Terri Lynn Wright-Hickerson

She was born to Ret. Lt. Col. Fred Willis Wright Sr. and Marguerite (Roberson) Wright in Chandler, AZ.

Terri received her early training with Barbara Carson and Stanley Hall in Austin, Texas. However, she began her ballet career at the tender age of three with the family stationed in England.

Later, she studied with Robert Joffrey, Patricia Wilde, Kirsten Ralov, Kirsten Simone, and Peter Appel during the summers in the U.S. and in Europe. She began her professional dance career Wiesbaden, Germany followed by ten years with the North Carolina Dance Theatre where she became a principal dancer as well as an assistant to director Salvatore Aiello. She enjoyed Dance Theatre’s diverse repertoire that included works by choreographers such as Salvatore Aiello, Oscar Ariaz, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Bill Evans, Lambrose Lambous, Lar Lubovitch, Marius Petipa, and Alvin Ailey. Terri performed leading roles in Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Scotch Symphony, Glinka Pas de Trois, Pas de Dix, and Valse Fantasie coached by Melissa Hayden and Marina Eglivsky. Terri taught master classes while touring with NCDT throughout the US and Europe for North Carolina School of the Arts summer sessions, and was a guest teacher at Arts Magnet High School in Dallas. She also helped to care for works choreographed by the late Mr. Aiello. Terri was also a beloved instructor at The Austin City Ballet for 18 years.

Terri is predeceased by her parents Ret. Lt. Col. Fred Willis Wright Sr. and Marguerite (Roberson) Wright, and by her nephew Darren Wright. She is survived by her loving husband Riley Hickerson of Austin, TX, brother and sister-in-law Fred Willis Wright Jr. and Cherry of Carrollton, TX, sister Kenny McCay of Pensacola, FL., nephew Mitchell Wright of Carrollton, TX, and her 4-year-old great-nephew Dylan Wright of Carrollton, TX. She is also survived by many associates and dear friends that are too numerous to name. However, Terri appreciated all of them.

In consideration of the current pandemic, a memorial service will be held at a future time and date with the location to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Austin City Ballet at http://www.austincityballet.org/individual-giving.html or Austin Pets Alive at https://www.austinpestsalive.org.