Ballet Magnificat

What Ballet Magnificat does

Ballet Magnificat is a nonprofit Christian performing arts ministry founded in 1986 by Keith and Kathy Thibodeaux in Jackson, Mississippi, recognized as the world's first professional Christian ballet company. The organization operates a vertically integrated dance ecosystem comprising four reinforcing pillars: a Professional Touring Company that performs an exclusive repertoire of original full-length story ballets with Christian themes (Anchored, The Call, Deliver Us, Ruth, Scarlet Cord, Hiding Place, and others — approximately 20 works); a School of the Arts providing Vaganova-method dance training for students ages 3 through adult with a Christ-centered curriculum; a three-level Trainee Program recognized by the U.S. Immigration Service as a vocational school that funnels dancers into the touring company; and an Events Company (the most advanced trainee level) that performs worldwide throughout the year. A satellite campus in Curitiba, Brazil (Ballet Magnificat! Brazil) operates as a wholly owned regional entity since February 2017.

The business is funded through five revenue streams: performance fees from church, conference, and event bookings; workshop and intensive fees (Summer Dance Intensive at $1,585–$3,997.72 per attendee, Fall Dance Intensive at $600–$1,430, Junior Dance Intensive at $380, Teacher Workshop at $825–$1,079); School of the Arts monthly tuition ($50–$255/month); the Trainee Program (vocational school tuition for international and domestic students); and donations enabled via DonorBox (supporting both operations and international tours). Distribution is hybrid: B2B direct booking for performances, B2C self-service registration for educational programs via Dance Studio Pro and campintouch.com, and inbound referrals through faith-based community networks.

The organization serves four primary segments: churches and faith-based organizations commissioning worship-related performances; families seeking Christ-centered dance education for children ages 3–18; aspiring professional dancers ages 11–24 seeking intensive training in a faith-integrated environment; and conference/event organizers seeking professional Christian dance programming. The company has performed in over 40 countries, employs 11–50 people, and partners with Belhaven University (NASD-accredited Dance Major since 1994) for curriculum and facilities.

Name

Ballet Magnificat

Legal name

Ballet Magnificat!

Website

https://balletmagnificat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ballet Magnificat is a Jackson, Mississippi-based nonprofit founded in 1986 and recognized as the world's first professional Christian ballet company, operating a vertically integrated ecosystem of a touring company, School of the Arts, and trainee program, serving churches, faith-based families, and aspiring professional dancers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Dance Education

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire) (MPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Dancers, Choreographers & Dance Troupes Booking (HSACAHAD), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Professional ballet performances
• Christian dance ministry
• Dance education programs
• Pre-professional ballet training
• Ballet summer intensives

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop and Intensive Programs: Summer Dance Intensive (2-week: $2,298.36 on-campus; 4-week: $3,997.72 on-campus), Fall Dance Intensive ($1,430 on-campus), Junior Dance Intensive ($380 tuition), Teacher Workshop ($825-$1,079 depending on duration and housing). These programs train dancers and generate substantial revenue while serving as recruitment pipeline for trainee program.
2. Performance Bookings: The professional touring company books performances at churches, conferences, and event centers. Booking contact is 601-977-1001. Commissioned special performances for church Christmas celebrations and events.
3. School of the Arts Tuition: Monthly tuition for dance classes ranging from $50/month (Tiny Tots) to $255/month (Intermediate with MYB membership). Registration fees of $35-$50 per student plus costume fees ($70-$90).
4. Donations and Ministry Support: The organization is a ministry that accepts donations for international tours and operations. DonorBox integration for International Impact giving.
5. Trainee Program: Professional training program that prepares dancers for company work. Recognized by U.S. Immigration Service as a vocational school, attracts international students. Feeds directly into touring company employment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ballet Magnificat operates a professional Christian ballet company that performs original story ballets with Christian themes for churches, conferences, and arts audiences. In parallel, it runs a School of the Arts, a pre-professional Trainee Program, seasonal dance intensives, teacher workshops, and children's camps, creating a full training and performance pipeline from beginner youth through professional-level company dancers.

