Mark Wheeler founded the University of Georgia Ballroom Performance Group in 1991. A professor in the UGA Dance Department, Wheeler received masters degrees in dance and in literature from Indiana University, a Ph.D. from Ohio State University, and also studied ballroom at Brigham Young University.

Outside the academic setting, he studied modern dance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, jazz with Phil Black, Gus Giordano and Luigi in Chicago and New York, and tap with Michael Fredrics and Henry LeTang in Chicago and Las Vegas. In addition, he has acted, sung, and danced with Equity and non-Equity theater companies in and out of New York City.

At UGA from 1981 to 2014, he was published widely on dance history and on current trends in dance education. Pieces choreographed by Wheeler have been performed by university dance companies in California, Kentucky, New York, and Texas. Wheeler taught dance history, rhythmic analysis, methods for teaching social dance, ballroom, jazz and tap technique as well as guest taught in numerous dance programs including Columbia University, Vassar College, and the Federal University of Pernambuco in Brazil, among others. We are forever grateful to Mark for creating this company and allowing it to grow to what it is today.