Blog Archives

23 Aug

"We Are Family" At 2026 Dancing With The Denver Stars

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If you’ve ever learned a choreographed dance either counting it in sets of eights or thinking “quick, quick, slow,” you understand the amount of time, work and dedication it takes to learn and perfect a two-minute Dancing with the Denver Stars partner routine. Especially knowing that one-half of every team isn’t a pro, but instead, a well-known local luminary who excels in other career arenas. Fortunately, anyone in the audience can marvel at the intricate routines presented on stage. This event sells out every year.

Event co-chairs CBS Colorado anchor Michelle Griego and U.S. Bank commercial banking relationship manager Chris Ross

On Saturday, Aug. 22, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance once again delighted an audience of supporters hosting its annual Dancing with the Denver Stars fundraiser at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. This year, 13 pairs of dancers embraced the “We Are Family” theme, celebrating musical families and dance with creative routines. Dancers and their CPRD partners:
Kourtny Garrett, president and chief executive officer of the Downtown Denver Partnership, and Santos Garcia
Nick Lopez, CEO of the Latin American Education Foundation and Lauren Slaughter
Kelly Werthmann, CBS Colorado anchor/reporter, and Corey Jamel
Jeremy Fusilier, assistant vice president and senior operations manager at U.S. Bank, and Jasmine Francisco
Andrew Holder, director of community relations and local government affairs for Xcel Energy Colorado, and Tori Carter
Jimmy Johnson, senior director of wildlife health and conservation for the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, and Michael Battle
Mike Katz, market CEO at BOK Financial, and Gabriela Maduro
Annie Lee, president/CEO of Colorado Access, and Tripp Starr
Janet Lopez, senior director of policy, partnerships and learning at Denver Foundation, and Max Nelson-Steinhoff
Jonna McGrath, vice president of United Airlines airport operations in Denver, and Lamar Rogers

Anna and 2026 Denver dancing star Kevin Sullivan, managing director at Southwest Busines

Kevin Sullivan, managing director at Southwest Business, and Koura Wright
Jaco Swart, vice president at PCL Construction, and India Johnson
Srinivas Vallem, technical lead, information technology, at CoBank and Caeli Blake

Along with dancers on stage: event co-chairs Michelle Griego, CBS Colorado anchor-reporter, and Chris Ross, commercial banking relationship manager at U.S. Bank, and honorary chair Karen McNeil-Miller. Ed Dwight was honored with this year’s Cleo Parker Robinson Legacy Award. In 1961, he made history as the first Black officer chosen for the aerospace training program that fed into NASA’s astronaut corps. In 2024, at age 90, he finally traveled on a Blue Origin flight, becoming the oldest person to fly in space.

Learn more about the spectrum of extraordinary Cleo Parker Robinson Dance programs and services at https://cleoparkerdance.org/.

 

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19 Jan

CPRD Ribbon-Cutting Opens Center for the Healing Arts

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With the snip of shiny ceremonial scissors, a crowd of supporters, staff, dancers, family, elected officials and interested onlookers were all part of a spirited and heartfelt ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially opened Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Center for the Healing Arts. Most-heard phrase throughout five days of grand-opening activities: “It’s finally here!”

Style meets function with a reverent respect of the past at the beautiful structure at the intersection of Park Avenue, Washington and 20th streets in Denver’s iconic Five Points neighborhood. The Center’s new design nicely complements the adjoining, historic former Shorter Community AME Church, CPRD’s smaller venue, while incorporating state-of-art attributes for four new studios and a theater for performances.

Minister Daryl Walker (left) and Brother Jeff

On a chilly Saturday, Jan. 17, guests, performers and speakers helped ward off the cold with their warmth during the outdoor portion of the ceremony. Among those speaking to the crowd: CPRD President/CEO Malik Robinson; co-founder Schyleen Qualls, who flew in from San Francisco to attend; Denver City Council’s Five Points representative Darrell Watson; Denver Mayor Mike Johnston; Kim Bimestefer, co-chair of the grand opening leadership committee, who made remarks on behalf of Gov. Jared Polis; and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who helped with federal support of the project. African drummers led guests into the building after the ribbon-cutting. There, Board Chair Gwen Brewer and founder Cleo Parker Robinson spoke to the enthusiastic crowd.

The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Healing Center for the Arts at 2025 Washington St

Everyone agrees that the new Center represents the mission to move forward with even more emphasis on utilizing performance arts as a way to grow and heal kids and adults alike. Classes go beyond dance into areas such as percussive arts. One thing we learned during the grand opening: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance really does feel like a positive, joyful, close-knit community (and it showcases great talent during engaging performances as well).

