Dwayne Scheuneman

Co-Founder, Artistic Director, Inclusive Dance Educator & Dancer

Shortly after becoming paralyzed in a diving accident in 1995, Dwayne began competing in wheelchair track and field. In 2002 he was looking for a cross training activity when a friend suggested he try a dance class. He started taking classes and was invited to perform — and from there, the rest is history. While dancing, he discovered a broader range of physical challenges and a deeper, more meaningful connection with his fellow dancers than he had otherwise experienced in sports.

Dwayne received his BA in special education from the University of South Florida. He has been a professional dancer since 2002 and has conducted workshops around the US and the world, having completed eight tours in six countries.

Dance, specifically the creative process involved in dance, has led me to a deeper understanding of myself and my perspectives. Connecting and creating with other people has encouraged me to consider and formulate my place in the world and what impact I want to have on it.

Being a former wheelchair athlete with strong connections to the disabled community, Dwayne began reaching out to his disabled peers and inviting them to participate in different dance activities. In 2005, Dwayne and his colleague Amie West decided to make it official, forming the nonprofit organization REVolutions Dance.

REVolutions Dance believes in creating a safe learning environment that provides opportunity for all students to grow at their own pace, drawing from research-based teaching practices such as student-centered teaching and differentiated instruction.

Dance is important to our community because it has the ability to help people understand each other beyond the restrictions of language and personal biases. It provides a tool for people to find similarities in their cultures, experiences, and lives in a creative and energizing experience and allows us to expand our humanity.