William Starrett
Executive and Artistic Director
Dancer, teacher, choreographer, community leader. While all true, those descriptors don’t even begin to paint a complete picture of William Starrett. From his start at San Francisco’s Ballet Celeste and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, through appearances as a principal for the Joffrey Ballet and as a member of American Ballet Theatre under the direction of both Lucia Chase and Mikhail Baryshnikov, to guest appearances with the world’s most renowned ballet companies, Mr. Starrett’s talent as a dancer earned him the bronze medal in the first US International Dance Competition, which led to his performing in the finest theatres in the world spanning 29 countries.

Today, though, Mr. Starrett’s formidable reputation revolves most often around his choreographic and directorial accomplishments. He has created or staged more than fifty works – including 10 original, full-length ballets, 10 classical full-length ballets and 12 original narrated one-act ballets for children – in locations throughout the United States and Europe. Columbia City Ballet’s Educational Outreach Program, which Mr. Starrett implemented in 1989, has introduced ballet to more than 350,000 schoolchildren in the Southeast. In 2002, Mr. Starrett was honored by South Carolina’s governor with the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award for achievement in the arts.

As is customary with 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

Brilliant performances marked Columbia City Ballet's staging of the Nutcracker in a show that was professionally conceived and loaded with fine dancing...Artistic Director William Starrett with this show distinguishes himself as the premier dance impresario in the state, and the region.
The State

Starrett summons magic in The Ballet Aladdin...A full hall at the Koger Center watched Columbia City Ballet create fabulous exotic movement in scenes taken from 'The Arabian Nights.' ... a theatrical standout.
The State

Starrett is a dancer whose performance would grace any classical company on any stage anywhere.
The Guardian – United Kingdom