Dreaming Stone Arts and Ecology Center

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Rutherfordton, NC
Dreaming Stone Arts and Ecology Center

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Building community resilience & restoring biological & cultural diversity through art and education

DSAEC is a creative laboratory, learning center, farm, permaculture demonstration project, place of art and creativity, and community space for healing. Situated in NC, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, we seek to nourish our community, build reciprocity with the land, promote spiritual connection, and propagate sustainable futures.

10/28/2026

"Now constantly there is the sound,
quieter than rain,
of the leaves falling.

Under their loosening bright
gold, the sycamore limbs
bleach whiter.

Now the only flowers
are beeweed and aster, spray
of their white and lavender
over the brown leaves.

The calling of a crow sounds
Loud — landmark — now
that the life of summer falls
silent, and the nights grow."

-"October 10" by Wendell Berry.

(Photo Credit: Roger Perry)

10/21/2026

Food Art and Brew Presents: Costume Contest on October 30th!

We’re approaching our final FAB Friday of the 2026 season. Come celebrate with us, and don't forget your costume!

6:00 - 9:00 pm

Judging criteria is craftsmanship, creativity, and performance
(store bought costumes will score low)

10/19/2026

Nourish your spirit by joining this restorative practice, "Breathe and Renew!" with Emily Perkins.

Breath can become a life-giving elixir that can expand our capacity, aliveness, and freedom. Revelation Breathwork is an active style of breathing that gets you out of the mind and into the body, helping to release stored energy and emotion.

This 1.5-hour breath-work class offers an opportunity to move what is stagnant or stuck and reconnect with resources for renewal in our bodies.

We begin with framing and guidance, then move into a 40-minute breathing session accompanied by a musical journey that supports our practice. There will be time for integration and sharing at the end.

Sign up here:
https://dreamingstone.org/events/breathe-and-renew/

10/19/2026

Make sure to grab your tickets for Melissa McKinney this Saturday, October 24th!

Purchase tickets here:
https://dreamingstone.org/events/october-24th-melissa-mckinney-concert/

We’re thrilled to kick off our fall concert series with Melissa McKinney for our first performance! Melissa McKinney lives in Asheville, NC, and is the lead singer of the band MAMA. Renowned for her powerful vocals, Melissa has a deep love for music and community and is dedicated to using her voice for good and empowering youth to do the same. MAMA just won 2nd place in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, and also won the 2025 Merlefest Band Competition.

Her love for the blues began in childhood. She was mentored by Nathaniel Reese, a blues musician from the coalfields of West Virginia, an intergenerational experience that laid the foundation for her life’s work. Until recently, she served as the Programming & Education Director for LEAF Global Arts. She is the co-founder of the WTF (Women to the Front) music festival, which highlights women in music, and she works with AVL Sounds Fest, a multi-venue music festival in Asheville, NC. In addition to music, education, and community, Melissa is super passionate about dogs and all fluffy animals.

This event will be held at Dreaming Stone Arts & Ecology Center on October 24th, 2026 @ 7:00 pm. (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

W**e and b**r will be available for purchase.

(Sponsored by WNCW) See less

10/09/2026

It's finally here! The line-up for our Fall concert series, "The Music That Reconnects", is set. We’re thrilled to have Melissa McKinney as our first performance on October 24th!

Melissa McKinney lives in Asheville, NC, and is the lead singer of the band MAMA. Renowned for her powerful vocals, Melissa has a deep love for music and community and is dedicated to using her voice for good and empowering youth to do the same. MAMA just won 2nd place in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, and also won the 2025 Merlefest Band Competition.

Her love for the blues began in childhood. She was mentored by Nathaniel Reese, a blues musician from the coalfields of West Virginia, an intergenerational experience that laid the foundation for her life’s work. Until recently, she served as the Programming & Education Director for LEAF Global Arts. She is the co-founder of the WTF (Women to the Front) music festival, which highlights women in music, and she works with AVL Sounds Fest, a multi-venue music festival in Asheville, NC. In addition to music, education, and community, Melissa is super passionate about dogs and all fluffy animals.

This event will be held at Dreaming Stone Arts & Ecology Center on October 24th, 2026 @ 7:00 pm. (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Purchase tickets here:
https://dreamingstone.org/events/october-24th-melissa-mckinney-concert/

W**e and b**r will be available for purchase.

(Sponsored by WNCW)

10/06/2026

By popular demand, our Salsa class will return on October 13th!

This six-week course will expand on the fundamentals of Social Salsa Dancing and explore the basics of Salsa Casino Rueda. Casino Rueda is a group Salsa dance that originates from Cuba and involves multiple couples dancing in a circle and switching dance partners at the prompting of the “caller.”

Over the course of our time together, you will learn specific steps and patterns that will help you feel more confident on the dance floor while developing your expressive potential and building community.

Charlie & Carisma will get you moving with your partner with a deeper understanding of each other, yourselves, and the dance! Learn to generate presence and clarity of movement while discovering the freedom of relinquishing to the rhythm of the clave. We will touch on the principles of movement and how you can dance for, with, and against your partner in order to create more dynamic dance experiences.

This course will help you find a sense of ease in your dancing and the pleasure of feeling alive in your body. Come animate your soul with this beginner-to-intermediate level class, and experience The Joy of Salsa!

Sign up here:
https://dreamingstone.org/events/fall-salsa-dance-series/

What to expect:
– A detailed lesson with plenty of practice time over the course of 1 hour (Tuesdays 6:00 – 7:00 pm).

– A partner is encouraged but not necessary. We will, however, rotate dance partners so be prepared to dance with everyone!

You may register up until our start date of October 13th, 2026.
$90 for the course ($15 a class).
$18 Drop-ins

09/07/2026

A reflection on Labor Day:

"The Haymarket Affair" by William Adelman.

https://www.illinoislaborhistory.org/the-haymarket-affair

08/12/2026

Start your week off right in this traditional, alignment-based yoga class with Magi King, Mondays from 5:45 to 7 pm.

Build strength, mobility, and coordination while relieving stress. Promote mindfulness in a beautiful and safe space.

This class welcomes all levels of experience, and modifications are available to accommodate personal needs and goals.

Drop-ins are welcome, though greater benefit will come from repeated visits.

The drop-in cost is $15 per class, or get a 6-class card for $80.

We encourage participants to bring their own yoga mat and blanket. We’ve got you covered if you don’t have either.

You will pay Magi directly upon arrival. Please be in touch with her if you have any questions – [email protected], or 828-429-2941

07/30/2026

Another magical year of camp completed. 🌱🎪✨️

This summer, we continued to nurture healthy imaginations, foster creative expression, and inspire appreciation for nature among our youth in Rutherford County. Over the course of five days, these curious kids gained valuable skills, including drumming, aerial silks, clowning, creative writing and the importance of caring for their environment.

Thank you to everyone who made this program possible! We look forward to more magic making next year!

Address

382 Pleasant Hill Road
Rutherfordton, NC
28139

Website

http://linktr.ee/dreamingstone

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