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Our History

Moving in the Spirit began in 1986 as the hopeful vision of Dana Lupton, Leah Mann, and Genene Stewart, who believed they could unite their love for dance with their commitment to social justice and serving youth. What began as a dance class for a small group of girls at Stewart Avenue Shelter has now blossomed into a large and diverse organization that reaches over 250 children every week across Atlanta.

1986
Moving in the Spirit is founded by Dana Lupton, Leah Mann, and Genene Stewart. Classes begin at the Grant Park Girls Club and Stewart Avenue Shelter for 25 students.
1986
1987
FCS (Focused Community Strategies) becomes Moving in the Spirit’s fiscal agent and partners with the organization to meet community demand for youth programs. The company presents its first performance.
1987
1989
Programs expand to 10 sites, reaching 130 students. The Apprentice Corporation, a leadership program for teens, is founded.
1989
1991
The Apprentice Corporation embarks on its first national tour.
1991
1994
Co-founder Dana Lupton receives a grant from Alternate Roots to create a piece, 285, about racial division in Atlanta as outlined by the highway system and city planning.
1994
1996
Moving in the Spirit receives nonprofit status and builds a home base for teaching, The Beam, serving 150 students each year. The Apprentice Corporation embarks on its first international tour, visiting the Czech Republic and Hungary.
1996
1998
The Junior Company (later GLOW in Motion), Moving in the Spirit’s program for pre-teen girls, is founded by Genene Stewart.
1998
2000
The Rialto Center for the Performing Arts at Georgia State University and Moving in the Spirit begin a 20+ year partnership. Alice Lovelace performs as the Storyteller for the next decade.
2000
2002
Moving in the Spirit wins an ABBY Award for Outstanding Arts and Education.
2002
2004
Alumnus Chris McCord founds a program for boys, Men in Motion. Alumni Corissa Castle Wood and Chris McCord create our signature summer camp.
2004
2005
Moving in the Spirit is recognized at The White House as one of the top youth development programs in the nation.
2005
2006
Dr. Charné Furcron designs a quantitative evaluation model to ensure programs are measurably impacting youth.
2006
2010
Community demand for programs reaches a historic peak. Moving in the Spirit constructs a second stage to accommodate overflow.
2010
2011
Moving in the Spirit wins the highly-competitive Managing for Excellence Award from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta for programmatic excellence and measurable results.
2011
2015
Programs grow to serve 250 students. Moving in the Spirit collaborates with architectural firm, Perkins&Will and launches a capital campaign to build a new, modern arts and youth development center.
2015
2018
Moving in the Spirit signs a 99-year land lease with partners MARTA and Columbia Ventures to become the community arts anchor for the transit-oriented development at Edgewood/Candler Park Station. A “groundsoaring” ceremony is held on October 11, 2018 and construction on our new arts center begins.
2018
2020
Moving in the Spirit receives our certificate of occupancy for our new home and begins teaching virtual classes from our new studios during the coronavirus pandemic.
2020
2021
Moving in the Spirit begins teaching students in person from our new arts and youth development center. A community celebration commemorates Moving in the Spirit’s new home!
2021