Who We Are

Robert “Woody” Wilkins is the Founder & Executive Director of Dances with Wood (DWW). The origins of DWW date back to his early childhood when he was faced with a serious illness. During that time, he experienced first-hand how working with wood and art helped restore his creative spirit helping him navigate a difficult time.

Woody always loved working with wood and was trained in England as a cabinetmaker and wood carver. He later became a teacher to share his joy of working with wood with children in inner-city schools, colleges and in special education. As his work as a teacher evolved, he began to design and create programs to empower and enrich the lives of those with special needs.

In 1988 Woody left England to join the Hole in the Wall Camp in CT where he worked for 8 summers as program and camp director with children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. This experience inspired him to work directly with children in hospitals.