Presenting our
2025 JUDGES
We are grateful for their support!
CAROLYN COPELAND
Carolyn Grew up in Sydney, Australia and first entered a dance studio at age 9. Her training includes classical ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary as well as ballroom and Latin styles.
Performing live has always been a joy, with opportunities including performing with the Australian Opera Company and for Sydney based companies in Japan and Thailand before sailing the Caribbean with Carnival Cruise Lines.
Carolyn has placed in both Professional American Rhythm, and American Smooth styles since focusing on ballroom dancing, as well as competing Pro-Am with her students.
She has taught Ballroom for over 20 years in the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra area and looks forward to Dancing with the Stars every year.
BASIL G. SMITH
Basil is a highly energetic, innovative and results-oriented retired professional with outstanding success in executive management, international relations and business development, contributing to corporate profitability and viability during periods of start-up, growth and major transition.
He generously donates his time and expertise to various charitable organizations and considers his real purpose in life to be a Humanitarian.
His hobbies include playing tennis, volunteering, hiking, stimulating conversations and international travel.
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 dancing 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.
Norianne is also an experienced realtor with Momentum Realty.
She is thrilled to be judging the First Coast Dancing with the Stars event and to be able to support Beaches Fine Arts Series.
Presenting our
2025 JUDGES
We are grateful for their support!
CAROLYN COPELAND
Carolyn Grew up in Sydney, Australia and first entered a dance studio at age 9. Her training includes classical ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary as well as ballroom and Latin styles.
Performing live has always been a joy, with opportunities including performing with the Australian Opera Company and for Sydney based companies in Japan and Thailand before sailing the Caribbean with Carnival Cruise Lines.
Carolyn has placed in both Professional American Rhythm, and American Smooth styles since focusing on ballroom dancing, as well as competing Pro-Am with her students.
She has taught Ballroom for over 20 years in the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra area and looks forward to First Coast Dancing with the Stars every year.
BASIL G. SMITH
Basil is a highly energetic, innovative and results-oriented retired professional with outstanding success in executive management, international relations and business development, contributing to corporate profitability and viability during periods of start-up, growth and major transition.
He generously donates his time and expertise to various charitable organizations and considers his real purpose in life to be a Humanitarian.
His hobbies include playing tennis, volunteering, hiking, stimulating conversations and international travel.
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 dancing 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.
Norianne is also an experienced realtor with Momentum Realty.
She is thrilled to be judging the First Coast Dancing with the Stars event and to be able to support Beaches Fine Arts Series.