Hetty Thompson, Owner & Artistic Director

Hetty Thompson is the owner and artistic director of Prelude Conservatory. Classically trained in Ballet, Modern, Choreography, and Improvisation, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Belhaven University. She has been teaching dance for 14 years and also has extensive experience in dance performance and choreography. She is a mom of two and is passionate about providing safe environments where students can pursue excellence in technique while also accessing dance as a means of prayer, self-expression, and joy.

Michael Thompson, Growth & Development Logistics Manager

Michael is responsible for web design, marketing and promotions, video content production, bookkeeping, and business growth. Using skills honed through years of experience in various fields, he helps ensure Prelude Conservatory is run as efficiently as possible. “I love working as a team with my wife. I take care of the technical challenges and problem solving so she can focus on her vision for what the studio needs to be. We make a great team.” Michael is also a work-from-home Dad.

Olivia Artigues, Senior Instructor & Motif Rehearsal Director

Olivia Artigues attended Prelude Conservatory (formerly Dance Divine) for 12 years, during which time she also studied with companies such as Ballet Magnificat! and Ballet Mississippi. When not dancing, Olivia is a nanny and birth doula, and is working to become a midwife assistant. She has spent several years teaching freelance ballet classes in her spare time but is excited to be teaching at the studio she calls home.

Hadley Howell, Senior Instructor & Motif Rehearsal Director

Hadley Ann Howell has danced since the age of three and trained in ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, and tap. Hadley minored in Dance Performance at USM and recently completed her Master’s degree in Communication Studies. She has studied with Ballet Mississippi, Ballet Metropolitan, Ballet Magnificat, and has attended the International Ballet Competition’s SDI, Pensacola State’s SDI, and SERBA. Hadley has previously taught dance for The Dance Studio of McComb and the Southwest Mississippi Youth Ballet Company. Hadley was inducted into the USM Student Community Service Hall of Fame in 2021 for her service to those with special needs. Hadley is currently the Luckyday Coordinator at MSU and the faculty advisor for the Special Olympics Unified Club at MSU.

Abigail Carrigan, Senior Instructor

Abigail began dance lessons at age three and studied under Ms. Nancy Steele at MUW and with Ms. Tracy Thompson at Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts in Jackson. She has had the special opportunity of touring with Light of the World Ballet Company in southwestern China. In 2009, she graduated from the Ballet Magnificat! Professional Trainee Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Mississippi and a Master’s in TESOL from Portland State University. Joining Prelude Conservatory feels like coming home because she taught ballet and pointe at Dance Divine in its early days in the 2000s and again in 2012 and 2013.

Eliza Artigues, Junior Instructor

Eliza Claire Artigues has been attending Prelude Conservatory (formerly Dance Divine) for thirteen years. She has been an assistant teacher at Prelude for two years, and has spent a year assisting for the Starkville Christian Home Educators ballet classes. She is excited to teach and guide her students to not only better their knowledge and technique in dance, but also to find joy in praising our Lord Jesus Christ through the art of dance.