South Carolina Ballet
South Carolina's professional ballet company since 1961
A ballet-focused dance school offering classical ballet training along with related dance disciplines.
Photo: South Carolina Ballet via Google
Before your first class
Preshow receptions $40, Gala With A Bite $150, Nutcracker Tea $40, Sleeping Beauty Tea Party $40, Early Bird Season Package $220 (individual value $270)
About this studio
South Carolina Ballet is the state's leading professional ballet company, founded in 1961 as Columbia City Ballet by a group of citizens led by Ann Brodie. The company presented its first performance that same year, followed by its first full-length Nutcracker production in 1966. Over the following decades, the company expanded its classical repertoire to include The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake, and Coppelia under Brodie's artistic direction.
In 1986, William Starrett became Artistic Director and relocated the company to its current headquarters in the Columbia Conservatory of Dance building at the corner of Main and Taylor Streets. Starrett transformed the small civic ballet troupe into a fully professional company with world-class ambitions. The company now maintains an aggressive touring schedule across South Carolina, regularly performing in Sumter, Charleston, Florence, Lancaster, and Hartsville, as well as appearances in Savannah, Georgia, Hamlet, North Carolina, and Avon Park, Florida. The company has toured to 11 different states and has earned national recognition.
In recognition of this expanded reach and to avoid confusion with 29 other cities named Columbia, the company rebranded to South Carolina Ballet while preserving its rich history and core values. The rebranding reflects the company's growth into a critically acclaimed organization and one of South Carolina's cultural ambassadors.
The company's professional dancers rehearse daily in the Ann Brodie Studio on Main Street. Mariclare Miranda, the company's only Prima Ballerina in its history, continues to teach company class and coach dancers for specific roles. The 2026–2027 season features mixed repertoire productions including Disco Inferno, Dracula: Ballet with a Bite, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Off the Wall & Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green. The company also invites young dancers to audition for children's roles in professional productions.
Educational programs and community initiatives reach audiences across South Carolina and the Southeast. Season memberships offer priority seating and discounts, with special events including preshow receptions and themed teas throughout the season.
What to expect
Your first visit
South Carolina Ballet performs at the Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia. You can attend full-length classical ballets, contemporary mixed repertoire productions, and special themed events including preshow receptions and tea parties. The company draws from over 60 years of ballet tradition and maintains professional standards across all performances.
Instructors
Who teaches here
William Starrett is CEO and Artistic Director. Mariclare Miranda, the company's Prima Ballerina and only prima ballerina in its history, serves as Company Instructor and Repetiteur. Miranda teaches company class and coaches dancers for specific roles in the company's repertoire. Miranda Bailey is Ballet Mistress.
Studio history
South Carolina Ballet was founded in 1961 as Columbia City Ballet by Ann Brodie and a group of local citizens. Brodie directed the company and created its first full-length Nutcracker in 1966. In 1977, William Starrett made his guest appearance in A Mid-Summer Night's Dream, and in 1980, Mariclare Miranda danced her first Sugar Plum Fairy. Starrett became Artistic Director in 1986 and relocated the company to the Columbia Conservatory of Dance building. Over the following decades, he transformed it into a fully professional ballet company touring across 11 states. The company rebranded as South Carolina Ballet in recent years to reflect its statewide and regional reach while preserving its founding legacy.
Styles offered
1 dance style taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Pricing
Approximate lesson costs
Class schedule
Not yet published on LODance
South Carolina Ballet hasn’t set up a public class schedule yet.
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Frequently asked about South Carolina Ballet
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does South Carolina Ballet teach?
South Carolina Ballet teaches Ballet.
Where is South Carolina Ballet located?
South Carolina Ballet is located in Columbia, SC. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does South Carolina Ballet offer private lessons?
Contact South Carolina Ballet directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does South Carolina Ballet teach kids and adults?
Contact South Carolina Ballet directly to ask which classes suit your age and experience level.
How do I sign up for classes at South Carolina Ballet?
Sign up through South Carolina Ballet's website, or contact the studio directly.
Are you the owner of this studio?
Upcoming opportunities
No upcoming opportunities for this studio in the next 90 days.
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