Our story
In February 2017, Ballet Magnificat started in Curitiba, Paraná! Brazil. American ministry branch, Ballet Magnificat! which operates as a professional dance company dedicated to reaching the widest possible audience with the transformative message of the Gospel through dance.
Founded in 1986 in Jackson, Mississippi, USA, by Kathy Thibodeaux and her husband Keith, the company has performed in more than 40 countries, attracting dancers from all over the world. Ballet Magnificat! USA is known by the public for its style, professionalism, and life-changing presentations and is considered a standard of excellence in the Christian world. Now, the members of Ballet Magnificat! Brazil follows this same path, taking and spreading the love and gospel of Jesus Christ in theaters, churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages, and city hall events throughout Brazil.
Our heart's desire is to be in the place where we can live to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
In 2015, during the first tour in Brazil, the pieces fell into place and plans were made to bring to life the first branch of Ballet Magnificat!, starting with a professional training program for dancers. After several scouting trips and many meetings with church and government officials, Keith and Kathy made the decision to join the rapidly growing art scene in Curitiba, Paraná.
Making use of a space granted by Espaço Vida & Dança, Ballet Magnificat! Brazil began with its first class of the professional training program in February 2017. The program continued to grow and today, it has a professional company made up of graduates of the Ballet Magnificat professional training program! and the acquisition of a truly exquisite studio in Bairro Cabral in Curitiba. The School of Arts was opened in February 2019 with the aim of training all levels of dancers.
The Ballet Magnificat! Brasil is under the direction of founders and Executive/Artistic Directors Keith and Kathy Thibodeaux. Melanie Seeger, formerly a professional dancer from Cape Town, South Africa, awarded the Royal Academy of Dance Solo-Seal and graduated in Dance Education from the University of Cape Town, is the Director of the professional training program and Artistic Director of the company professional from Brazil, in addition to supervising training at the School of Arts.
Arrival in Brazil
Auditions are held throughout the year to select excellent dancers to participate in the training program. Instructors from the US headquarters visit Curitiba frequently, teaching and aligning the original Ballet Magnificat choreography! to the trainees and company from Brazil.
Ballet Magnificat's desire! it is to be in the place where God places us so that we can be useful in promoting his Kingdom. We are grateful to be part of the body of Christ and we pray that God will use our ministry to be a blessing to you.
