Faculty Member
Columbia native Claire Rapp began her dance training at Columbia Conservatory of Dance under the instruction of William Starrett and Mariclare Miranda. She danced with South Carolina Ballet II for several seasons 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 (Cinderella), Aurora (The Sleeping Beauty), Lucy and the Red Maiden (Dracula), Myrtha (Giselle), Snow Queen, Arabian Princess, Dew Drop Fairy, and Sugar Plum Fairy (William Starrett’s Nutcracker), Beauty (Beauty and the Beast), and Juliet (Romeo & Juliet). She made her debut in the title role of Giselle last season and performed with the South Carolina Ballet Orchestra. The role of Daisy was created for Claire in William Starrett’s world premiere of The Great Gatsby (2020).
Claire was promoted to Soloist in 2014 and to Principal Dancer in 2017. In addition to her performing career, she enjoys sharing her love of dance with students at Columbia Conservatory of Dance and spending time with her husband, Mark Rapp, and their daughters, Amelia and Elena.