Meet Ashley Patchen | Owner of Alchemy of Movement, Dance & Fitness Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Patchen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I fell in love with dance when I was in college, which was much later than most “dancers.” I found it really difficult to find a place to dance that was accepting of “older” dancers (I mean… I was an ancient 22 years at the time). The club scene was too gross for me, and the regular dance studios felt competitive, catty, young, and too perfect. I would find myself in a “beginner 14+” class with a whole bunch of 10-16 year olds who were so clearly not beginners. I was intimidated, frustrated, and had no idea where to begin.

I imagined that if I had felt that way, certainly there would be other adults who wanted to find a fun, judgement-free zone to explore music & movement. Of course, I was a tad worried that there was no sustainable business model for adult dancing—no one else was doing it. And let’s be honest, adults spend all their money on their kids’ activities anyway. But I had learned a valuable lesson from my mom at a young age that helped me clarify all those doubts. She taught me that if you do what you love, people who love what you do will find you.

And that’s how Alchemy came to be! Well, to be fair, Alchemy of Movement had been in business for a long time—since the late ’90s. But I took over and quickly made an opinionated (and at the time, very unpopular) decision to get rid of kids classes. We don’t even allow kiddos in the lobby anymore. It took a while for people to get used to it, but now, we have this cool environment where adults feel comfortable acting like kids themselves.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Alchemy didn’t start as some big, polished vision. I started renting a room at Alchemy for one hour a week. Years later, I ended up owning the place. No business degree, no management experience, and no idea what I was doing. Add in a torn ACL and a global pandemic, and we’re off and running!

Clearly, getting here was not easy. Running a business is messy. It’s finance, plumbing issues, problem solving and hard conversations. It’s leading a team while wondering if you’re doing any of it right. But it’s also deeply meaningful work—and I’m wired for challenge. I don’t thrive when things are easy. I want complexity, responsibility, and the chance to build something that matters.

What sets Alchemy apart is that it’s not just a business—it’s a place people belong to. It’s weird and wonderful and full of joy. We don’t sell a product; we create an experience. People walk in to take a dance class and leave feeling like they’ve found their people.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you don’t have to run your business the way everyone else does. You just have to lead with integrity, be clear about your values, and care deeply—about your staff, your community, and your vision.

So what do I want the world to know? That you can build something magical without pretending to be perfect. That joy, movement, community, a really good playlist (and a lot of coffee) can change people’s lives.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m not your classic Boulderite, I love being outdoors, but I hate uneven ground, so hiking’s out. And skiing is too cold, too many cars, and way too risky for my knees. But I do love quality time and good food, so we’d probably eat at my favorite food spots: Blackbelly, Cozobi, Azafran, Fleishman’s Bagel truck and Busaba’s Thai. We’d hang out and chat over coffee at Verb or Dry Storage and get a few treaties at Jeannot’s or Suti & Co. We’d walk and talk, hang out at Alchemy, play with the fun contraptions at “Into the Wind” on Pearl, maybe get a massage or check out the hot springs, and see a show or live performance or go dancing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh gosh, I don’t even know where to begin. This place is full of amazing and genuine people. My entire staff—instructors, reception, cleaning alike—all deserve a shoutout. They love this place and these people (sometimes more than their own family) and would give anything to be sure someone has a good experience. They spread the joy of dance in such a deeply profound way. THEY are Alchemy.

I also have to shout out to my fiancé Justin and my entire ridiculously chatty & loving Italian family. They’ve taught me so many lessons and have guided & supported me all the way. I could not have done it without them!

And to Katie, Kathy, Diane, Corlin, Astrid, Mary & Laura. My dearest friends, surrogate moms, and Alchemy fans for life. They’ve supported me, cried with me, been injured with me & healed with me. We’re truly growing old together, learning about life and loss with each other, and appreciating the value of having true friends. I will be forever grateful for them.

Website: https://alchemyofmovement.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/alchemyofmovement

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alchemyofmovement/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlchemyOfMovement

Image Credits
Angie Kato Rodriguez
Conrad Poston