Off The Wall & Onto The Stage Dancebill by southcarolinaballet

People, Places, and Things

Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida

Trailer Park Christmas Ain’t Misbehavin’ Clyde’s Playwrights’ Festival

The

40th Anniversary Season

SOUTH CAROLINA BALLET

Expanding the Legacy of Columbia City Ballet

CEO & Artistic Director, William Starrett & Prima Ballerina Mariclare Miranda, Cinderella (1986)

In 1961 a group of citizens led by Ann Brodie founded Columbia City Ballet and offered the first performance by this civic ballet in 1962. Over the following years, CCB presented many ballets including their first full-length Nutcracker production in 1966, and subsequently The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake, and Coppelia, with Ann Brodie as the company’s first Artistic Director.

In 1978, William Starrett made his first guest appearance in A Mid-Summer Night's Dream, and in 1980, Columbia City Ballet’s only Prima Ballerina in its history, Mariclare Miranda, danced her first Sugar Plum Fairy. In 1986, and with Starrett now its Artistic Director, Columbia City Ballet moved its headquarters to its current location in the Columbia Conservatory of Dance building at the corner of Main and Taylor Streets.

Determined to bring world-class ballet to Columbia, Starrett set forth on the task of transforming this small, civic ballet troupe into a fully professional ballet company. It goes without saying that this goal has been not only met but exceeded. In the ensuing years, William Starrett, through his never waning passion for the art and his indomitable spirit has created what has frequently been described as a cultural icon. Pursuing an aggressive touring schedule and creating wildly popular ballets such as Off the Wall & Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green, Columbia City Ballet has burst out of the confines of the city of Columbia and now maintains regular schedules of appearances in Sumter, Charleston, Florence, Lancaster, Hartsville in addition to Savannah, Georgia, Hamlet, North Carolina, and Avon Park, Florida. In addition, the Company has toured to 11 different states and continues to gain national interest and recognition.

This extensive touring schedule was key to the decision by the Board of Directors to rebrand the Company as South Carolina Ballet. Many people are unaware that there are 29 other cities also named Columbia, creating a great deal of confusion about exactly who we are when on tour. So, our rebranding is a byproduct of our great success. While we are excited about all the opportunities rebranding holds, we are in no way abandoning our rich history and legacy. All the most important aspects of Columbia City Ballet will remain at the core of South Carolina Ballet and our core values will remain unchanged. Each day our professional dancers rehearse in the Ann Brodie Studio here on Main Street. Our Prima Ballerina, Mariclare Miranda will continue to teach Company class and coach dancers for specific roles in our repertoire. We will still produce all our fan favorites including Dracula Ballet with a Bite, Nutcracker, and Off the Wall. We will always be the home of the brightest stars of our past, names such as Sylvia Dansby, Pat Miller, Victoria Cholkas, Peter Kozak, Erin Jaffe, Anthony Hampton, Tabitha Garner, Taber Cathcart, Betsy Clarke, Katie Smoak, Claire McKay, and Regina Willoughby and a fertile ground for the stars of our present and future. In short, we are not saying goodbye to Columbia City Ballet at all, but rather we are embracing our future as a critically acclaimed Company, and one of South Carolina’s cultural ambassadors.

To everyone who has been a dancer, staff member, board member, volunteer, or audience member, rest assured that your contributions to Columbia City Ballet are honored, revered and will never be forgotten. We invite you all to come grow along with us as we celebrate our past and plan for our future as South Carolina Ballet!

South Carolina’s Finest Dance

The official shoe supplier of Columbia City Ballet

Tuesday-Friday 11-6 H Saturday 11-5 1030 Harden Street

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Allow me to personally welcome you to South Carolina Ballet’s special encore performance of Off the Wall & Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green! It is my great pleasure to present this amazingly popular ballet as we begin our 64th consecutive Anniversary Performance Season. I would also like to convey my heartfelt thanks to the historic Township Auditorium for making this performance possible.

It bears repeating that I initially created this ballet because I had a strong desire to celebrate the amazing talent of Jonathan Green and the contributions of Gullah culture to our society. What you may not realize is that this project morphed into a journey of spiritual discovery for me. I found such deeper meaning in Jonathan’s paintings as I began the process of creating the ballet. My greatest hope is that the themes of inclusion, community, acceptance, gratitude, and equality embedded in this work become apparent to you.

I hope that you will be inspired to attend more of the equally beautiful, meaningful, inspiring, and entertaining ballets that we will present this season. Our 64th Performance Season at the Koger Center for the Arts will commence on October 25th with the opening night of Dracula: Ballet with a Bite, followed by a second performance on October 26th combined with our annual Gala with a Bite. Set in Count Dracula’s dungeon, Gala with a Bite will undoubtedly be an evening filled with thrills and just the right amount of fright! All proceeds from the gala benefit our Educational Outreach & Engagement Series which brings quality arts education to more than 15,000 local students each season.

We return to the Koger Center for the Arts in December, presenting our acclaimed production of Nutcracker, in 7 brilliant performances on December 14 & 15, and 21 & 22. South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker is truly Columbia’s family holiday tradition. It is also the single largest performing arts event by a South Carolina arts organization traveling to 6 South Carolina cities and Savannah, Georgia. Nothing says “holidays” like South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker! Featuring our spectacular new sets and scenery, this is the fully professional production of this beloved classic you don’t want to miss!

On February 8, 2025, we will present two performances of the most famous of all love stories, Romeo & Juliet, the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for that special someone! Romeo & Juliet will also mark the introduction of the newly formed South Carolina Ballet Orchestra, conducted by Scott Weiss. Our 64th Season will close on March 22nd with one performance of the quintessential Romantic Era ballet, Giselle. I am so excited to bring this ballet to our audiences. Few ballet companies can produce this ballet which is considered the “gold standard”. South Carolina Ballet’s professional dance artists have the talent and technical excellence necessary to mount this amazing production. Please make plans to join us for as many of these amazing productions as you possibly can and learn exactly why South Carolina Ballet is the largest performing arts organization in South Carolina.

Now, allow us to transport you to the South Carolina sea islands, the birthplace of the Gullah culture, and witness the magic as South Carolina Ballet brings Jonathan Greens’ paintings off the wall and onto the stage!

All my very best,

William Starrett CEO & Artistic Director

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

WILLIAM STARRETT

William Starrett is a NANOE-certified Nonprofit Executive and the Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director of South Carolina Ballet. This is William's 38th performance season at South Carolina Ballet. First appearing as a guest artist with Columbia City Ballet in 1977, over the intervening years, Starrett has served as Artist-in-Residence, Associate Director, Premiere Danseur, Artistic Director, and Executive Director. Named Artistic Director in 1986, he is only the 2nd Artistic Director in the Company's sixty-fourth year history and has now served longer than the founding Artistic Director, Anne Brodie.

William has worked tirelessly to make his vision a reality... providing South Carolina with a professional ballet company with paid professional dance artists and operating a professional school with training that could produce the caliber of dancers necessary to feed into the professional company, obviously goals which he has masterfully achieved. Mr. Starrett's storied dancing career saw him win the bronze medal at the first US International Ballet Competition in Jackson Mississippi in 1979. Subsequently, Starrett became one of the most prolific and proficient guest artists in the world. In 1984, Dance Magazine profiled William and described him as a "fully free-lance dancer jetting to a from cities like some people drive to the drugstore....a man who has been whisked off the stage after a matinee in Detroit and flown to Atlanta for a performance that same night. Have repertoire, will travel." And travel he did! Starrett has performed in twenty-nine countries and all fifty states and graced the most notable stages in the world including Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the New York Met State Theater, London's Sadlers Wells Theater, and opera houses in San Francisco, Berlin, Monte Carlo, Buenos Aires and Mexico City. The US International Ballet Competition remains one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions, and they invited William to return as an Adjudicator for the 2023 competition.

Since 1988 William has choreographed more than twenty-five full-length ballets for the South Carolina Ballet repertoire. Beginning with Snow White and including Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dracula: Ballet with a Bite, Frankenstein, Cleopatra, Off the Wall & Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green, The Hootie and the Blowfish Ballet, Emanuel, Studio 54 and Motown Ballet, to name but a few. Additionally, he founded the company's Educational Outreach & Engagement Series and over the past thirty-two years has created more than twenty-four Educational Outreach ballets. The Educational Outreach & Engagement Series has provided quality, curriculum-driven arts education to more than half a million students since its inception.

