THE LANTERN DANCER | A Closer Look
The Lantern Dancer: A Closer Look
About Us
Artist Sue Weaver and her husband, Dale, opened Lantern Dancer in 1992 in partnership with Jerry and Rosemary Zepnick. The name came from a camping trip gone sideways when an old kerosene lantern caught fire. Dale grabbed it and ran out of the tent to put out the flames—but he was stark naked, dancing around stomping the fire with his bare feet while his friends laughed from their tents and hollered, “There goes the Lantern Dancer!” The name stuck, and so did the story.
After Sue and Dale retired, Doris Green became the proud owner in July 2005. She poured her heart into keeping the shop’s roots alive—offering one-of-a-kind Native American and contemporary Southwestern jewelry, alongside fine local art and crafts. Doris is known as the party queen—she’s even been known to call clients’ husbands before Christmas saying, “Your wife needs this piece.” She once spent a couple of nights sleeping in the back office just to stay close to the store. That’s the kind of passion she brings.
Before Lantern Dancer, Doris came from the world of banking and then advertising—back when it was a mostly male industry and the internet was brand new. She helped build global systems and offices, saying, “I’d fly to London, take a bath, and walk to my office to start working.” After retiring, she bought a yacht, joined a few prestigious clubs, and spent her happiest days cruising from Naples to the Keys and the Bahamas. Eventually, she made her way to Pagosa Springs, where she still lives today in a magazine-worthy home overlooking the San Juan Mountains.
Leanne Goebel, who has known Doris since 2002, joined the staff in 2014 and has managed all aspects of the business ever since. Leanne also served on the Board of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association and brings a deep respect for Native artistry and tradition.
I’m Christine Jones, the current owner. I fell in love with turquoise on a girls’ trip to Santa Fe. We just happened to be there during the SWAIA Indian Arts & Crafts Festival, and I bought my very first piece—a variscite pendant. It wasn’t fancy, but I loved it. Years later, after winning “1st Runner-Up” for Best Business in Pagosa through my former company’s work with Victims Assistance, Doris approached me in the spring of 2021 to purchase Lantern Dancer.
Good thing I wore my squash blossom that day, or I don’t think Doris would have even noticed me. In true Doris fashion, she had her people call me three times before I finally picked up. That’s her style—gracious and classy. When I finally agreed to meet, I walked into her beautiful home… and walked out with a business.
Since then, Lantern Dancer has been featured in magazines like Cowboys & Indians and has had the honor of designing for celebrities—something that still humbles us every time. It just goes to show that with a lot of love and hard work, every piece finds its person.
We’ve always believed in authenticity. While a few of our Navajo pearls are machine-made, almost everything else is handcrafted by Native American artists. Our stones are exceptional—you can see it right away. Compare them to mass production, and you’ll feel the difference in your bones.
As for the future, our goal is simple: to carry on this little store’s legacy of authenticity and heart. Whether you shop with us online or walk through our doors in Pagosa Springs, we hope you leave with something that lasts—and that you love.