Product overview

Ballet Magnificat! is a Christian ballet ministry offering a comprehensive ecosystem of programs. The core offerings include a Professional Touring Company performing original story ballets with Christian themes, an Events Company for advanced trainees, and a School of the Arts with age-specific programs from ages 3 to adult. Training pathways include Trainee Programs (Levels 1-3), Summer Dance Intensive (SDI), Fall Dance Intensive, Junior Dance Intensive, Children's Camps, and Teacher Workshops. The ministry expanded internationally with Ballet Magnificat! Brazil in Curitiba. Student performing groups include Magnificat Youth Ballet (MYB) and MYB Junior. The company presents original repertoire ballets including Anchored, The Call, Ruth, Deliver Us, Prodigal's Journey, Light Has Come, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• School of the Arts: Dance school offering classes to area students ages 3 through adult, with Christ-centered curriculum
• Trainee Program
• Summer Dance Intensive
• Fall Dance Intensive
• Junior Dance Intensive
• Events Company
• Magnificat Youth Ballet (MYB)
• Magnificat Youth Ballet Junior (MYB Junior)

Products and services

• Professional Touring Company Performances Professional ballet performances of original Christian-themed story ballets delivered through domestic and international tours for churches, faith-based conferences, and arts audiences.
• Events Company

Quantifiable outcome

• Performs in over 40 nations worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• Belhaven UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Partnership began in 1994 when Ballet Magnificat started the Dance Program at Belhaven University, providing curriculum, faculty, and facilities. The program has grown into a full Dance Major accredited by NASD. Belhaven University also provides dormitory facilities for Summer Dance Intensive participants on its campus in Jackson, MS.
• Second Baptist Church, Houston, TXnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Ballet Magnificat to create custom choreography for 'Saviour' - a pop-classical oratorio created by Bob Farrell and Greg Nelson. Custom choreography performed with live orchestra and choir. The production has been performed throughout the USA as Ballet Magnificat collaborated with many churches to reproduce the piece.
• Women of Faith ConferencesnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen of Faith Conferences partnered with Ballet Magnificat to incorporate several dancers into their Conference Tour Series spanning east and west coasts of the USA.
• Hilton Garden Inn (Madison, MS)minorOthersProvides accommodations for Fall Dance Intensive participants. Hotel is described as a brand new facility with indoor pool, spacious lobby, and state-of-the-art security, located 15 minutes from Ballet Magnificat studios.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Charlotte Ballet: Regional professional ballet company based in Charlotte, NC operating Charlotte Ballet Academy with comprehensive training programs from children's classes through pre-professional levels. Comparable regional professional ballet with school and trainee pipeline - Ballet Magnificat staff member Allie Milkey trained here, indicating direct talent flow.
• Ballet Memphis: Regional professional ballet company founded in 1986 (same year as Ballet Magnificat) serving the Mid-South region with the Ballet Memphis School providing youth through pre-professional training. Most closely comparable regional ballet in geographic proximity and founding vintage, with similar company + school vertical integration.
• Nashville Ballet: Regional professional ballet company with the Nashville Ballet School offering community and pre-professional training programs. Comparable scale, integrated company + school structure, and Southern US positioning, providing peer benchmark for regional ballet operations and educational programming.

Direct peers

• Bodiography Contemporary Ballet: Pittsburgh-based professional contemporary ballet company that operates a school (Bodiography Centre for Dance) and presents touring performances of original and contemporary repertoire. Directly comparable as a small-to-mid professional ballet company with integrated school programming, pre-professional training, and original content focus.
• Ad Deum Dance Company: Professional Christian contemporary dance company based in Dayton, OH that integrates faith with dance ministry through original works, school programs, and national/international touring. Closest comparable organization - same faith-based dance company model with school + touring + original repertoire structure as Ballet Magnificat.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Northwest Ballet: Major US professional ballet company headquartered in Seattle with PNB School offering comprehensive dance education across all ages and levels. Comparable professional ballet with full academy at major scale, providing benchmark on educational programming depth, faculty structure, and corporate ballet operations.
• Houston Ballet: Largest professional ballet company in the US by budget, with Houston Ballet Academy operating extensive children's and pre-professional programs. Comparable integrated company + academy model at the largest scale in the US, useful for understanding upper-bound operational and revenue benchmarks for ballet organizations.
• Atlanta Ballet: One of the largest professional ballet companies in the US with the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, offering children's through pre-professional training. Comparable vertically-integrated professional ballet with school at much larger scale and secular positioning, providing a size benchmark for institutional ballet structure.
• Joffrey Ballet: Major US professional ballet company with the Joffrey Academy of Dance offering year-round training programs and the Joffrey Studio Series for emerging choreographers. Comparable vertically-integrated ballet company + academy model with strong education and trainee programming, at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Christ in the Arts (CITA): Faith-based arts ministry organization referenced in Ballet Magnificat's data (Jeremy Brown previously served as Social Media Coordinator, PR Director, and Lead Partnering Instructor). Comparable faith-based performing arts/ministry model at smaller scale, providing a peer benchmark within the niche Christian dance/arts ministry segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/balletmag

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ballet Magnificat