Our Team

Ms. Sol Maisonet was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. At age 12 she started her training in classical ballet. Ms. Maisonet received many scholarships from the Puerto Rico Institute of Culture to continue training in Cuba and in New York City. Her instructors included Madame Maggie Black, Ramón Segarra, David Howard, Melissa Hayden, Juan Anduze, and José Pares.

For more than 25 years, Ms. Maisonet performed professionally as a Soloist and Principal Dancer with companies such as Ballet Puertorriqueño, Ballet Theatre of San Juan, Ballet Concierto, and Ballets of San Juan. In 1983, she was invited by the government of Colombia to perform as a Principal Dancer with the “Ballet Nacional of Colombia,” under Artistic Director Ramon Segarra. During her time there, she danced as the lead role in several original ballets choreographed especially for her, such as Val’s of Ravel, Stravinsky’s Firebird, Symphony in Three Movements, and Ciclos.

She performed principal roles in many classical ballets, including The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, Rites of Spring, Tango Expectro, The Merry Widow, George Balanchine’s Rubies, Serenade, Who Cares.

In 1990 she was invited to represent Puerto Rico in Barcelona, Spain, at the 5th Iberoamerican Festival. Performing Cuban choreographer Petra Bravo’s piece, “Que Signo Lleva el Amor,” she became a finalist. In 1992, she joined recognized choreographer Gabry Christa from Holland and Gloria Llompart from Puerto Rico to found the dance company "Danzadentro."

In 1994 she once again represented Puerto Rico in Barcelona, this time with her own choreography, "Una Vez al Mes." Ms. Maisonet represented Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, performing in the Latin-American Dance Congress with Bravo's choreography, "Un Solo Dueto," and Gabry Christa's "Matutina.”

Ms. Sol Maisonet has taught classical ballet since 1977. She developed and enhanced the Dance Department Ballet Curriculum for the School of the Arts in Carolina, Puerto Rico and choreographed for several children’s musicals including “Lilipun” and “Aladdin.”

She has been the Guest Master Teacher for Summer Intensives at San Augustine Conservatory of Dance in FL, Rejoice Dance Academy in MS, Ballet Aviv in LA, and Ballet 5:8 in IL. She has served as the Ballet Magnificat Trainee Program Director and the Ballet Magnificat II Artistic Director. From 2001-2011 she served at Ballet Magnificat! as the School of the Arts Principal and developed the Upper School Ballet syllabus which is still in use today. From 2011-2016, she served as adjunct Dance Faculty for Belhaven University and was the Dance Ministry Ensemble Artistic Director. In addition, she served as Rehearsal Director for the fall and spring Belhaven dance concerts. She has trained many successful professional dancers during her career.

Currently, Ms. Maisonet is the Ballet Mistress for Ballet Magnificat! Company and School of the Arts, and is a Rehearsal Director and Master Teacher for the Trainee Company.

Rachel Nel came to Ballet Magnificat! from Lindsborg, Kansas. She began her dance training in 1997 with Tamara Dahlsten and continued with others such as Eve Kindall and Dunri Palmer. In 2008, she joined the Trainee Program and worked as an Office Assistant at Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts. During her time with the Trainee Program, Rachel had the privilege to perform in several works, including: Freedom, Lord of All, Grateful People, Wise Fool, I Believe, Your Great Name, A Christmas Dream and more. She graduated from the Trainee Program in 2011 and became the School of the Arts Administrator at Ballet Magnificat! and worked extensively with the Summer Dance Intensive. In 2014, Rachel became the Alpha Tour Director. In the summer of 2021 Rachel transitioned from her role as Tour Director and became Senior Administrator. She also serves as the Summer Dance Intensive Administrator. Rachel and her husband Reece now live happily near family in Kansas.

Melanie Joy Seeger was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she began her dance training at the age of 4. She began her professional dance training at 14 with the National School of the Arts and completed her Royal Academy of Dancing Advanced 2 with Sandra Castens. In 2001, Melanie was invited to dance with the South African Ballet Theatre; and in 2003 she moved to Cape Town to study at the University of Cape Town. While at UCT, she completed the RAD Teachers Certificate and was awarded with the RAD Solo Seal Award, the RAD’s highest performance award. At the end of 2004, Melanie joined Cape Town City Ballet.

While at Cape Town City Ballet, Melanie performed in many of the classical and contemporary ballets, including La Sylphides, Carmen, Camille, The Merry Widow, Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, 2 of the fairies in Sleeping Beauty, The Winter Fairy in Cinderella, Ballerina Doll in The Nutcracker, Waltz Solo in Les Sylphides and Swanhilda in Coppélia. Melanie performed in many national tours as well as an international tour to Dublin, Ireland.

In 2008, Melanie moved to Jackson, Mississippi, USA, to study and dance with the Ballet Magnificat Trainee Program, Level 2. Upon returning to South Africa, she re-joined Cape Town City Ballet. During her time at both UCT and CTCB, she was involved with teaching the CTCB Boys Development program.

In 2011, Melanie left Cape Town City Ballet to pursue full-time teaching. Melanie ran her own studio for 4 years, while also being part of the full-time course teaching faculty at Cape Academy of Performing Arts. In 2015, Melanie returned to UCT and graduated with a Diploma in Dance Education. She also taught classical ballet at UCT School of Dance, was vice-principle of the Cape Junior Ballet School, and served as assistant ballet mistress for the Cape Junior Ballet Company. Melanie aims to provide top quality teaching in an informative and enjoyable setting.

In February 2017, God led Ballet Magnificat! to the beautiful city of Curitiba, Brazil, to open its first and only satellite. Ballet Magnificat! Brazil has now grown to include a small professional company as well as a School of the Arts. Melanie has helped develop the program from the outset and serves as the Brazil Program Director.

Teaching is one of Melanie’s passions and gifts and says that “leading the team in Brazil continues to be one of my greatest joys and privileges”. In January 2020 Melanie married Roberto Cristiano Plassmann Filho and together they have one son, Benjamin.