The company
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Romans 10:15
Passion, art, sincere adoration and technical excellence define the Magnificat! Ballet Company.
The Ballet Magnificat! began more than thirty years ago with Kathy's vision to reach the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ through original and powerful repertoire. Today this vision also expands to our company here in Brazil.
The Company's Artists command the stages of theaters, opera houses, concert halls, performing arts centers, church auditoriums and civic arenas with sublime beauty and unparalleled artistry.
The Ballet Magnificat! has become a powerful force, telling the story of God's love, reaching deep into the hearts of audiences and inspiring genuine conviction in those who watch.
Want to help these dancers take the good news of the gospel around the world?
Founder and Artistic Director
KATHY THIBODEAUX
Kathy Thibodeaux began her dance training at the age of six at Jackson Ballet School under the direction of Albia Kavan and Rex Cooper. When the Jackson Ballet Company went professional in 1978, Kathy was one of the first ballerinas to be hired. Soon after being hired, she rose to the highest positions within the Company, becoming the principal dancer, a position she successfully maintained until 1986. During her time with the Jackson Ballet (later Ballet Mississippi), she performed as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Pigtail Girl in Graduation Ball, Odette in Swan Lake – Act II, Taglioni in Pas de Quatre, and headlined important roles in Les Sylphides and La Bayadere – Act II. He danced the title role in John Butler's Othello, Todd Bolendar's Stillpoint, Jean-Paul Comelin's Daughter of the Morning and William Christensen's Bravura, as well as in the traditional Grand Pas de Deux, Don Quixote, The Corsair and Raymonda. In 1982, Kathy received a silver medal for her performance at the II International Ballet Competition (IBC), where she debuted her solo piece We Shall Behold Him. She was featured in the 90-minute ABC/PBS documentary, “To Dance for Gold,” documenting her progress through the US II IBC and achieving her silver medal. Kathy is frequently called upon as a guest teacher/instructor at several US International Ballet competitions and has performed at the Gala presentation in Jackson, Mississippi. Her desire to use her gift in 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 played many leading roles, solo and together, as well as choreographing several works for the company; these plays include: 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) as well as “Battle Scene“, and parts of Snow Queen (2011). In 2006, Kathy wrote a children's book based on the ballet “A Christmas Dream,” which she choreographed in honor of Ballet Magnificat's 20th anniversary! In 1983, “Kathy Thibodeaux Day” was proclaimed by order of then-Mississippi Governor William Winter. A public commendation of Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus from 1989 was also published, and a resolution praising Kathy given by the Alabama Senate in 1998. In 2008, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, along with the founder of Peavey Music , Hartley Peavey, presented Kathy with the annual Hartley D. Peavey Award for Business Excellence. Kathy's passion for the Lord is so evident that she has given her life to serving God and His people, praising Him with dance. She is so grateful to live this life of service and work with her husband, Keith Thibodeaux. Kathy and Keith have a daughter, Tara Drew, who is a dancer, teacher and choreographer, married to Bryce Drew, a former NBA player and head basketball coach at Valparaiso University. Tara also danced in Ballet Magnificat!
Artistic Director in Brazil
MELANIE SEEGER PLASSMANN
Melanie Seeger Plassmann was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she began her dance training at the age of 4. She began her professional dancing at age 14 at the National School of Arts and completed the Royal Academy of Dancing Advanced 2 with Sandra Castens. In 2001, Melanie was invited to dance with the South African Ballet Theatre. In 2003, she moved to Cape Town to study at the University of Cape Town. While at UCT, she also completed the RAD Teachers Certificate and was awarded the RAD Solo Seal Award, which is the RAD highest performing award. At the end of 2004, Melanie joined the Cape Town City Ballet. While in this ballet company, Melanie performed in many of the classical and contemporary ballets such as: La Sylphides, Carmen, Camille, The Merry Widow, the Peasant Girl in Giselle, two of the fairies in Sleeping Beauty, Winter Fairy in Cinderella, the Ballerina Doll in The Nutcracker, Solo Waltz in Les Sylph ides, and Swanilda in Coppélia. Melanie has also performed on many national tours as well as an international tour in Dublin, Ireland. In 2008, Melanie moved to Jackson, Mississippi, USA to study and dance with Ballet Magnificat! on the Trainee Program, Level 2. Upon returning to South Africa, she rejoined Cape Town City Ballet. During her time at UCT and CTCB, she was involved with teaching on the CTCB Boys Development program. In 2011, Melanie left Cape Town City Ballet to try teaching full time. Melanie ran her own studio for 4 years, at the same time she was also on the full-time faculty at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts. In 2015, Melanie returned to UCT to obtain her undergraduate degree in Dance Education. She also taught classical ballet at the UCT School of Dance, was deputy director of the Cape Junior Ballet School and assistant ballet teacher at the Cape Junior Ballet Company. Melanie aims to provide quality teaching and excellence in an informative and enjoyable environment.
