COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Ballet has announced its 66th consecutive performance season, continuing a legacy that has made the company one of the Southeast’s most vibrant performing arts organizations.
South Carolina Ballet continues to bring extraordinary dance experiences to audiences across South Carolina and beyond. Each season, thousands attend performances featuring the company’s professional dance artists, while more than 20,000 students across the state experience the art of dance through South Carolina Ballet’s Educational Outreach & Engagement Series.
“South Carolina Ballet continues to bring people together through the beauty of dance,” said William Starrett, CEO and Artistic Director of South Carolina Ballet. “Dance has the power to inspire us, to connect us, and to remind us of what is possible. We invite everyone to join us for our 66th performance season and to share in the power of the human spirit created through dance.”
The 66th season features a lineup that blends classical tradition with theatrical storytelling. The season will include carefully selected ballet productions featuring live music, in addition to original works that reflect the company’s artistic breadth.
Mixed Repertoire
South Carolina Ballet’s Disco Inferno is a dazzling multimedia celebration of the music, glamour, and irresistible rhythm of the disco era. Inspired by the…
ColumbiaSeptember 12 – 12, 2026
CharlestonSeptember 18, 2026
Classical
Since its thrilling premiere in 1991, Dracula: Ballet with a Bite has captivated audiences across the Southeast and remains one of South Carolina Ballet’s…
SavannahOctober 10, 2026
ColumbiaOctober 23 – 24, 2026
CharlestonOctober 29 – 30, 2026
Classical
William Starrett’s Nutcracker, South Carolina’s most loved holiday tradition. this sumptuous production brings Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, exquisite dancing, and the wonder of the season…
SumterNovember 21, 2026
SavannahNovember 28, 2026
CharlestonNov 30 – Dec 2, 2026
Classical
One of ballet’s most celebrated masterpieces, Sleeping Beauty embodies the elegance, beauty, and technical brilliance of the classical art form. One of South Carolina Ballet’s most…
CharlestonFebruary 12, 2027
ColumbiaFebruary 20 – 20, 2027
Mixed Repertoire
South Carolina Ballet, formerly Columbia City Ballet, is bringing back its distinctive production Off the Wall and Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of…
ColumbiaMarch 12, 2027
The season opens with Disco Inferno, a dazzling multimedia celebration of the music, style, and rhythm of the disco era. Featuring choreography by multiple artists, the production transforms the stage into a high-energy tribute to unforgettable music and movement, bringing the glamour of Studio 54 to life through dance. Live music will be provided by Rod Foster & Company with musical direction by Mark Rapp.
Next, the company presents Dracula: Ballet with a Bite, presented by Kirkland & King Financial. Since its premiere in 1991, this audience favorite has thrilled audiences across the Southeast with its suspenseful, dramatic, and seductive style. With its original score, striking theatricality, and new set design, the production remains Columbia’s signature Halloween experience. The production is paired with the annual Gala with a Bite, also sponsored by Kirkland & King and benefiting South Carolina Ballet’s Educational Outreach & Engagement Series. Dracula: Ballet with a Bite is recommended for mature audiences.
The holiday season brings William Starrett’s Nutcracker, South Carolina’s most loved holiday tradition. This sumptuous production returns with six performances and features Tchaikovsky’s beloved score performed live by the South Carolina Ballet Orchestra on Saturday evenings. A hallmark of the season, Nutcracker continues to delight audiences of all ages with its grand scale, theatrical magic, and distinctive Southern charm. It remains the largest performing arts event produced by a South Carolina arts organization.
In 2027, South Carolina Ballet returns to the grand classical tradition with The Sleeping Beauty. One of ballet’s most celebrated masterpieces, this production highlights the elegance, beauty, and technical brilliance of classical dance. First staged by the company in 1966 and reimagined by William Starrett in 1996, The Sleeping Beauty remains a cornerstone of South Carolina Ballet’s classical repertoire. The Saturday evening performance will feature live music by the South Carolina Ballet Orchestra, conducted by Scott Weiss, performing Tchaikovsky’s celebrated score.
The season concludes with Off the Wall & Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green, Presented by Lexington Medical Center. One of William Starrett’s most acclaimed original ballets. Inspired by the work of internationally acclaimed artist Jonathan Green, this production brings Green’s iconic paintings of Gullah life and culture into motion through dance. Rooted in the rhythms, traditions, and spirit of the Lowcountry, the ballet combines music influenced by gospel, jazz, folk songs, and hymns to create a vivid and deeply expressive celebration of South Carolina’s cultural heritage.
South Carolina Ballet’s 66th Performance Season includes:
- Disco Inferno
- Dracula: Ballet with a Bite
- William Starrett’s Nutcracker
- The Sleeping Beauty
- Off the Wall & Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green
