Striking recognition of SOD's artistic excellence and commitment to community-building through the arts came from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1999.

In May 1999, the NEA awarded SOD a grant entitled "Artists and Communities: America Creates for the Millennium." Only one grant was awarded per state; SOD received the grant in Colorado in recognition of the vital community programs it conducts.

With this grant, SOD collaborated with New York choreographer Martha Bowers on a unique project, "Home Wisdom," a site-specific performance with live music inspired by the rich history of the Grant-Humphreys Mansion.

Over forty Denver artists performed the piece on October 18 and 19, 2000.

A second NEA grant awarded to SOD for our community work, entitled "Partnership for Conflict Resolution Education in the Arts," provided SOD staff, board and dancers with a seminar on conflict resolution through the arts conducted by the National Center for Conflict Resolution Education. SOD was one of ten recipients of this grant, selected from more than 400 organizations that applied nation-wide.