Columbia native Claire Rapp grew up studying dance at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance under the instruction of William Starrett and Mariclare Miranda. She was a member of Columbia City Ballet II for several years before joining Columbia City 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. During Claire’s time with Columbia City Ballet, she has performed numerous 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 (The Nutcracker), Beauty (Beauty and the Beast), and many more.
The role of “Daisy” was created on Claire in Starrett’s world premiere of The Great Gatsby in 2020. Claire was promoted to soloist in 2014 and to principal dancer in 2017. When not dancing, Claire enjoys sharing her love of dance with her students at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance and spending time with her husband, Mark Rapp, and daughter, Amelia.
Soloist Joshua Van Dyke
Joshua Van Dyke began his ballet training at Diane Partington’s School of Classical Ballet when he was 12 years old. What began as a way to improve his skills for musical theater, however, quickly blossomed into his passion. At 14, he joined the Sarasota Ballet’s Margaret Barbieri Conservatory, studying alongside members of its trainee program. After two years of dedicated training, he attended the Harid Conservatory for one year. At 17, he was invited to join the Joffrey Ballet Academy in Chicago as a trainee for two years. Josh has performed the role of Lead Arabian for both the Diane Partington School of Classical Ballet as well as The Harid Conservatory. This is his second year with the Columbia City Ballet, and he reprised his roles of Snow King and Lead Arabian, debuted the role of Sugarplum Cavalier this past Nutcracker season, and was most recently cast as Siegfried for the recent full length production of Swan Lake. Joshua has been promoted to Soloist for the 2022- 2023 season.
Performers: Principal Claire Rapp, Soloist Joshua Van Dyke – Columbia City Ballet
Principal Claire Rapp
Columbia native Claire Rapp grew up studying dance at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance under the instruction of William Starrett and Mariclare Miranda. She was a member of Columbia City Ballet II for several years before joining Columbia City 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. During Claire’s time with Columbia City Ballet, she has performed numerous 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 (The Nutcracker), Beauty (Beauty and the Beast), and many more.
The role of “Daisy” was created on Claire in Starrett’s world premiere of The Great Gatsby in 2020. Claire was promoted to soloist in 2014 and to principal dancer in 2017. When not dancing, Claire enjoys sharing her love of dance with her students at the Columbia Conservatory of Dance and spending time with her husband, Mark Rapp, and daughter, Amelia.
Soloist Joshua Van Dyke
Joshua Van Dyke began his ballet training at Diane Partington’s School of Classical Ballet when he was 12 years old. What began as a way to improve his skills for musical theater, however, quickly blossomed into his passion. At 14, he joined the Sarasota Ballet’s Margaret Barbieri Conservatory, studying alongside members of its trainee program. After two years of dedicated training, he attended the Harid Conservatory for one year. At 17, he was invited to join the Joffrey Ballet Academy in Chicago as a trainee for two years. Josh has performed the role of Lead Arabian for both the Diane Partington School of Classical Ballet as well as The Harid Conservatory. This is his second year with the Columbia City Ballet, and he reprised his roles of Snow King and Lead Arabian, debuted the role of Sugarplum Cavalier this past Nutcracker season, and was most recently cast as Siegfried for the recent full length production of Swan Lake. Joshua has been promoted to Soloist for the 2022- 2023 season.