DANCING SPIRIT INC

Dancing Spirit’s mission is to: provide a community arts center that enhances creativity and fellowship; promote the education, appreciation, and enjoyment of the arts; and celebrate the cultural heritages of our diverse population. Dancing Spirit’s core programs include workshops, therapeutic art classes, gallery presentations, and community revitalization initiatives rooted in art, culture, and healing. Family members are invited to participate in family art events where they can share in creating something along with their kids. General membership is open to the community.
Dancing Spirit has set the following 2014-2017 strategic goals in response to area needs to serve more youth, seniors, and veterans: (1) Support a high rate of use of facilities; (2) Maintain regular volunteer support for sustainable operations; (3) Provide targeted community and personal instruction; and (4) Secure a more diverse economic base for the organization.
To support these goals, Dancing Spirit has established: a high-visibility community art gallery; working studio space; ongoing art instruction; and performing arts space. Our programs strategically provide accessible, inclusive passage into artistic training and development that encourages creativity and builds self-esteem and life skills through art. We seek to demonstrate relevance, robustness, coherence, and transparency in our work in the community. Studies generally report on low-income and special needs without focusing on ethnic or rural programming. This indicates the opportunity for our programs to serve as a model for a results-based program construct for rural and multi-ethnic populations in which the program outcome measures directly tied to individualized program objectives.

Dancing Spirit’s mission is to: provide a community arts center that enhances creativity and fellowship; promote the education, appreciation, and enjoyment of the arts; and celebrate the cultural heritages of our diverse population. Dancing Spirit’s core programs include workshops, therapeutic art classes, gallery presentations, and community revitalization initiatives rooted in art, culture, and healing. Family members are invited to participate in family art events where they can share in creating something along with their kids. General membership is open to the community.
Dancing Spirit has set the following 2014-2017 strategic goals in response to area needs to serve more youth, seniors, and veterans: (1) Support a high rate of use of facilities; (2) Maintain regular volunteer support for sustainable operations; (3) Provide targeted community and personal instruction; and (4) Secure a more diverse economic base for the organization.
To support these goals, Dancing Spirit has established: a high-visibility community art gallery; working studio space; ongoing art instruction; and performing arts space. Our programs strategically provide accessible, inclusive passage into artistic training and development that encourages creativity and builds self-esteem and life skills through art. We seek to demonstrate relevance, robustness, coherence, and transparency in our work in the community. Studies generally report on low-income and special needs without focusing on ethnic or rural programming. This indicates the opportunity for our programs to serve as a model for a results-based program construct for rural and multi-ethnic populations in which the program outcome measures directly tied to individualized program objectives.

Dancing Spirit is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, possible only through the generosity of local funders and the dedication of a cadre of volunteers whose 10,000 donated hours each year translate to nearly a quarter of a million dollars in operating and program support annually. In the summer of 2014, Dancing Spirit earned its 501(c)3 non-profit organization status. In 2014, we served some 1,000 youth and their families through year-round workshops, shows, special events, and other well-attended public gatherings. Additionally, we provided ongoing support for the work of other community agencies and civic groups. The Center currently boasts 28 artist members (90% women), who staff the gallery. We also have 10-12 artisans working throughout the year as youth mentors and instructors.

Because our programs increase positive intergenerational activities, preserve cultural traditions, and improve cultural awareness, Dancing Spirit has gained many advocates of its work among both Native and non-Native community members. We, in turn, actively support the work of other area agencies and community groups through fund raising event support, and collaborative program efforts. Many of the Center’s programs become co-creations and joint efforts as we work cooperatively with local governmental and community leaders to design and implement well-aligned with community revitalization planning for the town of Ignacio, area residents, and the Tribe as a whole. Our programming partners allow us to serve youth and their families throughout our service area. Our partners include the Ignacio School District, Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy students, the Tribe’s Boys and Girls Club educational programs, the Southern Ute Detention Center, Silver SPRUCE Academy, SUCAP Youth Services After School Program, Southern Ute Teen Center, Southern Ute Tribal Council, and Southern Ute Tribal Education Department Youth Council. Dancing Spirit is working alongside Riversage Counseling, school staff, and other local artists, providing in-school as well as afterschool programs at its own Center facility.

Our objective indicators related to our strategic goals are:
Goal (1) Support a high rate of use of facilities. Objective (1) We coordinate and provide ongoing workshops, performances, and events on a weekly and monthly basis. Result (1) We currently serve more than 1,100 youth and adults annually.
Goal (2) Maintain regular volunteer support for sustainable operations. Objective (2) We maintain a minimum Artisan membership of at least 20-30 through targeted outreach and stewardship; and member artisans engage in a minimum of 7 hours per month in service. Result (2) Currently, we have 21 artist members who staff the gallery; 10-12 artisans work as youth mentors and instructors; a cadre of other committed volunteers provide clerical, cleaning, and maintenance services; set up and oversee event preparations; serve on important Center committees; and serve on the Center’s Board.
Goal (3) Provide targeted community and personal instruction. Objective (3) Coordinate and provide ongoing art training workshops for 5-20 students each with local artists (age appropriate classes open to the community and personalized instruction art instruction for 3-5 year olds and 6-12 year olds). Result (3) We currently coordinate and provide ongoing school, after school, and community gathering opportunities for targeted community and personal instructions that reach more than 1,100 adults and youth each year both in-center and in other community settings, including performing arts events for youth age 6-18 participating and special events (one Family Night per month and two fundraising events that draw 50-400 persons from all sectors of the community).
Goal (4) Secure a more diverse economic base for the organization. Objective (4) Work with part-time hand-selected resource development contractors to: a) increase program income (gallery sales, memberships, event proceeds) through improved program outreach and center marketing; b) engage new and existing foundation, government, and private grantors. Result (4) We continue to work with local leaders and other stakeholders to maximize use of existing resources to provide stability to our organization and its programs. We are spearheading a collaborative site for more than a dozen education, youth, and community support organizations and agencies, which is expected to open in September 2015.