In addition to being a NANOE-certified Nonprofit Executive, William is a graduate of Leadership Columbia, founder of the AIDS Benefit Foundation of SC, a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Rotary Club, Columbia Executive & Owners Association and Founding Director and principal faculty member of the Columbia Conservatory of Dance. He is a recipient of the Governor's Award for the Arts, South Carolina's most prestigious arts award, the Steve Morrison Visionary Award for One Columbia, a 2019 Jefferson Award for his tremendous contributions to the community and the RICE Award presented by the Lowcountry Rice Culture Project in recognition of exemplifying the qualities of inclusion, culture, and excellence. William continues to serve the public through his weekly ArtsWach on WACHTV-57, which showcases artists and cultural events of every genre here in the capital city.

ABOUT THE ARTIST JONATHAN GREEN

Jonathan Green is a maritime focused painter best known for his vibrant depictions of sea island Gullah culture which is the history of descendants of enslaved Africans who settled between coastal northern Florida and North Carolina in the 19th century. Green utilizes the maritime aesthetics of his surroundings while growing up in Gardens Corner, South Carolina, portraying an almost mythological narrative from his everyday observations growing up amid this coastal agrarian community. Green served honorably in the U.S. Air Force before receiving his BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1982. His long and illustrious career has catapulted him to appointments by Governor Jeb Bush as the Ambassador of the Arts for the state of Florida for 8 years and an appointment by the Mayor of the City of Charleston as Ambassador of the Arts for Charleston for the past five years. Charleston is one of the most important port cities in the United States, both historically and currently. He works diligently to preserve the artistic history that points to the maritime importance of this great city.

As a result of his efforts to preserve the history and culture of the sea island Gullah Geechee people, he has received two Order of the Palmetto Awards by Governors of the state of South Carolina; the South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts, among a multitude of other awards and recognitions. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of South Carolina; Coastal Carolina University; Sewanee-The University of the South; and Claflin University. The University of South Carolina is currently in the design stages of The Jonathan Green Maritime Cultural Center on the Beaufort campus. This museum, honoring Jonathan Green’s life and career, will also become the first in the United States to commemorate the maritime culture and history of Africans and African Americans.

His works have been the subject of numerous research-based writing projects. His work has also appeared on the cover or inside pages of hundreds of books and other publications: most notably, The Annotated African American Folktales by Dr. Henry Louis Gates.Jr. and Maria Tatar; and The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill that was made into a television miniseries. The University of South Carolina Press has published two retrospective art books: Gullah Images: The Art of Jonathan Green and Gullah Spirit: The Art of Jonathan Green. His art works are in the collections of the Naples Museum of Art in Naples, Florida; the Gantt Cultural Arts Center in Charlotte, NC; the AfroAmerican Museum of Philadelphia, PA; the Morris Museum in Augusta, GA; the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida; the International African American Museum and the Gibbes Museum of Art, both in Charleston, South Carolina, among others. Green currently lives and works in Charleston, South Carolina.

Over 31 Years of Providing Exceptional, Patient-focused Infusion Care

Home IV Antibiotics

Home Parenteral Nutrition

IVIG and Specialty Infusion Therapies in our Infusion & Medical Centers

Principal Dancer, Claire Rapp

Concannon Photography

ABOUT THE MUSIC

ELLIOT BROWN

Elliott Brown, tenor, is a native of Bloomfield, Connecticut. He is a proud alumnus of Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, where he studied under Dr. Angela Small Blalock. Most recently, Mr. Brown was a finalist in the 2020 Harlem Opera Theater’s Voice Competition. He is currently pursuing his MM degree in Vocal Performance as a graduate student at the University of South Carolina, where he studies with Dominic Armstrong.

Known for his rich timbre and captivating stage presence, Mr. Brown has performed as a featured soloist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, The Hartford Bushnell, and Connecticut Opera’s 1998 production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. He was also a featured soloist for the 105 HBCU Voices of History, The National Black Caucus, and served as the National Anthem soloist for John G. Rowland, former governor of Connecticut. In 2016, Mr. Brown was offered the role of Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly with Varna International in Varna, Bulgaria. He has also performed the role of the Officer in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Teatro Lirico D’Europa, as well as Spoletta in their 2019 production of Puccini’s Tosca. He was recently featured on The Word Network, the largest African American religious network in the world. Mr. Brown was a 2019 finalist in the Marian Anderson Voice Competition, NANM. He produced and performed in Soprano Angel Blue’s (Metropolitan Opera) Generation Next Opera Gala. He was the 2020 Opera Training Studio Audition Award recipient and a finalist for the New York International Opera Panel Auditions.

REGINA SKEETERS

Regina Skeeters, a native of Conway, SC, is a singer, songwriter, actress, educator, worship leader, and motivational speaker. She is a graduate of Benedict College, where she learned to be a force for good in the 21st century. Ms. Skeeters is the founder of a non-profit organization and performing arts camp called Blend Out, which encourages people ages 5-25 to be their best selves.

Regina has had the opportunity to share the stage with artists such as CeCe Winans, Jonathan Nelson, The Gatlin Brothers, Dorinda ClarkCole, Kim Burrell, and Fantasia, to name a few. She was honored to be featured in Ebony Magazine as Miss Benedict College. Her work has also been showcased on BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel alongside Dorothy Norwood.

Regina has traveled to Los Angeles, Brazil, England, Italy, and beyond, sharing the message of Jesus Christ. Her goal is to be a walking billboard for positive change and to impact the world one life at a time.

GULLAH HISTORY

The Gullah community, a unique group of descendants of enslaved Africans from various ethnic groups of west and central Africa, is located in our Lowcountry between Jacksonville, Florida, and Wilmington, North Carolina. The African-American descendants lived near the coast and on barrier islands separated from the mainland by creeks, rivers, and marshes. Because of their geographic protection from outsiders and a strong sense of family and community, Gullah people maintained a separate Creole language and developed distinct culture patterns, which included more of the African cultural tradition than African-American populations in other parts of the United States.

The islands were accessible only by foot until the first bridges were built around 1950. The isolation of these island communities from outsiders was vital to the survival of the Gullah community culture. Although Gullah people traveled to and from mainland and to nearby islands, outsiders seldom came into their communities, especially after the Civil War. The isolation of Gullah people, which began in Colonial times in response to tropical fevers, later became an isolation of choice.

People chose to come back to their homes, their families, their language and their way of life - a slow paced life among majestic trees, tidal marshes, and dirt roads traversed by ox and mule carts. Small boats, horses, mules, and feet were the primary forms of transportation. Thus, within these rural communities, people were able to maintain their language, arts, crafts, religious beliefs, folklore, rituals, and food preferences that are distinctly connected with their West African roots.

A unique Creole language is spoken along the Sea Islands. The linguistically distinct Gullah language, with its vocabulary and grammatical roots in European and African languages, developed for practical purposes as a way for Africans and their captors from different linguistic origins to communicate with one another. Vocabulary from English, French, Portuguese, and other European languages were added to the mix to facilitate communication with European slave owners. The language is the only distinctly African-American Creole language in the United States.

Reprinted with permission by the National Park Service, December 2003 Special Resource Study and Environmental Impact Study

LIMITED EDITION SIGNED PRINTS FOR SALE

$2,500-$4,500

Jonathan has created 12 fine art prints in his career, all of which are now showcased in museums and major private collections. Each of these limited edition (75), numbered and autographed, fine art prints, with an image size of 31 3/8” by 25 5/8”, are hand screened in full color acrylic on archival quality, 100% cotton, 250 gram Stonehenge paper, 44 1/8” by 30 3/8” in size.

For further information and inquiries, please call the South Carolina Ballet at 803-799-7605 or email to jwhite@southcarolinaballet.com

CASTING FOR BAIT

TAKEUS FO R GRANITE

Jackie Vose* Immediate Past President

Sally McKay * Secretary

Ero Aggelopoulo -Amiridis, PhD

Mary Beth Branham

Joy Bryant

Louise R. Burns

Christy Davis

Marie Fox ***

Brad Giles

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jared Smith* President

William Starrett* CEO & Artistic Director

Joyce Martin Hill

Barry DeWayne Hogan Sr.

