Originally from Washington, D.C., Claudia Strawderman began ballet classes with CityDance at the Music Center at Strathmore. At thirteen, she moved to Istanbul, Turkey, and continued dancing in the Royal Academy and Vaganova methods. After earning her BA Honors in History from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, Claudia relocated to Charlottesville and worked in Guest Relations at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. She joined the Charlottesville Ballet’s administrative team in 2022 and was promoted to Development Manager in 2024. Claudia is passionate about advancing the Ballet’s mission and is proud to support its programs through her growing role on the development team, combining her love for dance and the arts with meaningful community impact.