Show & Tell: Meet Lisa Thibodeau of ‘Tournament of Kings’
Meet Lisa Thibodeau
“Tournament of Kings”
Hometown: Las Vegas
Age: 29
Her dad and mom met while doing a Rainbow Company production of “The Wizard of Oz” (Dad played Oz, Mom played the Wicked Witch of the West). … Started dancing, and fell in love with ballet, at age 3. … Also tried gymnastics and violin (“I decided I’d rather dance to it than play it”). … After graduating from Boulder City High School, spent two years as a trainee and two years as a company member with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, Miss. … Also performed with Ballet Mississippi before returning to Las Vegas and joining “Tournament of Kings.” … Her husband, Gregg Paulson, also performs in the show. … Enjoys outdoor activities, including snowboarding and rock climbing. … Would like to return to teaching ballet someday.
On transitioning from ballet
to ‘Tournament of Kings’:
“Dancing in the dirt is not the easiest thing to do. It definitely took some getting used to, training your muscles to adjust to a nonflat surface. But it went really well. … It’s a great job. I get to do what I’ve trained my entire life to do. I get to do ballet, even if it’s in the dirt (laughs). I play dress-up and play in a sandbox! I’m just supergrateful and lucky to have my job. I’m a dancer on the Strip, in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world!”