Charles Bruce Johnson

John Kuppens

Melanie Matthews

Scott Middleton

Jennifer McKellar

Mary Peck *

Margaret Ellen Pender

C. Adair Bledsoe, Jr.* Vice President

Jessica Yohe* Treasurer

Evan P. Reed

Peter Roney *

Matthew Shaffer

Mark Shelley

Bud Tibshrany ** ***

Adam Vance

Dot Ryall **** * EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ** LIFETIME MEMBER *** DIRECTORS CIRCLE PRESIDENT **** ADVISOR TO THE BOARD

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENTS

1961-PRESENT

1961-1973 ..................................................... Cynthia Gilliam

1973-1974 ....................................................... Hanry Everett

1974-1977.................................................. James M. Calvert

1977-1980 ................................... Mrs Donald E. Saunders

1980-1983 ................................... T. English McCutchen lll

1983-1984 .................................................. Carol Ridenhour

1984-1985 .............................................................. Alex Carll

1985-1986 Cynthia Gilliam

1986-1987 ...................................................... Tom Waldrup

1987-1988...................................................Hammond Beale

1988-1989 ............................................... Bud M. Tibshrany

1989-1991 Marvin Chernoff

1991-1992 ............................................... Anthony Callander

1992-1993 ............................................................Lyles Glenn

1993-1994 ............................................................. Jean Duke

1944-1995 ................................................Ronald F. Loewen

1995-1997.................................................. Marvin Chernoff 1997-1999 .............................................. Henry S. Knight Jr. 1999-2000 ....................................................Sally T. McKay 2000-2002 ....................................................Caralee Harris 2002-2003 ............................................ Kara Sproles Mock 2003-2005 ............................. Robert O. Meriwether Esq. 2005-2007 ............................................. Dr. Gail Morrison

2007-2010......................................................... Nancy Kress

2010-2012 ....................................................... Fred Sheheen

2012-2014 Nancy Kress 2014-2019 ..................................................Christopher Ray 2019-2021.................................................... Jacqueline Vose 2021- Present ...................................................... Jared Smith

IN MEMORIAM

Ron Hale 1946-2024

Ron Hale (Thigpen), an American stage, television, and screen actor best known for the roles of Dr. Roger Coleridge on Ryan’s Hope and Mike Corbin on General Hospital died at his home on August 27, 2024.

Mr. Hale originated the role of Count Dracula in South Carolina Ballet’s premiere of Dracula: Ballet with a Bite in 1991 and continued to portray the Count through the 1994-1995 performance season. He was the brother of the late Jim Thigpen who, along with his wife Kay, founded Columbia’s Trustus Theater in 1985. In the early years of Trustus Ron appeared in many of their plays. Ron attended Furman University and was a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild. South Carolina Ballet CEO & Artistic Director, William Starrett who created Dracula: Ballet with a Bite, cast Hale as the first Count Dracula and shares that this decision was down to his desire to have a character actor in the role with a strong charismatic, and confident stage presence.

Mr. Hale is survived by his nieces and nephews, Lori Brown (Janet Brabham), Max Brabham, Erin Wilson (Laurens), and Marc Brown (Betsy).

Gina McCuen 1943–2024

Virginia “Gina” McCuen, 81, of Lexington, died on Sunday, September 15, 2024. A longtime member of the Board of Directors of South Carolina Ballet, Gina was an inspiration to all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed by her South Carolina Ballet family. Gina was widely known for her service to civic, business, professional, and cultural activities within the greater Columbia and Lexington area. Gina was the franchise owner of Snelling and Snelling of Lexington which she opened in 1982. Mrs. McCuen obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy in 1965 from Barton College and a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from Ohio University in 1967. She began her professional career at the University of Georgia as a Career Counselor in the Student Guidance Center. She moved to the Columbia area in 1968 and later served as a Coordinator with the Children in Placement Project of Richland County Family Court, a coordinator of Counseling Services in the Office of Student Personnel Services at Columbia College, and as a staffing recruiter from 1978-1982 when she decided to open her Snelling franchise in Lexington. Gina was enormously respected and repeatedly recognized through numerous awards for her professional and volunteer work

Gina is survived by her sister, Mary Allen Steinbauer of Farmville, NC; daughters, Elizabeth Smith Trenbeath (Mike) of Lexington, Virginia “Ginger” Smith Davis (Patton) of Valparaiso, FL; stepson, Shannon Smith (Daniela) of Charlotte, NC; stepdaughters, Kathy Huntley (Harry), Sandra Holland (Scott), and Debbie Elmore and her grandchildren. Gina was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Sam McCuen.

MEMBERS IN PERPETUITY

The Directors Circle is the volunteer auxiliary of the South Carolina Ballet charged with encouraging the artistic growth and development of the South Carolina Ballet through contributions, staff support, and fund raising projects. Members offer their time and expertise through a variety of events such as merchandise sales at each ballet and organizing our bespoke tea parties held prior to the performances.

Anne Brodie

Founding Artistic Director

Charles Butler Board Member

James Calvert Board President

Naomi Calvert Founding Director

Marvin Chernoff Board President

Crawford Clarkson

Board President

Jack Craft

Board President

Carl Crosby Principal Dancer

Johnny DeHart Principal Dancer

Coralee Harris

Board President

Shirley Horton Headpiece Designer

Robert Kemsley Assistant Composer

Serge Lavoie Principle Dancer

Greg Leevy Board Member

Donna Lewis

Ballet Mistress

Michael Lland

Ballet Master

Ron E Lowen

Board President

Caroline Meyer Benefactor

Swing Meyer Board Member

Pat Miranda Volunteer

Steve Morrison Benefactor

Jim E. Quick

Character Actor

Thomas Semanski Composer

Fred Sheheen Board Member

Alvin Strasburger Board President

Christopher B Ray Board President

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Civic, business, arts and philanthropic leaders come together as one powerful, synergistic force to create our Advisory Council. The Council’s esteemed members are public servants, local celebrities, business professionals, artists, visionaries and philanthropists from across the state of South Carolina and beyond. As advisors, their unique insights, talents and professional skills are essential to the long-term sustainability of the organization. South Carolina Ballet is honored to have access to such an astounding collective of expertise and leadership.

Taber Cathcart

Temeika Isaac Devine

Jonathan Green

Ben Johnson

Katherine LaNasa

Jess MacCallum

James T. McLawhorn, Jr

Rick & Lisa Mantei

Patricia Moore-Pastides

Norvell Pettus

Dr. Harris Pastides

Dot Ryall

John Whitehead

Dr. Peter Zvejnieks

BALLETOMANE SOCIETY

South Carolina Ballet proudly introduces The Balletomane Society. Comprised of highly dedicated individuals from near and far, the Balletomane Society reflects the far-reaching and long-lasting influence of the art we present. Made up of community leaders, arts enthusiasts, former members of our Board of Directors and other supporters of the South Carolina Ballet, this dynamic group of individuals have a proven history of excellence. Tireless devotion to the mission of South Carolina Ballet is the common denominator found among these exceptional men and women. These are the titans of our organization who have logged not just hours, but years in service to the organization. Members of the Balletomane Society support the organization through their knowledge and experience while acting as a guidance system, steering the South Carolina Ballet on a steady course of success while safe-guarding its legacy.

Tom Brown (Chair)

Nancy Kress (Chair)

Gina McCuen

Gail Morrison

Vivian Breedlove

Rose Sheheen

Debbie Zvejnieks

Tom Pietras

Mariclare Miranda

Megan Pinckney Rutherford

If you are interested in getting involved with the Advisory Council or the Balletomane Society simply call the South Carolina Ballet office at 803-799-7605.

SEASON MEMBERSHIP 2024-2025

PATRON

RICK & LISA MANTEI

PAT & GARLAND

MCWHIRTER

MCWHIRTER, BELLINGER & ASSOCIATES

THOMAS & BARBARA PIETRAS

JARED & ANNA SMITH

SMITH, HOWELL & ASSOCIATES

VELASCO FAMILY

SPONSOR

MR. & MRS. SEAN & AIMEE ANDERSON

THOM & JAMIE CHUMNEY

TONI ELKINS

DR. GAIL M. MORRISON

BENEFACTOR

LOUISE BURNS

CONTRIBUTOR

MR. & MRS. GEORGE T.

SWEARINGEN III

GUARANTOR

JOY BRYANT

SUSAN CUTTER & LANGDON WARNER

SUE & JERRY KLINE

PAULA SABBAGHA

ROSE SHEHEEN & FAMILY

JAMES SMITH

SARAH JETER SMITH

SHERRY SMITH

ROBERT & KATHY

WHETZEL

BAKER

EMILY & JOHN WELSH

DONOR

J ULIA & DAVID BILBREY

ANN BOSAK

JULIE BRENAN

TOM & MARIAM CHAMBERLAIN

BRYAN & MARIE FOX

DR. ALEXIS P. KISTENEFF & DOROTHY G. HAM

JEANNIE LAKES ANDRES LEONE

KIM & CRAWFORD MILLING

DR. STEPHANIE MUGA & ROBERT ANDUIZA

CAROLINA CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY OF COLUMBIA

MIKE & MARY PECK

THAMES PRIVATE

WEALTH STRATEGIES

ALYCE PEGUES

DR. & MRS.

