The Ohio Alliance for Arts Education proudly presented Mary Verdi-Fletcher, President and Founding Artistic Director of The Dancing Wheels Company, with the 2025 OAAE Distinguished Leadership Award.
Mary was presented with the Award during the Dancing Wheels Gala Benefit Concert on June 13, 2026, at the Mimi Ohio Theatre in Cleveland.
ABOUT MARY
A trailblazer in physically integrated dance, Mary has spent over four decades transforming the arts landscape for people of all abilities. As one of the world’s first professional wheelchair dancers, she founded The Dancing Wheels Company in 1980, and later established the Dancing Wheels School to provide training and career pathways for dancers of all ability levels. Mary’s leadership and advocacy have influenced arts education, accessibility, and policy nationwide. Her efforts contributed to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of1990 and the creation of Ohio’s personal care assistance program, both of which expanded opportunities for independent living and inclusion.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (OAAE) Distinguished Leadership Award was created in celebration of OAAE’s 50th anniversary. The DLAward honors individuals who have significantly advanced arts education in Ohio through leadership, creativity, and long-term commitment to:
• Advocacy for the arts
• Innovative teaching or educational leadership
• Curriculum development or program design
• Creating arts education materials
• Mentoring or inspiring students, teachers, and artists
PAST RECIPIENTS
2024
Donna S. Collins, Columbus
Gary E. DeVault, Wooster |
