2022 JUDGES

DEWITT COOPER III
DeWitt Cooper III earned his MFA from Case Western Reserve University as the first African American male to earn this degree in the school’s history. He also spent extensive time at Florida State University where he was the first African American male to be admitted to the music theater program. He went on to receive his Masters Degree in contemporary dance at Case Western Reserve University, where he was twice nominated for the Wittke Undergraduate Teaching Award. In 2006, he was awarded the Okie Award by the La Villa School of the Arts for most inspiring Choreography. In 2007, his choreography was recognized at the Nuvo Dance Competition and in 2008 his choreography was awarded Platinum Awards at the Applause Talent Competition.
Mr. Cooper set choreography for the production of Julius X for playwright, Al Letson at Players by the Sea. He set choreography for Dream girls and the FAMU Connection Tour at the Essential Theatre. DeWitt Cooper has also worked with Garth Fagan at the Summer Movement Institute where he trained intensively as a teacher and student under Garth Fagan and Natalie Cropper and set choreography for the Garth Fagan Summer Movement Institute final showcase. His professional dance experience includes Phlava Dance Company, Great Lakes Festival Ballet, and Verlezza Dance.
Mr. Cooper continues his professional career in musical theatre. He has played the role of “Simon” in the Alhambra’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Numerous professional credits include: West Side Story, Anything Goes, She Loves Me, Ain’t Mis’ Behavin’, Once on this Island, and Black Nativity. He has sung for the late Ann Reinking Doctoral Ceremony. His choreography continues to be recognized around the country.
Mr. Cooper is currently adjunct instructor at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, where he is choreographer and musical theatre styles instructor. He is currently the Director of Black Arts at Douglas Anderson where he is responsible for bringing greater visibility of the African American talent at one of the nation’s prestigious public arts institutions. Mr Cooper is also responsible for the current approved proposal of a $300k bronze statue of Mr. Douglas Anderson. Fundraising has just begun.
Mr. Cooper was a former faculty member at The Bolles School and at La Villa School and of the Arts.. Mr. Cooper was a full-time employee for the Walt Disney World Company at Animal Kingdom where he was a cast member of Finding Nemo the Musical. Mr. Cooper won the coveted Pelican Award for best choreography at Players by the Sea. Currently, he’s choreographed Sponge Bob the Musical, In the Height, and The Wiz at Players by the Sea. He produced an updated version of his summer dance Intensive after a two-year hiatus, called Exclusive, by CooperMorgan Dance Theatre now in its s 17thyear. Today Mr. Cooper is working on his first book, a one man show entitled 15 Pages, a new musical entitled BlackMetropolis, and is also applying for his doctorate degree in Performance psychology.

MEGAN WALLACE WIDRICH
NORIANNE WRIGHT
Norianne grew up in Jacksonville and began dancing at age ten.
Her training began at Mark Spivak’s Dance Institute where she studied ballet, jazz, modern, and character and performed with the school’s dance troupe the Character Dance Ensemble.
While attending Vanderbilt University, she choreographed for and performed with the Vanderbilt Dance Group. She also joined a Nashville based modern dance company, Nashville Dance Project, and worked with them for 5 seasons. Although she loved Nashville, she missed her friends and family in Florida. Upon her return home in 2000, she developed a love for ballroom and latin and began teaching, performing, and competing.
Returning to the studio where her love of dance began, Mark Spivak’s Dance Institute, for 15 years she taught many styles of dance to all ages and choreographed award winning routines in both dance and fitness.
She is thrilled to be judging the First Coast Dancing with the Stars event and to be able to support Beaches Fine Arts Series.

2022 JUDGES

COOPER III
DeWitt Cooper III earned his MFA from Case Western Reserve University as the first African American male to earn this degree in the school’s history. He also spent extensive time at Florida State University where he was the first African American male to be admitted to the music theater program. He went on to receive his Masters Degree in contemporary dance at Case Western Reserve University, where he was twice nominated for the Wittke Undergraduate Teaching Award. In 2006, he was awarded the Okie Award by the La Villa School of the Arts for most inspiring Choreography. In 2007, his choreography was recognized at the Nuvo Dance Competition and in 2008 his choreography was awarded Platinum Awards at the Applause Talent Competition.
Mr. Cooper set choreography for the production of Julius X for playwright, Al Letson at Players by the Sea. He set choreography for Dream girls and the FAMU Connection Tour at the Essential Theatre. DeWitt Cooper has also worked with Garth Fagan at the Summer Movement Institute where he trained intensively as a teacher and student under Garth Fagan and Natalie Cropper and set choreography for the Garth Fagan Summer Movement Institute final showcase. His professional dance experience includes Phlava Dance Company, Great Lakes Festival Ballet, and Verlezza Dance.
Mr. Cooper continues his professional career in musical theatre. He has played the role of “Simon” in the Alhambra’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Numerous professional credits include: West Side Story, Anything Goes, She Loves Me, Ain’t Mis’ Behavin’, Once on this Island, and Black Nativity. He has sung for the late Ann Reinking Doctoral Ceremony. His choreography continues to be recognized around the country.
Mr. Cooper is currently adjunct instructor at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, where he is choreographer and musical theatre styles instructor. He is currently the Director of Black Arts at Douglas Anderson where he is responsible for bringing greater visibility of the African American talent at one of the nation’s prestigious public arts institutions. Mr Cooper is also responsible for the current approved proposal of a $300k bronze statue of Mr. Douglas Anderson. Fundraising has just begun.
Mr. Cooper was a former faculty member at The Bolles School and at La Villa School and of the Arts.. Mr. Cooper was a full-time employee for the Walt Disney World Company at Animal Kingdom where he was a cast member of Finding Nemo the Musical. Mr. Cooper won the coveted Pelican Award for best choreography at Players by the Sea. Currently, he’s choreographed Sponge Bob the Musical, In the Height, and The Wiz at Players by the Sea. He produced an updated version of his summer dance Intensive after a two-year hiatus, called Exclusive, by CooperMorgan Dance Theatre now in its s 17thyear. Today Mr. Cooper is working on his first book, a one man show entitled 15 Pages, a new musical entitled BlackMetropolis, and he is also applying for his doctorate degree in Performance psychology.

MEGAN WALLACE WIDRICH

NORIANNE
WRIGHT
Norianne grew up in Jacksonville and began dancing at age ten.
Her training began at Mark Spivak’s Dance Institute where she studied ballet, jazz, modern, and character and performed with the school’s dance troupe the Character Dance Ensemble.
While attending Vanderbilt University, she choreographed for and performed with the Vanderbilt Dance Group. She also joined a Nashville based modern dance company, Nashville Dance Project, and worked with them for 5 seasons. Although she loved Nashville, she missed her friends and family in Florida. Upon her return home in 2000, she developed a love for ballroom and latin and began teaching, performing, and competing.
Returning to the studio where her love of dance began, Mark Spivak’s Dance Institute, for 15 years she taught many styles of dance to all ages and choreographed award winning routines in both dance and fitness.
She is thrilled to be judging the First Coast Dancing with the Stars event and to be able to support Beaches Fine Arts Series.