STEPHEN F. SERBIN

MR. & MRS.

DAMON C. SIPE

SMITHWICK-MORGAN FAMILY

BRANDON STEVENS & KAT ROBERTS

DAVID & ELIZABETH

GORE

MELANIE TORRANCE

STEVE VALDER

LARRY & CLARA WYONT

FRIEND

DR. ERO AGGELOPOULOU

TIMOTHY & PATRICIA

ANDERSON

CHERYL ARMSTRONG

JEFF & ANN BARTEE

ALLISON & MATTHEW

BASTOS

AMII BLAND

ANGIE & ADAIR BLEDSOE

WESTON BOOTH

KELLY BROWN

CHRISTINA BRUNDAGE

MIKE CHEATHAM

MR. & MRS.

SAM COPELAND

PAUL & CHIRS CORCORAN

DR. AUBREY DILLARD & MR. WILLIAM DILLARD

HENRY & MARY PAT

DIXON

HEATHER EPLEY

MR. & MRS. TREY FENDER

PATRICIA FREEMAN

LINDA GLOVER

BONNIE GOLDBERG

JAMES GRICE

MARY HANZLICK

ALAN & CHARLOTTE HENDERSON

SCOTT & VIOLA HENDERSON

LINDA HOOD

KRENA FAMILY

JOHN KUPPENS

DAVID & GAYLE

LABRUYERE

AMANDA MARTIN

DR. FREDRIC & SANDY MAU

DEBORAH MCDONALD & BRUCE HOLMES

SALLY & WALKER MCKAY

MICHAEL & TAMMY MERISOTIS

JAMES MURPHY

LORI MURRELL

MICHELE NICHOLS

JAMES NORTON

WESLEY & DEBBIE ODUM

KATHY BERRY ORR

CANDI PAYNE

MARY CATHARINE

PHILBECK

DENY PROTEAU

EVAN REED

LISA B. REEVES

ANNE RICHARDSON

PETER RONEY

ANNE SAKARA

WALLY & ALMA SCHULTZ

DONNA SHEALY

SIMMS FAMILY

JAMIS SMITH

DR. & MRS. DARREL STAAT

JUDITH STERNBERG

BEBE STREET

JOSEPH STRENK

SUZANNE & ROGER WAY

KATHY & JACK WOLFE

DRACULA

Ballet With A Bite!

OCTOBER 25TH. & 26TH. 7:30 PM

KOGER CENTER FOR THE ARTS

NUTCRACKER

7 Spectacular Performances

DECEMBER 14TH. 15TH. 21ST. & 22ND.

1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM & 7:30 PM

KOGER CENTER FOR THE ARTS

ROMEO & JULIET

Live music by SC Ballet Orchestra Conducted by Scott Weiss

FEBRUARY 8TH. 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM

KOGER CENTER FOR THE ARTS

GISELLE

Love, Betrayal, & Redemption

MARCH 22ND. 5:30 PM

KOGER CENTER FOR THE ARTS

ANNUAL FUND

CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS

$5,000-$10,000

Central Carolina Community Foundation

Pat & Garland McWhirter

Smith, Howell, & Associates LLC

Dr. Gail M. Morrison

Louise Burns

$100-$4,999

Mr. & Mrs. Sean & Aimee Anderson

Joy Bryant

Thom & Jamie Chumney

Toni Elkins

Bruce Johnson

Rick & Lisa Mantei

Dr. Gail M. Morrison

Thomas & Barbara Pietras

Paula Sabbagha

Rose Sheheen & Family

James Smith

Sarah Jeter Smith

Sherry Smith

Mr. & Mrs. George T. Swearingen

Velasco Family

Susan Cutter & Langdon Warner

Robert & Kathy Whetzel

Let the South Carolina Ballet help you cut your tax burden!

Were you aware that ticket sales account for less than 50% of our annual budget each season? South Carolina Ballet is celebrating 64 years of innovative, critically acclaimed dance performances and educational outreach in the Midlands and beyond. As South Carolina’s largest performing arts organization, South Carolina Ballet enriches the lives of citizens throughout the state. We are also an important part of the economic engine of our community. More than 60,000 people attend our world-class performances each year, resulting in a $3.3 million-dollar economic impact. Because of gifts from supporters like you, South Carolina Ballet can continue to bring our world-class ballets to the stage each season at reasonable prices. Contribute today at the Patron’s Table in the lobby, online at our Annual Fund link at SouthCarolinaBallet.com, or mail a check to the South Carolina Ballet offices at 1545 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201. All contributions are 100% tax deductible. Act now and support the South Carolina Ballet, one of Columbia’s premier not for profit organizations. Also, let us help you with your year-end tax planning, by including us in your charitable giving.

ENDOWMENT FUND

A gift for today... that will sustain the ballet for tomorrow.

South Carolina Ballet has partnered with Central Carolina Community Foundation to establish an endowment for the ballet.

Endowment Funds are designed to last forever, which is why they are essential and primary in identifying characteristics of the most stable and enduring dance companies in the nation.

Currently, South Carolina Ballet takes no distribution, allowing the endowment to grow to its maximum potential. Based on historical data, contributions to the ballet will DOUBLE in only 15 years!

There are several ways to give:

• Planned giving via your will

• Gifts of insurance

• Cash contributions

• Distributions from your IRA

DIRECTORS CIRCLE

Allison Bastos

Chris Dunbar

Mae Dunbar

Sharon and Daryl Fleming

Bryan and Marie Fox

Kendall Fox

Cyrus Frakes

TaMara Freeman

Michelle Hawkins

Audra Linfert

Jessica Lathran

Patricia Proctor

Simantha Robinson

Julie Smithwick

Emily Welsh

Angela Wright

If you are interested in getting involved with the Directors Circle, simply call the South Carolina Ballet office at 803-799-7605.

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT SERIES

JACK FROST WINTER PRODUCTION

South Carolina Ballet is celebrating the 34th year of its highly popular Educational Outreach & Engagement Series. The series introduces students to a wide spectrum of artistic genres and disciplines, varying dance styles, art history, physical fitness, music, theatre etiquette, stagecraft, ballet positions and terminology. South Carolina Ballet's Artistic Director, William Starrett had the

vision to develop the curriculum based on his educational dance performance over the years.

Each ballet in the Educational Outreach Series is developed as an educational component and all productions are accompanied by a teachers guide with pre- and post viewing strategies for your classroom.

45 minutes to 1 hour in length. Lets make the stage part of your classroom!

Bookings: Katie Heaton | KHeaton@SouthCarolinaBallet.com | 803-799-7605

Learn more about our educational Outreach & Engagement series by visiting southcarolinaballet.com/outreach

GOLDILOCKS & THE THREE B'S BACH, BEETHOVEN & BEYONCE SPRING PRODUCTION

Jack Frost Columbia, SC Koger Center For The Arts

Thurs, Dec 12th, 9:30 am Fri, Dec 13th, 9:30 am Fri, Dec 13th, 11:15 am

ROD FOSTER & COMPANY

Jack Frost Sumter, SC

Lakewood High School Fine Arts Center

Fri, Nov 22nd, 9:30 am

Jack Frost Florence, SC FMU Performing Arts Center

Thur, Dec 19th, 10:00 am

Goldilocks & the Three B's Columbia, SC Koger Center For The Arts

Fri, Feb 7th, 9:30 am Fri, Feb 7th, 11:15 am

LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER

MATCHING

POINTE SHOE

CAMPAIGN

2024-2025 CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. Ero Aggelopoulou

Susan Anderson

Ann Bosak

Lexington Medical Center

Austin Grebenc

Giving to the Matching Pointe Shoe Campaign is easy!

Call our offices at 803-799-7605 or mail a check to 1545 Main Street. All contributions are 100% tax deductible

With your contributions, which are matched dollar for dollar by Lexington Medical Center, we are able to provide our 18 female dancers with sufficient shoes for the entire season, enabling us to perform for approximately 48,000 people and more than 30,000 children.

Elizabeth Irick

Farrag Kaufman

Pat & Garland McWhirter

Dr. Gail M. Morrison

James Murphy

Candi Payne

Jonathan Pierce

Peter Roney

Anne Sakara

Donna Shealy

Stacy Sperber

Steve Valder

Suzanne & Roger Way

Kaitlyn Wessinger

Thom & Jamie Chumney

SPECIAL THANK YOU

Marie and Bryan Fox, Kerrianne Sasser, Emily Welsh and all members of the Director’s Circle

Mariclare Miranda and the Columbia Conservatory of Dance.

Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, Aditi Bussells and the Columbia City Council. Members of the Richland County Council

Dot Ryall

Sam Williams of Gateway Supply

Pat and Garland McWhirter

Joyce Martin Hill and George Hill

Margaret Clarkson and Peter Roney, Tom Pietras

Jess, Dianne, Melissa, Pattie and Sheila of Professional Printers

Lisa Mason

Diane Knetzer

Ella Tocci

Judy Waters, Pauline Pichoff, Abby Pichoff

Coleen Strausberger of Turning Pointe

Lynne and Varner Richards

J.P.’s Plumbing Service

Members of CEOA

Nate Rhodes

Adam Vance

Brad Giles

Guy Sullivan

George Carson

Glenn and Melanie Matthews

Cristina Segarra

Brian Hess

Traeger Mechling

Marci Delaney

Bill McDaniels

Kieth Sheely

Karen and Danny Hood

Chris Hinley

Jeffrey Guy, MD

Christopher Mazoue, MD

J. Benjamin Jackson III MD

Kevin Herod

Danielle Jones

David Watkins, CPA

Our friends at Turbeville Insurance Agency

Joy Bryant of Hilton Garden Inn Columbia

Star Murry

Jackee Moye

Tom Clark

Mark Shelley and Sandy Roland of Lexington Medical Center

Audra Hawisher with the Free Times

Greg Conner, and Alex Johnson and everyone at WACH FOX 57

Tyler Ryan and everyone at Good Morning Columbia

Intisar Faulkner, Jordyn Markhoff and everyone at WIS-TV

Darci Strickland and everyone at WLTX

Jeff Haley at Cumulus Radio

Ken and Zenaide Broom

Scott Middleton

Sara Middleton-Styles

Dr. Helmut and Mrs Gillian Albrecht

Stephen Miano

Ben Barden of That Computer Store

Mary Anne Tillman and Stella

Bo Abernethy and the Township Box Office Staff

Chaunette Marsh

Aaron Hawkins, Jessalyn Hawkins

Louise Burns

Jared Smith

Nicole Czekalski

Kristin Cobb

Maddison Young

Dolly Patton

Hannah Baker

Finally, all the other friends, generous dance parents, and volunteers who help make the South Carolina Ballet a success

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Access

THIS WEEKEND?

MONDAY - FRIDAY 4PM-7PM

Conceived & Choreographed by William Starrett

Based on the paintings of Jonathan Green

Original Scenic Concepts by Barry T. Sparks and William Starrett

Lighting by Ryan Stender

Act I

Sea Swing

“Yondership Mariah”

Music by Marlena Smalls and The Hallelujah Singers

Imani Garrett

“Swing Down Chariot”

Arranged and Performed by The Golden Gate Quartet

Imani Garrett with...

Haissan Booth, Gabrielle Gardner, Camilo Herrera, Rick Jones, Nicole Millwood, Josiah Savage, Tony Tucker, Joshua Van Dyke

This ballet is made possible by the generous support of Barbara Burgess and the late John Dinkelspiel

Love of the Harvest

Music “Carry Me Home” written and performed by Marlena Smalls

Costumes by Heidi Parikh

Jordan Hawkins & C'Jae Ransom

This ballet is made possible by the generous support of Michael Gifford

Costume Design & Adaptation by Indira

and Abby McDowell

Softgoods & Scenic Printing by I. Weiss, New York

Sea Swing

Flying Free

Harvest Scent & Love of The Harvest

Lonsdale

My Brother, Your Brother

Sermon by the late Rev. Willis Goodwin

Music: Violin Concerto in D Minor by Sibelius

Performed by Kyung Wha Chung and The London Symphony Orchestra

Camilo Herrera & Joshua Van Dyke

This ballet is made possible by the generous support of the Irving & Roberta Lewis Charitable Fund

Daughters of the South

"United by one father; divided by two worlds"

Music: Afro-American Symphony, 4th

Movement by William Grant Still Performed by Richard Fields and the Cincinnati Philharmonia Orchestra

Peyton Lilly, Gabrielle Gardner, Imani Garrett, Bobby McClure, C'Jae Ransom

This ballet is made possible by the generous support of Dr. and Mrs. Norm and Gail Thompson

Three Vessels

“Down by the River”

Music written and performed by Marlena Smalls and The Hallelujah Singers

Julianna Ball, Alexandra Chumney, Jordan Hawkins, Amanda Hwang, Nicole Millwood, Sydney Murrell, Kamaria Roberson, Dylan Van Dyke

“Juba”

Music by Marlena Smalls and The Hallelujah Singers

Alexandra Chumney, Gabrielle Gardner, Imani Garrett, Jordan Hawkins, Amanda Hwang, Kamaria Roberson Haissan Booth, Camilo Herrera, Rick Jones, Josiah Savage, Tony Tucker, Joshua Van Dyke

“It’s a Highway to Heaven”

Music by T. A. Dorsey and M. Gardner

Performed by Alex Bradford

Nicole Millwood & Tony Tucker with Ensemble

This ballet is made possible by the generous support of Kate Simpson in honor of Pearlie S. Harris

My Brother, Your Brother

Daughters of the South

Three Vessels

Sand Dance

Music written by Erik Satie; Orchestrated by Debussy Performed by Orchestra Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy

“Fishing Break”

Music "Gymnopedies II"

Haissan Booth

“Rendezvous”

Music "Gymnopedies III"

Imani Garrett & Joshua Van Dyke

“Sand Dance”

Music "Gymnopedies I"

Amanda HWANG with... Haissan Booth, Brandon Forrest, Camilo Herrera, Rick Jones, Bobby McClure, Josiah Savage, Tony Tucker, Joshua Van Dyke

This ballet is made possible by the generous support of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP

Fishing Break

Sand Dance

Sand Walk

Rendezvous

Inlet Bounty

Music “Deep River”

Arranged and Conducted by Dick Goodwin; Performed by Celebration Gospel Ensemble

Bass/Baritone Jacob Will Maurice Johnson & Ensemble

This ballet is made possible by the generous support of Colonial Life Insurance Company

Ensemble:

Julianna Ball, Emily Bartee, Haissan Booth, Benjamin Boveroux Jr, Elizabeth Brooks, Carrington Clark, Bobby Craft, Alexandra Chumney, Benjamin Drinkwater, Brandon Forest, Gabrielle Gardner, Imani Garrett, Jordan Hawkins, Camilo Herrera, Amanda Hwang, Rick Jones, Bella Leone, Katharine Marianacci, Bobby McClure, Nicole Millwood, Miranda Montes de Oca, Sydney Murrell, Patrick Odlum, Christal Odum, Taylor Petrowski, C'Jae Ransom, Claire Rapp, Sibrina Robinson, Kamaria Roberson, Josiah Savage, Angelik Solis, Dargan Swearingen, Tony Tucker, Dylan Van Dyke, Joshua Van Dyke, Virginia Welsh, Hannah Williams.

Inlet Bounty

INTERMISSION

Act II - Scene I

Silver Slipper Dance Hall

Ensemble

“Blues with a Feeling”

Music by Little Walter

Performed by Little Walter

Ensemble

“Little Bitty Pretty One”

Music written by Robert Byrd

Performed by Thurston Harris and The Sharps

Julianna Ball, Camilo Herrera, Rick Jones, Nicole Millwood, Kamaria Roberson, Tony Tucker

“Slip Away”

Music written by William Armstrong, Marcus Lewis Daniel and Wilbur Terrell

Performed by Clarence Carter Courtesy of Koch Records

Julianna Ball, Haissan Booth, Imani Garrett, Josiah Savage

“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”

Music by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler

Performed by Regina Skeeters

Ensemble

“Let the Good Times Roll”

Music by Leonard Lee

Performed by Regina Skeeters

Ensemble

“Please Release Me”

Music by Eddie Miller, WS Stevenson, Robert Yount, William McCall and James Pebworth

Performed by Little Esther

Peyton Lilly & Joshua Van Dyke

Bessie Mae

"He Treats Your Daughter Mean”

Music by Herbert J. Lance, Johnny Wallace and Charles Singleton

Performed by Ruth Brown

Imani Garrett, C'Jae Ransom, Rick Jones

“Blue Moon”

Music by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

Performed by The Marcels

Nicole Millwood & Tony Tucker with... Haissan Booth, Maurice Johnson, Josiah Savage

“Take Time to Know Her”

Music by Steve Davis

Performed by Percy Sledge

Peyton Lilly, Haissan Booth, Maurice Johnson, C'Jae Ransom

“All Night Long”

Music by John Gray

Performed by Joe Houston Orchestra

Ensemble

“At Last”

Music by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon

Performed by Regina Skeeters

Ensemble

Act II - Scene II

Sunday Morning Church

Elliott Brown with the Benedict College Gospel Choir

"Oh Happy Day"

Ensemble

"Amazing Grace"

Peyton Lilly, Haissan Booth, Imani Garrett, Rick Jones, C'Jae Ransom, Kamaria Roberson, Josiah Savage, Tony Tucker

"More Abundantly"

Ensemble

Yemasee Lounge

The Congregation

The Spirit

FACES OF SUCCESS

When your business takes center stage, shouldn't you have the best talent representing you?

