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An Overview: With His Grace and Bare Souls
Dancing
SIMBT's liturgical dance group is directed by Mrs. Lee artistic
director of SIMBT and professional ballet dancer Kristen Scott
from American Repertory Ballet Company .
Ms.
Scott's liturgical company, Bare Soul Dancing serves the
community through the creation and presentation of appropriate
and spiritually based works of dance.
SIMBT is a proud supporter and sponsor of the Liturgical
outreach unit and Ballet Magnificat. Ballet Magnificat was founded by Artistic Director, Kathy
Thibodeaux, 1982 Silver Medalist at the II USA International
Ballet Competition held in Jackson, MS. Kathy and her husband
Keith, former child actor who played "Little Ricky" on the "I
Love Lucy" TV show and former drummer with the contemporary
Christian band "David and the Giants", have been very
instrumental in bringing dance back into churches across the
United States as well as in other parts of the world. Kathy
dances and oversees Ballet Magnificat's Professional Touring
Company which currently has 14 full-time dancers who tour the
USA and abroad proclaiming the love of God to their audiences
through the medium of dance. Ms. Thibodeaux also oversees the
Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Program as well as the Ballet
Magnificat! School of the Arts which currently has approximately
400 students in Jackson, Mississippi.
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Kathy Thibodeaux, Founder and Artistic Director
Kathy Thibodeaux, Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet
Magnificat!, studied under American Ballet Theater’s Albia Kavan
and Rex Cooper at the Jackson Ballet School. She became one of
the Jackson Ballet Company’s (later Ballet Mississippi) first
contracted dancers in 1978, dancing as principal until 1986.
After becoming a Christian in 1979, Kathy’s desire was to serve
and honor her Lord Jesus with the gifts He had given her. She
stepped into the spotlight of the international dance world in
1982, winning a silver medal at the II USA International Ballet
Competition which rotates between Russia, Finland, Bulgaria, and
Jackson, MS. For the third contemporary round in that
competition, Kathy chose to express her faith in a dance to
Sandi Patty’s, "We Shall Behold Him". Gregory B. Smith who was
very instrumental in the early formative stages of Ballet
Magnificat, choreographed the piece at Kathy's request.
Longing to see the art of dance restored to the church for the
glory and honor of Jesus Christ, she founded Ballet Magnificat!
Tour Company, the world’s premier Christian ballet company in
1986, attracting dancers from professional companies around the
world and later from within Ballet Magnificat’s own school and
trainee programs. The professional tour company performs locally
and internationally eleven months each year, coming home to host
their life-changing Summer Dance Intensive and Teachers’
Workshop each summer, averaging 400 in attendance from many
nations. This ministry has also produced performance videos,
dance class music CDs and T-shirts.
After sharing graciously donated space for an office and
practice studio at Belhaven College, Ballet Magnificat! School
of the Arts, opened in 1989 in their own studio. Ballet
Magnificat! Studios currently reside in a conveniently located,
12,000 square foot, air-conditioned facility housing five dance
studios with sprung marley floors, three music studios, and
school and tour company administrative offices. More than 400
students are currently in dance and music classes, including
Trainees from many states and nations, with performance training
provided through the trainee company, Ballet Magnificat! II and
local Ballet Magnificat! Tour Company performances.
TIGHTS, TUTUS & TOES?
If
your idea of ballet is a group of dainty dancers dressed in
tights and tutus twirling around on their toes, then Ballet
Magnificat! will unquestionably change that perception. With
high-energy programs and a powerful delivery, Ballet Magnificat!
shatters the sterotypical image of ballet. While these dancers
excel at the discipline and refined elegance of classical
ballet, they move with the skill and strength of seasoned
athletes. Undoubtedly, Ballet Magnificat! brings life to the art
of ballet with as much enthusiasm and joy as they do grace and
style.
NO
PRIMA DONNAS HERE
Ballet Magnificat!'s dedication to the art of dance is
considerable, but the company's commitment to ministry comes
first. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ, prayer and
accountability to a local body of believers is the foundation
for each of the dancer's public ministry. You will find no prima
donnas in Ballet Magnificat! Most of the dancers have sacrificed
lucrative careers in the secular world to dance with a Christian
company. Their humble desire is to honor God with their talents
and minister to their audiences.
THE
ART OF MINISTRY
Although art is not new to the Church, many have yet to
encounter professional Christian dance. Everywhere they travel,
Ballet Magnificat! surprises audiences with their portrayal of
Christian themes through inspired choreography, tasteful
costumes, and professional lighting and sound.
Ballet Magnificat! delivers spiritually compelling programs on
themes such as joy, forgiveness, worship and the Holy Spirit.
These programs bring spiritual concepts to life, teaching and
enlightening. As Ballet Magnificat! interprets scripture through
the art of dance, the company reveals a fresh perspective on
worship.
And
since art often draws those who might otherwise not come to
church, Ballet Magnificat! is a unique evangelistic tool. Not
only are audiences exposed to the reality of Christian art, but
at the close of each performance, the company reaches out
through prayer and personal ministry. |
