For more than 40 years, the Columbia City Ballet has been delighting audiences with the art of ballet. Led by Artistic and Executive Director William Starrett for the last 17 years, Columbia City Ballet serves as a premier artistic ambassador for the arts in South Carolina. The critically acclaimed company is the second largest performing arts organization in South Carolina. The dancers perform four full-length ballets every season in the company's home theater, the Koger Center for the Arts, and they also take those ballets to audiences around the country. Starrett, a Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award winner, has choreographed 30 original works for his dancers, several of which have been performed by companies in New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Missouri.
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Artistic Director: William Starrett
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Columbia City Ballet's eclectic repertoire appeals to a wide variety of audiences. The Company performs classical ballets such as Coppelia and Nutcracker, but it also has premiered 10 original full-length ballets and 9 original one acts created by Starrett. The 1991 debut of Dracula found a whole new audience for the Company due to the innovative pairing of jazz and hip-hop elements with classical ballet storytelling. Dracula's success spurred Starrett to create Dracula's Revenge in 1998, the only ballet sequel ever created.
As part of the Ballet's Educational Outreach Program, it takes the art of ballet to schools in rural and metropolitan areas to share the joy of dance with children who would otherwise never be exposed to it. To this end, Starrett has created, choreographed and staged 11 original narrated children's ballets. The company also offers the South Carolina Summer Dance Experience, a three-week summer camp for dancers age 13-18.
"Dracula: this extravaganza by director William Starrett guarantees his audience a good time."
Dance Magazine
"If you can't swing a trip to New York for a big time staging of the Nutcracker, don't be concerned. William Starrett has staged the annual classic for the Columbia City Ballet that is as fine and grandly presented as anything you're likely to see this season."
The State - Columbia, S.C.
"As is customary with the Columbia City Ballet, the dancers form their stunning patterns with intense concentration and dramatic projection. The choreography calls forth the very best from the accomplished company."
The Item - Sumter, S.C.
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William Starrett
Photo-Ken Duncan
