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.
TRANSCRIPT:
Starrett: What I was really drawn to is that ballet was really popular here, and that it was more popular to be in the ballet company rather than be a cheerleader.
McKay: Yes.
Starrett: And so, I thought that Ann Brodie had done an amazing job of really making people love the art, and I could just really see the potential. And so, I first performed at Irmo High School.
McKay: Is that where the company did “Midsummer Night's Dream”?
Starrett: Yes, and they made the janitor's closet into a dressing room because I was the only male. And so, it smelled a little bit of ammonia and mops, you know, but it was fine. And, ETV filmed. They filmed the “Midsummer Night's Dream.” And thus began my relationship with Columbia and South Carolina. And so, they would bring me back every Christmas or spring to be a guest artist for the next 10 to 12 years.
McKay: Now, you know you performed at Carnegie Hall. Tell us about that.
Starrett: I was doing a greeting card series with the very famous photographer Ken Duncan.
McKay: Oh, Ken Duncan, yes!
Starrett: And so, he had me doing a sort of sexy version of Charlie Chaplin. I also read and was up for the Charlie Chaplin movie, but I didn't get it. I lost it to that crazy actor…what's his name? Junior…
McKay: Yep, yep, Robert Downey.
Starrett: Yeah, Robert Downey Jr. Yeah, Robert Downey Jr. won it, so. Darn him, you know.
McKay: Dang.
Starrett: Anyway, so I was doing Charlie Chaplin as his greeting card. And I was doing all these crazy photographs with Ken Duncan. And Patti LaBelle comes in, and she was picking up her photographs.
McKay: Oh, just Patti.
Starrett: And she was watching and everything. And she said to me, “You know, I could really use someone to go on the stage with me, and, what are you doing next Friday?” I said, “Well, I leave for London on Sunday.” She said, “Oh, but Friday,” she said, “It's just a little theater really close to here on 55th Street. And, just meet me at the stage door, and, you'll just help me and be on the stage with me.” And I'm like--
McKay: Wait, you were a doo wop girl??
Starrett: Well, I was like, “I don't know…” And she said, “Just bring your Charlie Chaplin stuff.” And I said, “Okay.” And so, when I got there, I looked at the stage door, and she failed to mention it was Carnegie Hall.
McKay: WOW.
Starrett: And then I am performing as Charlie Chaplin. She's singing, and I'm the only one on the stage with her.
McKay: Holy cow…
Starrett: So, she's just really laid back, and she's singing, and I don't know what to do. So, I'm ad-libbing Charlie Chaplin with my mustache and my turnout.
McKay: Ohhh!
Starrett: And so, the second act, I'm, like, running out of things to do! So, I pass the janitor's closet. So, I get a bucket and a mop, and I'm sweeping, and I've got dusting, I’m, you know, I’m doing…as she's singing, she's singing to me. And I'm dancing with her. And dancing around. It's all ad lib. I had no idea.
McKay: Well, thank you, Irmo High School, for getting you familiar with the janitor's closet.
Starrett: Right. Well, there you go. Yeah. A lot of closets involved. Anyway, so, yeah. I danced at Carnegie Hall with Patti LaBelle.
McKay: Oh, my goodness. And Hollywood Bowl. You've been in a lot of amazing places. Thanks, William.
Starrett: Thank you, Sally.
McKay: Yeah.