COMPANY ROSTER

CEO & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

WILLIAM STARRETT

PRINCIPAL DANCERS

CAMILO HERRERA, NICOLE MILLWOOD *, CLAIRE RAPP ** *, JOSHUA VAN DYKE

SOLOISTS

JORDAN HAWKINS*, AMANDA HWANG, GABRIELLE GARDNER*

DEMI-SOLOISTS

JULIANNA BALL, PEYTON LILLY, TONY TUCKER

COMPANY ARTISTS

,EMILY BARTEE, HAISSAN BOOTH, BENJAMIN BOVEROUX JR., ELIZABETH BROOKS, CARRINGTON CLARK, ALEXANDRA CHUMNEY, BENJAMIN DRINKWATER, BRANDON FORREST, IMANI GARRETT*, CORRICK JONES, BELLA LEONE*, KATHERINE MARIANACCI, BOBBY MCCLURE, MIRANDA MONTES DE OCA, SYDNEY MURRELL, PATRICK ODLUM, CHIRSTAL ODUM, TAYLOR PETROWSKI, C'JAE RANSOM, KAMARIA ROBERSON, JOSIAH SAVAGE, ANGELIC SOLIS, DYLAN VAN DYKE, VIRGINIA WELSH, AND HANNAH WILLIAMS.

BALLET MISTRESS MIRANDA BAILEY | BALLET MASTER MAURICE JOHNSON

COMPANY INSTRUCTERS

MARICLARE MIRANDA, Prima Ballerina, Repetiteur ALEXIS DOKTOR, BRANDON FUNK, ERIN JAFFE*, KYRA STRASBERG

*Denotes trained at Columbia Conservatory of Dance

**Denotes leave of absence

PRINCIPAL CAMILO HERRERA

of Cali, Colombia. 6th season with SCB.

Camilo began dancing at the age of ten in Colombia, South America, at the Colombian Institute for Classical Ballet. He obtained a dance degree from Ballet-Centered and secondary and higher-level institutions, where he was educated by ballet masters Gloria Castro, Helena Cala, and Maria Helena Llorente, as well as a teacher from the National Ballet of Cuba.

Upon graduation, he joined the Conservatorio de Valencia in Spain, where he studied for two years. In 2012, Camilo received a full scholarship with Miami City Ballet, and in 2011, he participated in the International Festival of Valencia, Spain.

Camilo has performed professionally with the National Ballet of Colombia, Atlantic City Ballet in New Jersey, Montgomery Ballet in Alabama, and the Hinsdale Ballet Theatre in Chicago. Mr. Herrera has worked with international choreographers such as Rafael Darder, Ramon Oller, Rolando Candia, Gonzalo Galguera, and Alicia Amatriain. He has toured Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Russia, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Germany, and the USA.

PRINCIPAL NICOLE MILLWOOD

of Columbia, SC. 9th SCB season. Recently had her first child.

PRINCIPAL CLAIRE RAPP

of Columbia, SC. 14th SCB season. Gave birth to her second daughter, Elena, in June 2024

Sponsored by DR. & MRS. J. BENJAMIN JACKSON 111

Columbia native Claire Rapp grew up studying dance at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance under the instruction of William Starrett and Mariclare Miranda. She was a member of South Carolina Ballet II for several years before joining South Carolina Ballet in 2011.

During her training, Claire competed in numerous competitions, including Youth America Grand Prix and attended prestigious summer programs with Boston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre and Ballet West. She has also performed with Moving Body Dance Company, Concept Zero, Ballet Spartanburg, Trustus Theatre and Columbia Summer Repertory Company. During Claire’s time with South Carolina Ballet, she has performed numerous soloist and principal roles, including Cinderella (Cinderella), Aurora (The Sleeping Beauty), Lucy and The Red Maiden (Dracula), Myrtha (Giselle), Snow Queen, Arabian Princess, Dew Drop Fairy and Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker), Beauty (Beauty and the Beast), and made her debut as Juliet in the last season's full-length production of "Romeo & Juliet," accompanied by the SC Philharmonic.

The role of “Daisy” was created on Claire in Starrett’s world premiere of The Great Gatsby in 2020. Claire was promoted to soloist in 2014 and to principal dancer in 2017. When not dancing, Claire enjoys sharing her love of dance with her students at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance and spending time with her husband, Mark Rapp, and their daughters, Amelia and Elena.

PRINCIPAL JOSHUA VAN DYKE

of Tampa Bay, Fl. 5th SCB season. Married Dylan Bacon Van Dyke, August 31, 2024.

SOLOIST

JORDAN HAWKINS

of Irmo, SC.17th SCB season. She has a 14-year-old dog, Ruby.

Jordan Hawkins, born and raised in Irmo, SC, began her dance training at the age of three at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Mariclare Miranda and William Starrett. After spending summer semesters at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, she competed as a Senior Member of the CC Dance Company and was awarded the title of Senior Miss Superstar and Senior Miss Dance in 2008. Jordan also won scholarships to Adrenaline Dance Conventions and summer sessions at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center and with the Radio City Rockettes. Guesting with South Carolina Contemporary Company for three summers gave her the opportunity to perform multiple roles in

Martha Graham’s Maple Leaf Rag as well as a number of Miriam Barbosa originals. Now entering her fourteenth season with the South Carolina Ballet, as a Soloist, she’s had the opportunity to perform many roles including the company’s original “Rat Queen” in The Nutcracker along with “Candy Cane” and “Neapolitan” divertissements. Finding an additional passion for teaching and choreographing, she has had the pleasure of teaching where she trained (CCD) for the past fourteen years along with being a Rehearsal assistant for SCBII and being the Ballet Mistress for the Rising Stars of Sumter.

SOLOIST

AMANDA HWANG

of Watchung, NJ. 5th SCB season. Has traveled to all 7 continents.

From Watchung, NJ, Amanda Hwang trained full-time at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy under Gelsey Kirkland. After graduating, Amanda joined American Repertory Ballet as a trainee where she performed with the company in The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and Don Quixote. The following year, Amanda joined BalletMet as a trainee under Edwaard Lian and performed in The Nutcracker, Giselle, Walpurgis Nacht, and excerpts from both Edwaard Liang’s Beautiful Child and Gustavo Ramirez Sansano’s 18+1. She has

attended summer programs at American Ballet Theatre and the Bolshoi Ballet. This is her fifth season with South Carolina Ballet and her first as a soloist.

SOLOIST

GABRIELLE GARDNER

Blythewood, SC. Trained at Columbia Conservatory of Dance. 3rd SCB season. She has a dog named Sandy. Sponsored by VELASCO FAMILY

Gabrielle Gardner, a native of Columbia, SC, began her ballet training at the age of three. She then trained for several years with the Columbia Conservatory of Dance under the tutelage of William Starrett and Mariclare Miranda and joined the apprentice group to the South Carolina Ballet when she was ten, performing major roles (e.g., Clara in Nutcracker and Victoria Harker in Dracula) in cities across the Southeast. She was accepted into the residential dance program at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities when she was fourteen and is currently a member

of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Gabrielle has also been involved in distinguished dance competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix regionals and placed first in the Junior Category at the inaugural Grand Jeté ballet competition in 2019. She has performed in many ballets, including the roles of Snow White in Snow White, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Snow Queen in Nutcracker. This is her 3rd season with South Carolina Ballet, and her first as a Soloist.

DEMI-SOLOISTS

JULIANNA BALL

of Grand Rapids, MI. 7th SCB season. Rock climber.

PEYTON LILLY

of Raleigh, NC. 3rd SCB season. Military spouse.

TONY TUCKER

of Kingston, Jamaica, and Boston, MA. 3rd SCB season. Anime fan.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

OUR MISSION

South Carolina Ballet’s Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DE&I) Mission is to: provide individuals an opportunity to achieve their full potential; enhance and strengthen our art form; and sustain our reputation as a preeminent arts organization, which embodies, excellence, diversity, and inclusion. We strive to present our art while fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment that celebrates and embraces all forms of diversity.

