William Starrett has been dancing since he was a small child. His talent was recognized early, earning him the spotlight with prestigious dance companies such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Eglevsky Ballet, and The Joffrey Ballet.
In 1977, Starrett was invited by the founding director of the Columbia City Ballet, Ann Brodie, to perform as a guest dancer in their production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Since that performance, Starrett has made Columbia, SC, his home, ultimately becoming the CEO, Artistic Director, and Principal Choreographer for what is now known as the South Carolina Ballet.
In 2024, one of Starrett’s former ballet students, Sally McKay, joined him at StoryCorps to discuss his love of dance, his travels, what drew him to Columbia, and the notable artists he’s met along the way…