Cooper Wright has been a local to the Pensacola, FL area for 8 years after moving from Virginia in 2016.
His passion for the arts began when he was 13, performing in his first middle/high school musical, Beauty and the Beast. From there he has performed as an actor and dancer in many shows through the years, including Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Mary Poppins, and Julius Caesar.
Cooper began training as a dancer when he was 16 at Broadway Lights Dance Center in Navarre, FL learning ballet, jazz, contemporary and many other styles. He learned and progressed quickly and joined the competition team later the same year until he graduated in 2020.
After going to college to study theatre arts at Southern Virginia University, he began teaching musical theatre and acting at Broadway Lights for two years. During that time he became the assistant choreographer for Navarre High School’s theatre program and has helped choreograph four shows under the guidance of Debi Janea and is now the head choreographer there.
Cooper plans to use his experiences with the ballet to continue his career in choreography and is very excited to see what this season has in store for him.
I dance because I feel free. I feel like a different person that is carefree and is able to put their heart and soul into their movements. I love being able to take a song or dance and make it my own. There’s no judgement or pressure when I truly dance for myself. When I’m on the stage I love being able to bring joy and wonder to the audience.
Place of birth: Minot, North Dakota
Reason for dance: Freedom
Favorite color: Blue and sunset orange
Favorite role danced: lead dancer in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Dream role: Race from Newsies
Favorite Choreographer: Michael Dameski
Favorite Traditional Ballet: Don Juan
Favorite cuisine/dish: biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs or anything my mom makes
Favorite hobby: photography
Fun fact about me: I didn’t know my first name was Silas until I had to spell it in kindergarten
What I would like the audience/community to gain: I want the audience to find beauty in the small details of dance