OUR DEFINITION

At South Carolina Ballet, our DE&I mission is defined by striving to reflect the diverse communities we serve; allowing a wide range of different voices to be heard; valuing and respecting differences, both visible and invisible; practicing humility and transparency in our DE&I mission and assuming responsibility for positioning ballet as an art form that is accessible to everyone. We further define diversity as appreciation and respect for the varied intersections of differences in society including, but not limited to race, gender, or gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, physical abilities, or age.

OUR COMMITMENT

South Carolina Ballet will continue to celebrate and respect the confluences of our differences — recognizing that these differences make our dancers, staff, volunteers, and audiences who they are. We further recognize that this work does not embody a destination but rather is representative of a journey to which South Carolina Ballet stands committed both as an organization and as the individuals who make up that organization. South Carolina Ballet believes that its mission as an artistic and creative organization is strongly enhanced by its commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion. Inclusion of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences among our professional dancers, students, staff, repertoire, audience, board members, and volunteers is of primary importance to us because it:

• is the right thing to do;

• builds energy;

• fuels growth;

• inspires creativity;

• and fosters a welcoming environment that celebrates all forms of diversity

South Carolina Ballet recognizes that this commitment does not embody a destination but represents an essential and ongoing journey.

COMPANY ARTISTS

EMILY BARTEE

of Westborough, MA. 1st SCB season. Speaks French and English.

BENJAMIN BOVEROUX JR.

of Connecticut. 3rd SCB season.

HAISSAN BOOTH

of Boston MA. 3rd SCB season. Loves food. Sponsored By CHARLES BRUCE JOHNSON

ELIZABETH BROOKS

of Charlotte, NC. 3rd SCB season. Loves photography and hiking.

COMPANY ARTISTS

ALEXANDRA CHUMNEY

of Columbia, SC. 5th SCB season. Enjoys baking.

BENJAMIN DRINKWATER

of Nashua, NH. 1st SCB season.

CARRINGTON CLARK

of Charlotte, NC. 5th SCB season. Studying animal science.

BRANDON FORREST

of Burbank, CA. 2nd SCB season. Enjoys working out.

IMANI GARRETT

of Columbia, SC. 3rd SCB season. Has a new car.

BELLA LEONE

of West Columbia, SC. 1st SCB season. Loves pickleball.

RICK JONES

of Atlanta, GA.2nd SCB season. Jurnee, my daughter, is my world! Sponsored By JOY BRYANT

KATHERINE MARIANACCI

of Pennsylvania. 2nd SCB season. Master’s degree, Counseling Psychology

COMPANY ARTISTS

BOBBY MCCLURE

of Knoxville, TN. 3rd SCB season. Loves his wonderful wife, Abigail.

SYDNEY MURRELL

of Savannah, Ga. 6th SCB season. Has 3 cats!

MIRANDA MONTES DE OCA of Miami, FL. 1st SCB season. A painter/artist. Sponsored By JARED SMITH

PATRICK ODLUM

of Nashua, NH. 1st SCB season. Rebuilt engines at Audi. Sponsored By BOBBY PADGETT

CHIRSTAL ODUM

of Tampa, FL. 2nd SCB season. Has traveled to over 40 countries. Sponsored By SALLY MCKAY

TAYLOR PETROWSKI

of Vail, CO. 1st SCB season. Has a cat, Rosie Sponsored By DR. WILLIAM HRUSHESKY

C'JAE RANSOM

of Fort Walton Beach, Fl. 1st SCB season. Learned the alphabet backward at 3 years old. Sponsored By BARRY & TONI HOGAN SR.

KAMARIA ROBERSON

of Belleville, MI. Recent ASU graduate. 1st SCB season. Likes crocheting. Sponsored By ALLIED AIR

COMPANY ARTISTS

JOSIAH SAVAGE

of Atlanta, GA.2nd SCB season. Selected to compete in the most recent USAIBC.

DYLAN VAN DYKE

of Covington, GA. 9th SCB season. Married Joshua Van Dyke, August 31, 2024. Sponsored By HANCE OLIVER

ANGELIK SOLIS

of Caguas, Puerto Rico.1st SCB season. Matcha enthusiast

VIRGINIA WELSH

of Lexington SC..3rd SCB season. Biochemistry Major at USC.

HANNAH WILLIAMS of Roswell, GA. 2nd SCB season. Engaged to Josiah Savage. Sponsored By MARY PECK

SOUTH CAROLINA BALLET STAFF

CEO & Artistic Director ................................................................................ William Starrett, CNE

Chief Financial Officer ................................................................................... Robert DeBerry, CNE

Chief Development Officer ..........................................................Jamie White, CNE, CDE, CNC

Artistic Administrator & Tour Manager ........................................................... Brandon Funk, CNE

Director of Marketing ............................................................................. Stephen Manion-Bredesen

Director of Membership & Educational Outreach ......................................................... Katie Heaton

Community Outreach Coordinator ................................................................................. John Grimball

Technical Director ......................................................................................................... Ryan Stender

Ballet Mistress .............................................................................................................. Miranda Bailey

Ballet Master ............................................................................................................ Maurice Johnson

Costume Designer & Supervisor ........................................................................... Abby McDowell

Wardrobe Assistant .................................................................................................. Abigail McClure

Stage Manager & Prop Master .............................................................................Gabrielle Esterline

SCB Sound Engineer .................................................................................................. Miranda Bailey

Company Instructors....................... Mariclare Miranda, Alexis Doktor, Erin Jaffe, Kyra Strasberg

Dressers ................................................................................................. Pauline Pichoff, Judy Waters

Behind The Scenes Photographer ..................................................................... Ashley Concannon

Head Athletic Trainer .................................................................................................. Danielle Jones

Assistant Athletic Trainer ....................................................................................... Christine Torsone

Headpieces .................................................................................................................. Shirley Horton

Social Media Manager ............................................................................................. Nicole Czekalski

Official Voice-over Artist .................................................................................................... Tom Clark

Official IT Provider ...........................................................................................That Computer Store

Official Videographer .......................................................... Joel Shull, Chosen Video Productions

Official Company Therapist................................................................................. Anthony Hampton

Official Chiropractor ................................................................. Drake Jacobs of Spine Pain Center

Official Hotel .................................................................. Hilton Garden Inn Columbia Downtown

Official Hair Stylist.........................................................................................................Robin Gotlieb

ARTISTIC STAFF

MIRANDA BAILEY Ballet Mistress

Miranda Bailey joined Columbia City Ballet in 2001 & performed with the company as a Soloist until her retirement in 2013. She is best known as Chinese Tea in Nutcracker & Victoria in Dracula. Susan Levi Wallach of the Free Times wrote of her performance in Beauty & the Beast, "Miranda Bailey, in the role of Beauty's sister Pride, was a standout. Bailey performed with self-assurance & fluidity, underpinned by precise technique, a clean classical line & rock-solid balance. When she danced, it was hard to look at anyone else." She is also the Assistant Director of Dance Prism Ballet, a professional touring company based in Boston, MA where she has staged & starred in such classic ballets as Romeo & Juliet, La Sylphide, Giselle, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Coppelia, & Don Quixote as well as creating the original ballets of The Frog Prince, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Puss In Boots, & The Little Mermaid. Additionally, Miranda teaches & choreographs for Safe Haven Ballet in Portsmouth, NH, providing trauma-informed classes for survivors of sexual violence & domestic abuse. Miranda has been Ballet Mistress since 2016 & in her 9 seasons in the position she has had the opportunity as a choreographer to contribute original works to productions such as Body & Movement Explored, Beatles Ballet, Motown Ballet, Studio 54 Ballet, Elvis Ballet, & she created the Educational Outreach production of The Grinch.

MAURICE JOHNSON Ballet Master

Maurice, a native of Greenville, SC began dancing at the age of 11 at Fine Arts Center and Greenville Ballet. He obtained an arts diploma from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Maurice has studied with full scholarships at The Rock School and Dance Theater of Harlem. He has had the opportunity to work with choreographers Lynn TaylorCorbett and Val Caniparoli creating world premieres. Maurice has danced with Nashville Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and Miriam Barbosa Dance Company. He has been a guest performer with UofSC Dance Company, Columbia SummerRepertory Dance Company, and Mohawk Valley Ballet in Utica, New York. While guesting Maurice was able to dance in such productions as Fosse’s “Crunchy Granola Suite” and Balanchine’s “Allegro Brillante” and “Western Symphony”. Some of his favorite roles at CCB as a soloist include Sand Dance Gymnopedies I/II, Puss N’ Boots, Sleeping Beauty and Dew Drop Cavalier. Maurice is in his seventeenth season with South Carolina Ballet and his second season as a Ballet Master

ALEXIS DOKTOR Company Instructor & Costume Consultant

Born and raised in New York City, Alexis Doktor grew up studying at the School of American Ballet and sewing in her spare time. At sixteen she spent the summer at the Chautauqua School of Dance, but when an injury left her unable to dance for the summer, she worked in the costume shop under A. Christina Giannini. She has also worked in the costume shop and as head wardrobe mistress for the Chautauqua Conservatory Theater Company. Alexis graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC with an associates degree in Fashion design, and while in school had the opportunity to work for top designers such as Vera Wang, Bill Blass, and Oscar de la Renta.

