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, affiliated 501-c3 nonprofit Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre (RMDT) was created, which annually produces The Nutcracker Ballet every December and Wild West Spectacular The Musical every summer, and most recently created the The Cody Theatre Company; a regional performing theatre group who's productions are at The Cody Theatre. RMSA being affiliated with RMDT offers unique opportunities specifically for RMSA students to perform in professional productions, further their training, and have experiences beyond anything else offered for a small town.

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.