Our History

Rocky Mountain School of the Arts (RMSA) was established in 1997 by Elizabeth Fernandez and her mom Cynthia Kaelberer. After Elizabeth graduated from college with honors from the University of Northern Colorado, where she received degrees in Dance Teaching/Movement Analysis and Dance Kinesiology; she moved back to Cody with the hope to fulfill the dream of both Cindi and Liz to open a school for The Arts.

RMSA began with nineteen students in an upstairs rental building in downtown Cody with one dance studio room and one piano room. RMSA quickly outgrew their space, and in 2004, the current state-of-the-art location was built. Throughout this time, 501-c3 nonprofit Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre (RMDT) was created, which annually produces The Nutcracker Ballet and most recently, Wild West Spectacular The Musical.

For over twenty years, RMSA has grown and changed with the times but has always held true to the mission to create love and understanding for The Arts focusing on classical training and technique. Still fulfilling their dreams, Cindi and Liz continue to teach music, piano, and dance while adding exciting new programs to RMSA.

Read about our qualifications here.

Our Mission

At Rocky Mountain School of the Arts (RMSA), we have a passion for music and dance and through this we strive to provide a platform for young and old to experience the arts. We have had young artists who have gone into the professional world of performing and we feel those who aspire to have a future in the arts will have the tools to succeed.

We have three missions:

  1. To build artists with a strong and diversified foundation through classical training and performing opportunities.
  2. Build character, self-esteem, work ethic, drive, and discipline in our students so they may contribute to our society in a positive and successful way.
  3. Build an educated audience for the arts through awareness and understanding.