MARICLARE MIRANDA Company Instructor & Prima Ballerina, Repetiteur

Company Instructor and Repetiteur, Mariclare Miranda, began her ballet training at the age of 7 with Columbia City Ballet’s founding Artistic Director, Ann Brodie. In 1976, she joined Columbia City Ballet, now South Carolina Ballet, becoming a Soloist in 1980, Principal Dancer in 1982, and attained the rank of Ballerina in 1984. Ms. Miranda was named Prima Ballerina in 1997 and was awarded a South Carolina Arts Commission Fellowship. To date, she is the only Prima Ballerina in South Carolina Ballet’s 63-year history! Ms. Miranda has danced every ballerina role in South Carolina Ballet’s classical repertoire. Her contemporary full-length premieres included the title roles in Beauty & the Beast, Dracula: Ballet with a Bite, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Pocahontas. Upon her retirement in 2005, she was awarded the Key to the City of Columbia and the distinguished Order of the Palmetto by the State of South Carolina. She last appeared on stage as Lady Capulet in the 2023 production of Romeo & Juliet. With more than 30 years of teaching experience, she is a co-founder and Principal Instructor of Columbia Conservatory of Dance. Ms. Miranda continues to nurture our future dancers, coach and instruct South Carolina Ballet company members.

ERIN JAFFEE Company Instructor

A native of Columbia, SC, Erin received her early training from William Starrett, Mariclare Miranda, and Professor Susan E. Anderson. At the age of 16, she entered the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division, where she studied under Jacqueline Webber and Galina Yordanova. Upon graduation, Erin returned home to study at the University of South Carolina, training under Stanislav Issaev. Erin is an Adjunct Ballet Instructor for the University of South Carolina Department of Theatre and Dance, Board Member of USC Dance Company , and Freelance Dance Writer for the Free Times in Columbia, SC. Erin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of South Carolina and is a company instructor.

ABBY MCDOWELL Costume Designer & Wardrobe Supervisor

At age 17 Abby became an apprentice with the North Carolina Dance Theater, now Charlotte Ballet. In her years with NCDT, she performed in works such as Balanchine’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and Divertimento No 15. After attending the Pacific Northwest Ballet School summer program on a full scholarship, Abby was awarded another full scholarship to study in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division, where she performed in The Sleeping Beauty and Kent Stowell’s The Nutcracker. Abby went on to dance with Atlanta Ballet as a fellowship dancer and later joined the company of the Georgia Ballet where she performed many soloist and principal roles such as the Russian Girl in Balanchine’s Serenade and the Man I Love Pas de Deux in Who Cares. Before retiring from the stage, Abby spent 7 seasons as a soloist with South Carolina Ballet. Abby was often featured as Mina in Dracula: Ballet with a Bite and Louisa in Nutcracker. It was also during this time that she discovered her natural affinity for costume design which ultimately led to her becoming South Carolina Ballet's Costume Designer, a position she has held for 3 seasons. Abby has a passion for teaching ballet and currently teaches at the Columbia City Jazz Conservatory.

ARTISTIC STAFF

BRANDON FUNK, CNE Artistic Administrator & Tour Manager

Before joining South Carolina Ballet's administrative team, Brandon Funk was a Soloist with the company. During his seven seasons with the company, he performed leading roles such as Julius Caesar in Cleopatra, Doctor Van Helsing in Dracula: Ballet with a Bite!, and the Dew Drop Cavalier in William Starrett’s Nutcracker. Brandon retired from dancing in 2020 and is in his second year as Artistic Administrator & Touring Director. He recently received NANOE credentials as a Certified Non-Profit Executive. He is thrilled to be back with the people he loves, helping them do what they love!

ABIGAIL MCCLURE Wardrobe Assistant

Abigail McClure, a Rock Hill, SC native, is a proud graduate of Winthrop University, holding a Bachelor of Science degree. Joining as a volunteer for the 2022-2023 season, she passionately embraces her love for crafting and eagerly anticipates the exciting seasons that lie ahead.

RYAN STENDER Technical Director

Delighted to return for his 21st season with the South Carolina Ballet, Ryan has spent the past several years working on full-length motion pictures, including Disney's live-action Lady and the Tramp, Gemini Man, Devotion, One Last Job, and Tyler Perry's A Jazzman's Blues. He also worked on streaming service originals such as The Underground Railroad, The Act, The Girl From Plainville, and Apple TV's Manhunt. Ryan is proud to be a member of IATSE Local #320 out of Savannah, GA.

GABRIELLE ESTERLINE Props Master

Gabrielle Esterline returns for her third season as Prop Master. Born and raised in Columbia, Gabrielle graduated from Coastal Carolina University, where she majored in Marine Science. Professionally, she began working in Savannah, Georgia as a seamstress and stylist for names such as Katie Perry, Luke Brian, and Joe Jonas. Gabrielle also owns a small business specializing in boat canvas upholstery and sailmaking.

DANIELLE JONES Head Athletic Trainer

Originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Dani started dancing at the age of 2 and continued while attending the University of Northern Iowa where she performed with the Orchesis Dance Company. During this time, Dani received her Bachelors in Athletic Training. She attended The University of Alabama at Birmingham, receiving her Masters in Health Education. Dani currently works for Prisma Health Orthopedics and has been an outreach Athletic Trainer at many local high schools since 2012. She is now in her 6th season with the South Carolina Ballet. She resides in Lexington, SC, with her husband and son.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

ROBERT DEBERRY, CNE Chief Financial Officer

Robert, a native of Sacramento, CA, is currently in his 14th performance season with the ballet. Robert is the most senior member of the administrative staff and a NANOE Certified Nonprofit Executive. He has a wide range of accounting experience, including roles of senior accountant, and a trained internal auditor for ISO 9001-2015 quality standards. He resides in downtown Columbia and enjoys music, gardening, and spending time with his family. Robert was elevated to the position of CFO in 2023.

JAMIE WHITE, CNE, CDE, CNC Chief Development Officer

Jamie is entering his 12th performance season as Chief Development Director. In this key administrative position, Jamie writes and administers all the organizations’ grants, in addition to seeking other corporate, public, and private contributions. Jamie also acts as our communications point person, doing much of the writing for our dancebills, press releases, and other communications. He is credentialed by NANOE as a Certified Nonprofit Executive, Certified Development Executive, and Certified Nonprofit Consultant. Jamie was elevated to CDO in 2023.

KATIE HEATON Director of Membership & Educational Outreach

Katie began her involvement in ballet at a young age. Originally from Seneca, SC, she trained in varied dance genres at Foothills Dance Conservatory. She continued her education at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, graduating with an Arts degree in Dance and an extensive repertoire. After 3 years as a professional dance artist, with South Carolina Ballet she returned to join the administrative staff and is beginning her fourth year as Director of Membership & Educational Outreach. Katie is equally passionate about introducing youth to the art of ballet and providing excellent service to our season members.

STEPHEN MANION-BREDESEN Director of Marketing

Now in his fourth season with South Carolina Ballet, Stephen supported the rebranding from Columbia City Ballet, creating the company’s new visual and brand identity. He has worked as an Art Director in London, Cape Town, and Copenhagen, bringing a range of creative experience to his role. His notable Art Direction projects include the Elton John #PrideNotPrejudice campaign (2020) and contributions to the visual identity of the 'Scotland-Woolf Rule' for Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC and Dame Fiona Woolf, DBE.

JOHN GRIMBALL Community Outreach Coordinator

Joining us for his 1st season, John, a native of Columbia, SC, is a graduate of Wofford College with degrees in Art History and Finance. John studied acting at Circle in the Square Theater School in NYC and produced several theatrical productions in NYC as founder and Co-Artistic Director of The Unbound Theatre, as well as performing stage combat in Metropolitan Opera’s productions of Carmen and Otello. John studied law at Charleston School of Law and Southwestern Law School and is licensed to practice law in both South Carolina and California. Before joining the South Carolina Ballet, John served as Attorney for A&E Television Networks and A+E Studios and Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for Sonar Entertainment.