Columbia native Claire Rapp began her dance training at 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.
With South Carolina Ballet, Claire has performed a wide range of soloist and principal roles, including Cinderella in Cinderella, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lucy and the Red Maiden in Dracula, the Snow Queen, Arabian Princess, Dew Drop Fairy, and Sugar Plum Fairy in Nutcracker, Beauty in Beauty and the Beast, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet and both Giselle and Myrtha in Giselle, She also originated the role of Daisy in William Starrett’s 2020 world premiere of The Great Gatsby.
Claire was promoted to Soloist in 2014, Principal Dancer in 2017, and Ballerina ahead of South Carolina Ballet’s 2026–2027 season.
When not performing, Claire enjoys sharing her love of dance with her students at Columbia Conservatory of Dance and spending time with her husband, Mark Rapp, and their daughters, Amelia and Elena.
