The success of Columbia Conservatory of Dance and South Carolina Ballet are inextricably entwined. Before her retirement, Mariclare Miranda was undeniably William Starrett’s muse. Iconic roles such as Lucy in the wildly popular William Starrett production of Dracula: Ballet with a Bite were created specifically for Mariclare. She was Starrett’s inspiration for Pocahontas, Beauty & the Beast, Hunchback, Snow White, Aladdin, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mariclare also danced the leading roles in The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Cinderella, and Swan Lake. Even the extremely well-known Starrett noted that prior to her retirement from the stage, “it was Mariclare who was famous. You couldn’t even go to the grocery store with her unless you were willing to encounter her fans.” The resounding ovations she receives when she makes cameo appearances in ballets such as Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Romeo & Juliet are a testament to her enduring legacy and celebrity. Mariclare continues to be a significant part of South Carolina Ballet as Repetiteur, teaching company classes and providing coaching for specific roles each performance season in addition to being a Principal Instructor and Managing Partner at Columbia Conservatory of Dance.

As we celebrate this milestone anniversary and our annual commencement exercises, it is important to note that at Columbia Conservatory of Dance, commencement is not a performance, but rather a report card on our students’ progress. We encourage our students to participate in performances in child-appropriate roles, but we think it unfair to task a student with a professionally demanding role that can ultimately distract from their training and create unnecessary pressure for burgeoning talent.

Celebrating our 35th consecutive year in business, we thank you for allowing us to revisit a little of the history of the Columbia Conservatory of Dance. Thank you for choosing the Columbia Conservatory of Dance for your child’s exceptional dance training. We feel blessed and honored as we celebrate this year’s dance progress and certainly look forward to beginning our 36th year of training and teaching the artists and leaders of our community’s future.