Cooper Verona has been a professional dancer with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre since the 2011 season.

Hometown:   Lebanon, Connecticut

Training: The High School of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy

First professional job: PBT

Favorite role:  Drosselmeyer in Terrence Orr’s “The Nutcracker” and performing in Dwight Rhoden’s “Chromatic”

Favorite choreographer:  Christopher Bruce

Greatest influence: My family. I care about them more than anything.

Favorite thing about dance:  Performing!  That's what it's all about, making an impact on audience members.

Least favorite thing about dance:  I don’t have a least favorite part about it… I guess when my body hurts I don’t like it, but even that can be good to help me learn more about my body.

Favorite music:  My current favorites are “The Truth Hurts So This Should Be Painless” by Her Space Holiday, “The Ghost Inside” by Broken Bells and the entire soundtrack to the movie “Hanna” (which is by the Chemical Brothers). I also like Vivaldi.

Favorite television show: Law and Order: SVU

Favorite food: Boiled corned beef dinner with potatoes and cabbage.

Other interests besides ballet:  cinema, painting, singing in the shower, bowling, Frisbee, swimming

Future plans:  Becoming a choreographer and traveling. 

Advice to students: A very great teacher of mine told me to always be honest with myself.  Look at myself in the mirror and be honest about what needs work.  You will not improve if you try to avoid the things you really need to work on...and I am still learning that.

Family: I have a mom, a dad, a sister and a brother. (I’m the middle child)

Any pets? Two dogs at home, Max (little gold colored mix) and Remmy (Rottweiler mix)

Favorite spot or hangout in Pittsburgh: I like Walnut Street

Favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh: Shady Grove.

Last movie you saw: Psycho

Favorite ice cream flavor: Without a doubt, chocolate chip cookie dough

Favorite vacation: when my family and I used to go to the Outer Banks, NC to visit my grandpa!

What three things can always be found in your refrigerator? Yogurt, eggs, juice

What three people from any time or place would you invite to dinner? I’ve never thought about it before…but maybe Lady Gaga, Martha Graham, and Natalie Portman

Finish this statement, “People may be surprised to know that…:” I am left handed.