Trainee Director
NOANNA BORTOLUZZI
Noanna Bortoluzzi Vilela Martins was born in Laranjeiras do Sul-PR and began her ballet studies at the age of 8 at Ballerina Studio de Dança where she also worked as a teacher. Over time, she took several improvement courses as a dancer. As a teacher, she took courses on tip fitting and also a teaching program, especially the vaganova method. She has a degree in Baracharelado and a degree in dance from the State University of Paraná (Unespar-Fap), also a degree in Architecture and Urban Planning and a specialist in Interior Design and Lightning Design both from Universidade Positivo. She worked as a teacher in several schools in Curitiba such as Cecconello dance school, Dom dance and theater school, Della danca and sesc.
Meet our dancers
Assistant Artistic Director | Company Artist
MICHELLE AUGUSTO
Michelle Augusto was born in Ourinhos - SP and began studying classical ballet at the Escola Municipal de Bailados de Ourinhos at the age of 9. Over time, she had the opportunity to improve in courses with Aurea Hammerli, Toshie Kobayashi, Eduardo Bonnis, Rolando Candia, Mayda Lopes and contemporary with Rafael Gomes and Henrique Talmah. Always very skilled in dealing with numbers and expressing herself graphically, Michelle entered the Faculty of Architecture, thus finding the union of her love for mathematics and drawing! In 2014, she joined the Companhia Brasileira de Ballet, artistically directed by Jorge Texeira and Ballet Master Tadheo de Carvalho. As a member of this company, he performed in many classical and contemporary ballet shows, such as: Giselle, Magic Flute, Walpurgis Night, Spanish in The Nutcracker, Spanish in Swan Lake, Pas de trois in Paquita Grand Pas Classique , Grand Pas de Deux de La Fille Mal Gardeè, Gala Paixao by Thiago Soares, Natt, reinterpretation by Van Gogh. In 2017, she began the Ballet Magnificat Trainee Program! Brazil and is currently a dancer at Cia.
Company Artist
CARLA GOMES
Carla Lidiane was born in Rio de Janeiro - RJ and began her studies in her pre-teen years at the age of 13 at the dance school Flash Dance. Over time she learned Jazz, tap and contemporary, which had a great influence on her artistic identity, always with a strong and expressive dance. At the age of 17 she continued her studies at the Graciane Azevedo Dance and Culture Center where she later became part of the cast of dancers at Cia.Faces (direction: Graciane Azevedo) who won important awards in her career. With the influence of dance and her love for sports, Carla entered the Physical Education faculty where she was able to fall even more in love with the art of moving. In 2015 she obtained the Dance Professional Registration (DRT) and with a lot of dedication and love for teaching, she served on the teaching staff of many schools that marked her life. She was once a dance ministry leader and a member of Cia. Profética Gerar. With her knowledge, he applied prophetic dance workshops in Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. In 2017 she became a Trainee at Ballet Magnificat in Curitiba-PR, and has also dedicated herself to teaching dance ministries in some churches, being able to share her testimony and influence lives. She is currently a member of the Company.
