Our History

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 2010
Dancing Spirit Co-op Gallery opens its doors at 630 Goddard Avenue in Ignacio, Colorado, with four founding members and 13 artists. Later that year, the name changes to Dancing Spirit Gallery, and the gallery moves into a shared space with Tom Garcia Chiropractic at 640 Goddard. Both spaces are maintained to integrate the visual and healing arts.

2011
Education is added to the co-op’s mission as Dancing Spirit begins teaching six-week multi-medium art courses to homeschooled students through the Pine River Community Learning Center. State non-profit status is filed, and the annual Fill Your Bowl for Art fundraiser is launched.

2012
With the closure of 640 Goddard, the pottery studio relocates to 755 Goddard. The organization becomes Dancing Spirit Community Art Center, now made up of four pillars: Gallery, Education, Studio, and Performance. Offerings expand to include workshops, First Friday art exhibits, public art projects, and community events.

2013
Art à la Carte: A Week of Art launches for local children, later joined by Dancing Spirit Summer Art Classes and monthly First Friday openings. A formal Board of Directors is established, and a request for federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit status is submitted.

2014
Dancing Spirit is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Building Bridges Through Art therapeutic program is introduced. In collaboration with Silver SPRUCE Academy, Dancing Spirit supports a transformative reframing of the local elementary school to benefit the broader community. The Fill Your Plate for Art fundraiser evolves to include a "Paint Your Plant" class and a community BBQ.

2015
Dancing Spirit becomes one of six local nonprofits anchoring the newly launched ELHI Community Center. ELHI emerges as a hub for creativity, achievement, and community development, with Dancing Spirit at the heart of its arts and cultural programming.

2016
After School Arts launches, expanding youth engagement opportunities. The Building Bridges Through Art therapeutic program enters its third year. New partnerships develop with the Southern Ute Community Action Program Youth Services, offering pottery and yoga classes that blend creativity and wellness.

2017
The Dancing Spirit Co-op Art Gallery closes, marking a shift in focus toward hands-on instructional art programming in pottery, mixed media, jewelry, music, and glass. Classes run year-round for youth and adults, including in-school, after-school, and summer sessions. As a 501(c)(3), Dancing Spirit deepens its role in community revitalization by leading public art initiatives through Inspiration Square and Ignacio’s Beautification Initiative. Students from Bayfield, Durango, and Pagosa Springs begin participating in programming.

2018
Kasey Correia becomes a certified Change Leader and speaks at the Ignacio American Veterans gathering. Inspiration Square celebrates its ribbon cutting. The 7th Annual Fill Your Bowl for Art fundraiser is a great success. Summer programming evolves into Club HeART, Dancing Spirit’s first official kids' club, offering expanded creative opportunities for local youth.

2019
Dancing Spirit enters its third year of Summer Arts programming. The dance program concludes with the departure of the beloved instructor. The Fill Your Plate fundraiser is reinvented and hosted at Fox Fire Farms. After School Arts returns in the fall, and the 8th Annual Fill Your Bowl for Art fundraiser continues to grow in impact and attendance.

2020
The year begins with the launch of The Pottery House, the region’s only open-to-the-public pottery studio. When COVID-19 hits in March, Dancing Spirit quickly pivots, delivering over 250 free art kits weekly to families across the community. In July, the organization participates in Community Concerts Reimagined, finding new ways to share art safely. In December, the beloved Fill Your Bowl fundraiser transforms into Ignite the Light, a beautiful, socially distanced luminaria event that brings hope and light to the community.

 2021
Adult pottery returns as Dancing Spirit’s first in-person class during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed closely by the joyful return of in-person children’s classes. In April, virtual art classes launch via Zoom with the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy (SUIMA). We proudly participate in the Brooklyn Art Library’s Sketchbook Project and introduce Camp Creative, offering week-long Spring Break and Summer art camps. A major milestone: Dancing Spirit purchases a wheelchair-accessible pottery wheel—believed to be the only one of its kind in the region—enhancing access for all.

2022
A monumental year as Dancing Spirit purchases property on Main Street in Ignacio to build a permanent home. A vibrant groundbreaking ceremony is held in the spring, supported by community and partners. While construction planning begins, the temporary “Blue” Gallery opens, featuring local artists and keeping the creative energy alive. Class enrollment increases, with adult pottery now offered in two sessions per week. Children’s camps begin rebuilding, and partnerships with SUIMA and Ignacio Elementary resume, along with the beloved After School Arts program. Fill Your Bowl for Art sells out before the night is over, marking another incredible year of community support.

2023
Adult pottery classes expand with beginner wheel throwing and open studio options. Summer programming for kids concludes with a lively Community Arts Extravaganza. The Blue Gallery flourishes with 13 artists actively participating. Most of the year's energy centers on building the future: the foundation for our new facility is laid, with utilities and framing beginning by December. Dancing Spirit is officially recognized as an Enterprise Zone Project, attracting broader support and attention. A new partnership with Pine River Library introduces a monthly Family Art Class, furthering our mission of creativity and connection for all ages.

2024
Dancing Spirit completed construction on its permanent home—Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts—Ignacio’s first 501(c)(3) community arts center. The new facility included a professional gallery space for emerging and established artists, an incubator program for youth to explore both art and entrepreneurship, dedicated classrooms for children’s and adult classes, a fully equipped pottery studio with a wheelchair-accessible pottery wheel, and a space for live performances and art openings.

Construction continued through early 2024, with windows, doors, and drywall completed, followed by exterior stucco in the spring. Programming expanded to include new and renewed partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club, SUIMA, and Pine River Library, with exploratory collaborations initiated with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Dare to Be You.

In October, Dancing Spirit held its grand opening celebration, welcoming the community into its new space with performances, exhibits, and creative energy. December marked a major milestone with the first Fill Your Bowl for Art fundraiser held in the new gallery, bringing the organization’s vision full circle.

2025
Halfway through the year, Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts continues to grow as a dynamic center for creativity, collaboration, and community engagement. The space is actively hosting a range of events and classes, including partnerships with PBS, the Town of Ignacio, Sagebrush Consulting, the Colorado Municipal League, and several private groups.

Art classes for youth and adults are in full swing, along with Camp Creative sessions for spring and summer. Open studio pottery remains a popular offering, and the co-op gallery showcases work by local and regional artists, providing a space for exhibitions, artist talks, and First Friday openings.

As the year unfolds, Dancing Spirit remains committed to expanding access to the arts and serving as a cultural cornerstone in the Ignacio community.

• Expand Youth Development & Mentorship
  Grow the art incubator program to include mentorships, internships, and entrepreneurial training for youth and emerging artists.
   
• Strengthen Community Outreach & Access
  Launch mobile art programming and expand partnerships to reach rural and underserved populations with inclusive, accessible art opportunities.
   
• Deepen Therapeutic & Healing Arts
  Broaden the Building Bridges Through Art program to serve veterans, elders, and individuals facing trauma through creative expression and support.
   
• Enhance Facilities & Sustainability
  Invest in green infrastructure and continue improving accessibility with adaptive equipment, ensuring the center remains welcoming and future-ready.
   
• Diversify Programs & Creative Disciplines
  Introduce digital and multimedia arts, cultural exchanges, and artist residencies to enrich programming and reflect the region’s diversity.

Have suggestions about what programs you'd like to see or new ways to reach the community? Want to make a difference? Join our Board of Directors or volunteer! We're also looking for pottery teachers, leaders for our kid's programs and artists interested in joining the co-op gallery or teaching their own classes or workshops!