About the Director

     Mary Thomas, Director and Owner of Southern Youth Ballet (SYB), has taught Classical Ballet professionally for 35 years.  Mrs. Thomas is a seasoned performer, has conducted company classes for New Orleans area companies as well as choreographed and staged ballets.  Students of Mrs. Thomas are exposed to the highest level of professional instruction in Classical Ballet.  
     She developed 'Bringing Stories to Life' for the St. Tammany Parish Library system where her dancers bring in record numbers for Christmas, Summer, and Mother's Day performances.  

   For 18 Christmases, Mrs. Thomas' students performed 'The Nutcracker" at Christmas Under the Stars in Slidell and for the last 3 years, at Slidell Little Theatre to sold out audiences.  She has choreographed for Slidell Little Theatre, including the highly-acclaimed 'Peter Pan' production.