Wayne is a native of Memphis, TN, and currently a professor, as well as an alum at the University of Memphis Theatre & Dance Department. He holds an MFA degree (1996) in Dance from The Ohio State University, and a BFA (1992) in Theatre/Dance (minor Mathematics) from the University of Memphis. In the past, Wayne has done extended residencies at several higher education institutions including University of Mississippi “Ole Miss,” Spelman College, Kent State University, Slippery Rock University, and Emory University. 

Generally his areas of expertise are in teaching contemporary modern dance, theatre & dance improvisation, jazz dance, dance history, composition, pedagogy, ballet basics, and research interests in mindfulness, kinesthetic awareness, and authentic body movement. Under the auspices of his company SmithWorks, Smith practices as an independent professional artist, creative and multifaceted. He is a visionary interdisciplinary teaching artist facilitating a wide variety of workshops and events for all types of people in diverse communities such as Memphis Knowledge Quest Community Center, Vicki Doe Fitness Health & Wellness Youngstown, OH, Halloran/Orpheum Center youths outreach, Memphis Job Corps, and Memphis Lewis Senior Center. 

Smith does extensive teaching, facilitation, research, performance, and social advocacy work, doing community outreach through theatre organization Playback Memphis, an embodied, improvisational audience-interactive theatre company. He also choreographs and teaches with Company d, a dance training ground & performance company in Memphis for dancers with Downs Syndrome. Smith also has taught and created numerous works with Project:Motion, Memphis’ Modern Dance Collective. 

Wayne has also served as an adjudicator for regional-national dance conference American College Dance Association (ACDA), Mid-Atlantic North region hosted at Slippery Rock University. As a visiting guest he completed a successful week residency at University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, where he taught, lectured, and performed a compelling solo work, “Race Card.” Smith is also actively involved as advisory board member, facilitator, and performer with Texas Dance Improvisation Festival (TDIF) hosted annually at colleges & universities throughout the state of Texas.