanco Dance company for specific parts for children in their repertoire. She helped with the music theatre at DSU and church choir choreographed productions.

    She worked as a children’s instructor at Worship Dance/Creative Arts Conferences in Charlotte, North Carolina; Hattiesburg, MS; Laurel, MS; and Jackson, MS.

    She studied cultural/character dance 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, and Jewish and Irish dance. She is a certified instructor for Messianic and Israeli dance and participates with messianic worship artists Paul Wilber, Joshua Aaron, and Marty Goetz to create events for dance and worship.

    She enjoys working with dancers to set an atmosphere that facilitates worship. She is currently a ballet instructor for Ballet Magnificat School of the Arts in Jackson MS and is an instructor at Yazoo City School of Dance.

    Laurita aims to provide quality teaching and excellence in an informative and enjoyable environment.

MARINA JERNIGAN

School Faculty

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CHLOE HALLAM

Office Assistant

  • Chloe Hallam was born and raised in Northwest Arkansas and has been dancing since the age of five. The majority of her training took place at the NWA Conservatory of Classical Ballet under the direction of Jennifer Davis and the teaching of Emery and Missy Uyehara. During this time, she had the privilege of performing principal and soloist roles including Swanilda in Coppélia; Aurora in Sleeping Beauty; as well as Marzipan, Lead Spanish, and Snow Demi Soloist in The Nutcracker.

    Chloe attended five Summer Dance Intensives with Ballet Magnificat! and was selected to participate in the Pre-Professional level in 2024 and 2025. During those summers, she had the opportunity to perform in Ballet Magnificat!'s productions of Deliver Us and Ruth, including dancing the title role of Ruth in the 2025 Summer Dance Intensive.

    In August 2026, Chloe moved to Mississippi to join Ballet Magnificat! as a Level II Trainee. Chloe is grateful to the Lord for faithfully guiding every step of her journey and for opening the door to serve through Ballet Magnificat! She is excited to continue growing as an artist and to use the gift of dance to glorify God and share the hope of the Gospel with audiences around the world.

CHRISTIANNA CARFAGNO

Office Assistant

  • Christianna Carfagno was born near Albany, New York, and later moved to Harleysville, Pennsylvania. She began dancing at age twelve under Cassandra Davis at Dance with Joy and later joined Glorify Performing Arts as an apprentice. She also trained at Kimberton Dance Academy and Good Samaritan Dance Academy, primarily under Brittany Ryan and Kristina Styers.

    As part of Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company’s (SVRDC) The Nutcracker, she has danced a variety of roles, including Candy Cane Lead and Dew Drop. During her time with Glorify Performing Arts, she performed in nine ballets; four of them were toured into schools. Christianna also traveled with Glorify to three Project Dance conferences. She was blessed to attend one Ballet Magnificat! FDI and four SDIs.

    Christianna is a 2026 homeschool graduate. She has worked in bookkeeping and administration for Carfagno Commercial Cleaning since the fall of 2024 and continues to do so. In 2026, she joined Ballet Magnificat! as an Administrative Assistant and as a member of the Trainee Program. Christianna is grateful for the opportunity to serve with Ballet Magnificat!, while continuing in both dance and administration to glorify the Lord.

    One of her favorite Bible passages is Isaiah 54:10, “ ‘For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”