Originally from Richmond, Virginia, David Claypoole started dancing at the age of 9, training at The School of Richmond Ballet and attending summer programs with Joffrey Ballet New York, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, and Richmond Ballet. David earned his college degree in Dance and Performance through Virginia Commonwealth University dual program with The Richmond Ballet trainee program. He spent two years with Richmond Ballet’s second company performing ballets such as Malcolm Burn’s Romeo and Juliet and Swipe by Val Caniparoli. In 2016 David joined Fort Wayne Ballet, where he danced numerous lead roles, such as Dracula in Fort Wayne Ballet’s original Dracula, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain, Edward Stierle’s Empyrean Dances, and Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free. He has had the privilege of working with guest repetiteurs Cameron Basden, Robert La Fosse, Mark Godden, Rebecca Metzger, Kim Sagami, and Adam Sklute. David looks forward to his first season with Toledo Ballet.