Business Details
46 Years
experience
Premier Dance Education for All Ages in Columbia, SC
Columbia Ballet School has been dedicated to nurturing dancers' technical skills, artistry, and personal growth for over four decades. Founded in 1980 by Anita Ashley, our institution follows the rigorous Vaganova teaching method while fostering discipline, self-confidence, and mutual respect. Through a recent collaboration with Columbia Classical Ballet, we now integrate professional artistic direction into our training programs under Joseph Phillips, Artistic Director. Our faculty comprises award-winning instructors with extensive performance and teaching experience, including alumni from prestigious institutions like North Carolina School for the Arts and SUNY Purchase.We serve students from age three through adulthood, offering structured progression from introductory classes to advanced training that prepares dancers for both professional careers and lifelong appreciation of the art form. Our commitment extends beyond technical excellence to developing well-rounded individuals who contribute positively to their communities.
Services
Ballet Classes
Tap Classes
Contemporary Dance
Jazz Classes
Adult Dance
Pre-Ballet
Pre-Tap
Primary Level
Emerging Artists
Advanced Dancers
Details
- Year established: 1980
Highlights and features
- We have over 40 years of experience training dancers from age 3 through adulthood
- Our faculty includes internationally recognized instructors with professional performance backgrounds
- We follow the rigorous Vaganova teaching methodology for classical ballet training
- Our collaboration with Columbia Classical Ballet provides professional artistic direction
- We offer age-specific programs with structured progression from beginner to advanced levels
Services
Ballet Classes
Our ballet program follows the Vaganova method, providing systematic training from pre-ballet through advanced levels. Students develop proper technique, posture, and artistic expression through graded curriculum. Classes emphasize barre work, center practice, and performance preparation for both recreational and professional aspirations.
Tap Classes
Tap instruction focuses on developing clear sounds, rhythmic patterns, and musicality. Students learn various styles from Broadway tap to improvisational techniques. Classes incorporate both technical exercises and choreographic combinations to build performance skills.
Contemporary Dance
Contemporary classes blend ballet technique with expressive movement vocabulary. Students explore floor work, improvisation, and dynamic phrasing while developing strength and flexibility. The curriculum includes works by renowned choreographers and original compositions.
Jazz Classes
Jazz training combines technical precision with performance energy. Classes include warm-ups, isolations, across-the-floor progressions, and choreography. Students learn various jazz styles from classic Broadway to contemporary commercial dance.
Adult Dance
Our adult program offers drop-in classes for all experience levels, including beginner and advanced ballet, plus contemporary dance. These non-competitive classes focus on technical improvement, physical fitness, and artistic enjoyment in a supportive environment.
People
Anita Ashley
Founder & Director
Founder of South Carolina Ballet Theatre with 50+ years teaching experience, Anita established Columbia Ballet School in 1980. Her students have performed with major companies and on Broadway, while her choreography has received national recognition including Dance Teacher magazine features.
Joseph Phillips
Artistic Director
Internationally acclaimed dancer Joseph Phillips serves as Artistic Director. With principal dancer experience at American Ballet Theatre and Mariinsky Theatre, he brings global perspective to our training program while maintaining local community engagement through performances and workshops.
Katy Dallas
Lead Dance Teacher
SC Dance Educator of the Year Katy Dallas leads our educational programming. With degrees from Columbia College and 21 years teaching experience, she combines academic expertise with practical instruction as both Richland School District One's dance educator and our school's stage manager.
Cortlin Collins
Ballet Instructor
Ballet instructor Cortlin Collins brings professional performance experience with Columbia Classical Ballet and extensive theatre background. A health insurance professional by day, she teaches mid-level ballet while serving as our Executive Director overseeing daily operations.
Lillian Papet
Dance Teacher
Recent addition Lillian Papet graduated from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance. Her training at Debbie Allen Dance Academy and experience performing works by Ohad Naharin enriches our contemporary programming while teaching both studio classes and Clear Dot Charter School's dance curriculum.
Questions
What age groups do you accept?
We accept students starting at age 3 through adulthood, with specific programs for First Turns (3-6), Emerging Artists (7-10), Advanced Dancers (11-20), and adult classes.
What dance styles do you teach?
Our curriculum includes ballet, tap, contemporary, and jazz. We follow the Vaganova method for classical ballet training while incorporating modern techniques and choreography.
Do you offer competitive dance opportunities?
Yes, we have a competition team directed by Joy Tworzyanski Alexander, with preparation in tap and musical theatre, participating in regional and national dance competitions.
Are there performance opportunities?
Students participate in annual productions and studio company performances. Our collaboration with Columbia Classical Ballet provides additional performance platforms for advanced dancers.
Do you offer adult dance classes?
Yes, we offer drop-in adult classes including beginner ballet on Tuesdays, contemporary on Thursdays, and advanced ballet on Thursdays evenings for community members of all experience levels.
How do you assess student progression?
We use technical evaluations and teacher recommendations. Pointe readiness assessments ensure proper physical preparation, with advancement based on skill mastery rather than age alone.
Reviews (2)
Anne Plowden
Jun 28, 2016
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This is the best dance training you'll see! Whether your child wants to be a professional ballerina, a Broadway star, or a doctor, Columbia Ballet School can help your child achieve anything! CBS trains people to be dedicated and to work hard. This family-like studio is full of amazing teachers and people, and it's my favorite place to be. Ms Anita Ashley is truly the best there is, and everyone should have the privilege to learn from her!
Jennifer Kruidenier
Jul 14, 2013
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My girls have been taking ballet classes for 6 years and jazz classes for 4 years at Columbia Ballet School. The artistic director, Anita Ashley, is a fabulous person. Their teachers are kind and loving but expect hard work and dedication from their students. They focus on proper technique and training to prevent injury while producing beautiful dancers. The studio is clean and offers the parents nice big windows for viewing the classes. The atmosphere is very pleasant. The parents and students are great and I'm so thankful we found this studio when we did. My girls are now 10 and 12 and we could
