For a relatively small state in the South, South Carolina offers a surprisingly sophisticated dance scene. Dance plays a large part in South Carolina's arts, with opportunities to see or take part in different forms of dance across the state. The beach atmosphere, former plantations, and today's respected colleges and universities have all played a part in developing the state's unique and vibrant cultural atmosphere.
The art of dance in South Carolina is basically divided into two categories: professional and pre-professional dance companies and schools; and dance clubs and community classes. The former represents a well-rounded group of respected companies in the disciplines of ballet, jazz, and other styles. Depending on which city you visit in South Carolina, you'll find myriad opportunities to enjoy a variety of dance performances.
The Performance Scene
Charleston offers professional dance performances through the Charleston Ballet Theatre, a professional dance company with a full season of performances. Productions include famous ballets such as The Nutcracker, Dracula, and Peter Pan, as well as the King Street Series of performances. Charleston Ballet Theatre also runs the Charleston Ballet Theatre School, which teaches dance techniques and gives children performance opportunities.
Charleston is also home to the Palmetto Oasis Middle Eastern Dance Troupe. This group of dancers performs a variety of dance styles including cabaret, belly dance, Tribal style with live drummers, and other ethnic dances. Utilizing authentic dance costumes and props such as finger cymbals, veils, and candles, this troupe holds performances in varying venues and at local fairs and arts festivals. They also offer instructional classes.
Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, offers the widest variety of dance in terms of both style and levels of professionalism. Its dance scene ranges from local schools to professional troupes. In addition to dance programs and performances at local colleges, a variety of dance companies call the city home.
The Columbia City Ballet is a professional dance company with nearly 2,000 members and 32 paid dancers. The company's repertoire includes full length classical ballets such as Giselle and Swan Lake; narrated ballets for children including Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella; and a series of one act ballets. Performing over 80 times per year, the company is housed in the Koger Center.
Another professional company, the Columbia Classical Ballet, includes renowned dancers from around the world. Their series of performances runs from October through March. Among other things, they feature children's performances.
Also in Columbia, the Carolina Ballet fills the gap between local dance schools and dancers at the professional level. They give the best local dancers the opportunity to perform and develop their skills through full productions. Their productions often feature professional dancers and accompaniments by the Chamber Orchestra. The Carolina Ballet is a stepping-stone for dancers who may become professionals.
The Columbia City Jazz Dance Company is another highly respected pre-professional company. This company prepares dancers for a career in dance through training and performances, including international tours. They perform at various places, such as the Koger Center and the Columbia Festival of the Arts.
The Borenya West African Dance Company celebrates West African culture and traditions through dance and music. Dancers from Guinea, West Africa, are brought in to perform at area schools, community events, and festivals, plus local school residency programs. The company brings these performances to the community to honor the West African heritage of local residents.
Moving upstate, the Carolina Ballet Theatre, located in Greenville, is that region's only professional dance company. The company blends classical and contemporary dance in regular season performances that run from October through March. It offers an international flavor and grooms young dancers through apprenticeships. In addition to the regular season, special fundraising performances are held throughout the year, often with quirky themes, such as the BBQ Blues Ballet and An Emerald Evening.
However, non-professional organizations offer dance recitals upstate, too. Rock Hill is home to the York County Ballet Company, which is a venue for local dancers. It presents two full length ballets each year in addition to performing at area festivals, including Piccolo Spoleto. The Foothills Conservatory for the Performing Arts is another training ballet company, located in Seneca. Besides offering classes and workshops, their performances include the annual Nutcracker. Similarly, the ballet school Ballet Spartanburg, located in Spartanburg, offers the requisite Nutcracker as well as to two other full length shows each year.
Get Into the Groove
For those who aren't satisfied with simply watching beautiful dance performances, South Carolina offers a variety of groups and clubs to get involved. South Carolina, and the beach areas in particular, is considered the home of the shag, the official state dance. The shag is a type of swing dance popularized in the 1940's. Since mainstream radio stations didn't play R&B music during that time, young people gathered at the beaches to hear it played by live bands and on jukeboxes. Today the shag is still very popular, with statewide shag clubs located in Aiken, Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, and Sumter. Shagging is an important part of South Carolina's history and the current social scene. Shag clubs offer parties, special events, and competitions.
Clogging is another common form of dance in South Carolina, and clogging groups can be found in Charleston and Columbia. Other popular dance styles include salsa, square dancing, and ballroom dance.
Of all the places to see dance in South Carolina, perhaps the most prestigious is the annual Spoleto Festival. This festival, held in May and June each year, is the American counterpart to the Italian Spoleto Festival. The 17-day program offers artistic performances of the highest caliber, and it's internationally recognized for its performances by young artists from around the world. The festival includes theater, opera, music, circus, and dance. In addition to the many performances crammed into Charleston during this two and a half week event, workshops and educational programs are also held.
The partner program to the Spoleto Festival is Piccolo Spoleto. Piccolo Spoleto focuses on making the arts available to everyone, especially children, and concentrates on regional artists. It showcases dance as well as other performing arts, and includes a series especially for children and families.
Visitors to South Carolina will find a vibrant performing arts scene. The variety of high-caliber professional dance companies, pre-professional schools, ethnic troupes, and local dance clubs make South Carolina's dance landscape one of the most varied and sophisticated in the South.