Company Artist
ELLEN BANDEIRA
Ellen was born in São Luis - Maranhão and entered the world of art as a child, doing theater and dancing in church. When I was 14 years old, she began studying Classical Ballet at Ballet Olinda Saul with Maestra Olinda Saul and Maestro Cléo Jr. She was a student at the Petite Danse Dance School in Rio de Janeiro. He lived in Ourinhos-SP and then in Rio de Janeiro to be part of the Cia Brasileira de Ballet directed by Jorge Teixeira(Director and Maestro) and Tadheo de Carvalho(Maestro) where he had the opportunity to be part of the Corps de Baile dancing Walpurgis Night , Paquita and The Nutcracker. She moved to Curitiba to be part of the Ballet Magnificat Training Program, spending 2 years as a Trainne, 1 year as an Apprentice at the Company and is currently a dancer at the Ballet Mag Brasil Company, also working as a teacher at the School of Arts. She currently began her studies in Theology at FABAPAR. "It is a privilege given by God to run this race of faith with such special people who have contributed and continue to contribute to my growth in all areas of my life!"
Company Artist
PRISCILA WIMMERSBERGER
Priscila Wimmersberger was born in Joinville - SC and at the age of 9 began her dance studies in the city of Curitiba, at the Eliane Fetzer dance center, where she participated in the Junior and Youth jazz company. In 2009 she moved to the city of Florianópolis- SC where she began her rhythmic gymnastics training on the ADIEE / UDESC team. She remained a member of the team until 2012. During this period she continued taking classical ballet and jazz classes. From 2013 to 2016 she joined the cast of dancers at the Cacá Berka dance company. In 2017 she graduated from Circocan's Circus training program. In 2018, already in Curitiba, she returned to classical ballet classes at Espaço Vida e Dança. In 2019 she became a trainee at Ballet Magnificat! Brazil and is currently a dancer at Cia
Company Artist
TAYLOR STEWART
Taylor Stewart grew up in Siloam Springs, AR, where she began dancing recreationally at the age of 5. As she continued dancing, she fell in love with the art form of ballet and in 2015 moved to Jackson, MS, to join Ballet Magnificat’s Trainee Program. In 2017, she was promoted and began dancing with the Company as a Student Apprentice. During her time with Ballet Magnificat she has traveled to 11 different countries sharing the Gospel through dance. At the end of July 2024, she retired from touring professionally with the U.S. Company and has recently moved to Curitiba, Brazil where she will be dancing and working with Ballet Magnificat! Brazil. She is excited for this move and as she starts this new season is reminded of Psalms 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Aprendiz
CAROL VÁZQUEZ
Carol Vázquez was born in Puerto Rico. In 2014 she began her classical ballet training at the Escuela Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico. In 2017 she continued her studies at Centro Danza with the directors: Laura Valentín, Osmay Molina and the teachers: Sara Acevedo, Nilda Lopez, Lara Edmee Berrios, Stephanie Van Lanthem and Jenny Sosa. With this excellent training, Carol had the opportunity to dance classics such as: Giselle, Sylvia, Pharaoh's Daughter and Swan Lake (pas de troix). She has had experience dancing in several musicals, contemporary ballets and jazz. In 2021 she moved to Brazil to participate in the Ballet training program! Magnificat Brasil as a trainee. In 2023, the Company was promoted.
Aprendiz
LARISSA CARVALHO
Larissa Carvalho is from Rio de Janeiro and had her first contact with dance as a child in her local church. Her love for dancing grew and at the age of 11 she decided to start taking ballet classes. In 2018, she graduated as a corps de ballet dancer from Centro de Dança Rio, under the direction of Mariza Estrella, and is professionally registered by SPDRJ. During her years at this school, she had the opportunity to learn different types of dance in addition to classical ballet. Larissa had the privilege of being taught by Maria Angélica Fiorani, Diana Tomasetig, Giuliana Cattapan, Ângela Viégas and many others. And over the years she has always participated in many workshops, some of them with Flávia Burlini, Regina Sauer, Rafi Maldonado-Lopez and Márcia Faggioni. In 2017, she discovered Ballet Magnificat! Brazil where she strongly felt the Lord calling her to do missions through dance. And in 2020 she moved to Curitiba to participate in the Trainee Program, being promoted to apprentice at Companhia Profissional in 2023.