‘Ballet’s Golden Boy’ headlines Columbia Ballet School’s ‘Nutcracker’

Ballet dancer Joseph Phillips has traveled around the world for his art. From New York City to Miami to St. Petersburg, he’s performed and competed internationally, earning enough medals for the title of “Ballet’s Golden Boy.”

This holiday season, Phillips has found his way back to his hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. He’ll perform as Sugar Plum Cavalier in Columbia Ballet School’s fifth annual performance of “The Nutcracker.” Phillips still has family in Columbia and said he comes back to teach at his old ballet school.

“It’s always great to come back, but this is where I started,” Phillips said. “Actually, my first ballet classes was here.”

Phillips began dancing as a child at the Columbia Ballet School where artistic director Anita Ashley recognized his talent early. He left home at age 14 to go to school an hour and a half away at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities, then continued his training at North Carolina School of the Arts.

After training, Phillips danced with San Francisco Ballet, Miami City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, State Primorsky Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Mariinsky Theatre. During his time in Russia, Phillips performed for and met Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Phillips said he liked working in Russia because the perception of dancers is different there than in the United States.

“It’s the same as … working as a plumber. I mean it’s a real job. Even when I worked in New York there’s still the stigma of, ‘Oh, you know, what’s your backup?’” Phillips said. “You actually get paid well [in Russia].”

Phillips now dances in the Philippines, so Ashley said she was thrilled when Phillips called her agreeing to perform in “The Nutcracker.”

“I was so excited, I didn’t even ask him how much he charged,” Ashley said.

Phillips will perform the iconic Sugar Plum pas de deux with Lindsey Christian, a 16-year-old junior at Hammond School in Columbia.

“I would never expected that I would get to do it,” Christian said on landing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, “especially with Joseph, that’s just crazy.”

Ashley said she hopes the younger students in her studio feel inspired following Phillip’s time at Columbia Ballet School this year.

“I would hope that they would really get a real deep appreciation of the art form,” Ashley said. “When Joseph dances it’s really quite magical.”

Ashley said Columbia Ballet School prides itself on its accessible ticket prices for students. Students can see “The Nutcracker” this season for $10.

The production is presented in partnership with A.C. Flora High School and its dance program.

Performances are Nov. 15 and 16 at 6 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. in the A.C. Flora High School auditorium. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit bit.ly/CBSNutcracker or call 803-783-5258.