Kathy Thibodeaux

Who is Kathy Thibodeaux?

Kathy Thibodeaux is co-founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Magnificat!.

Born Kathy Denton, she studied under American Ballet Theater’s Albia Kavan and Rex Cooper at the Jackson Ballet School. In 1976, she married Keith Thibodeaux, a former child actor and musician, best known for playing "Little Ricky" in "I Love Lucy" and "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" television shows. In 1978, Kathy became one of Jackson Ballet Company’s first contracted dancers, dancing as a principal until 1986.

Kathy 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, against the advice of many, Kathy chose to express her faith in a dance to Sandi Patty’s "We Shall Behold Him".

In 1986, Keith and Kathy founded the Ballet Magnificat! Tour Company. Kathy had a vision for something totally unheard of – a touring Christian ballet troupe that would dance to the glory of God. She envisioned Christian dancers coming together for the purpose of glorifying God in dance.