One of the master classes offered to guests.

To learn more about Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, go to https://cleoparkerdance.org/ (and be sure to read more about its namesake founder and staff). To see Spotlight Colorado coverage of the Grand Opening Donor Gala, please visit: https://photos.blacktie-colorado.com/event/vip-gala-celebrates-cleo-parker-robinson-dance-25-million-expansion/ .

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17 Jan

VIP Gala Celebrates Cleo Parker Robinson Dance $25 Million Expansion

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It’s a given that anything iconic, award-winning Cleo Parker Robinson takes on automatically sparkles with her magic touch. No surprise, the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Center for the Healing Arts only adds to her legacy. The $25 million addition to Cleo Village is the result of a beautiful collaboration among supporters, staff, architects and builders, and all-important donors that turned a historic venue into a glorious functional space with respect to the past, present and future. The grand opening? So special it earned five days of public-invited participation Jan. 15-19, 2026, from free community activities and special master classes to the official Center ribbon-cutting and tours, ending up with encouraged participation in this year’s MLK Day Marade in Denver.

Ed Stumpp and Lisa Hogan, campaign co-chair and board member

On Thursday, Jan. 15, donors and supporters—dressed to the nines—gathered at the new space to celebrate the Center’s grand opening at a gala filled with energy and optimism. The evening began with a short reception and entertainment from a Colorado Symphony Orchestra string quartet. CPRD President/CEO Malik Robinson talked to the group about the project with gratitude and led a champagne toast to the new venue.

Guests adjourned to the Center’s theater to settle in for captivating performances beginning with “The Love You Carry,” a lyrical solo danced by Cleo Parker Robinson, choreographed by Chris Page-Sanders. It was followed by excerpts from “Spiritual Suite,” choreographed by Cleo Parker Robinson, featuring CPRD principal and ensemble dancers. Each dance inspired a standing ovation and the final segment, “To My Father’s House,” was so spirited that the entire audience was standing, clapping along and surely anticipating their next church visit as dancers took their final bows. Cleo and Malik addressed the audience before everyone adjourned to the second level for dinner. The evening ended with a Club Jazz performance featuring Dianne Reeves, Billy Childs, Isaiah Collier and Tim Regis.

Agatha and Center architect Curtis Fentress

CPRD Center for the Healing Arts adds new studios and amenities to the organization’s historic Five Points location, creating a significant cultural hub for health, education and arts in Colorado. Cleo Parker Robinson Dance describes itself as “an international, performing arts and educational institution rooted in African American traditions, dedicated to excellence in providing cross-cultural instruction, performances and enrichment programs empowering all our communities by cultivating the healthy mind, body and spirit development for intergenerational students, artists and audiences.”

Since 1970, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance remains Denver’s global cultural and educational dance and performing arts anchor and its namesake was ABD co-founder and 2021 National Medal of Arts Recipient. CPRD is well known for its annual Dancing With the Denver Stars performance fundraiser. View upcoming events at https://cleoparkerdance.org/tickets. To see Spotlight Colorado coverage of the official grand opening ribbon-cutting, go to: https://photos.blacktie-colorado.com/event/cprd-ribbon-cutting-opens-center-for-the-healing-arts/ .

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11 Aug

Dancing With The DENVER Stars Shines A Mile High

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From city leaders to the president of Xcel and CBS Colorado’s chief meteorologist, their careers are varied. You initially hear the well-known names of those performing in this year’s Dancing with the Denver Stars and might think, “Don’t quit your day job.” But let these 11 intrepid (and well-rehearsed!) folks put on a costume and some dancin’ shoes, and they shine brightly like the Denver stars they are.

Robert Kenney, Xcel Energy president (left), and Dave Aguilera, CBS Colorado chief meteorologist

On Saturday, Aug. 10, more than 750 guests gathered at the Hilton Denver City Center in their black-tie best to enjoy the sold-out event…called by some “the very best and most fun fundraiser in Denver.” The DWTDS Gala is the premier fundraiser for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, led since 1970 by its namesake founder, a luminary in her own right. In fact, she could be her own galaxy. Put Cleo Parker Robinson’s name on any dance event and you know you’re in for quality entertainment, as well as good works to help others. Cody Teets and Morris Price, Jr., served as event co-chairs.

Event co-chairs Cody Teets and Morris Price, Jr.

The evening began with a couple of animated receptions before the crowd made its way to the ballroom for a plated dinner, some dance moves from emcee Shed G and a warm welcome from Robinson. Then it was time to settle back and enjoy the delightful dance routines and theatrics of: Dave Aguilera, Chief Meteorologist, CBS Colorado (KCNC Channel 4); Michelle Barnes, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Human Resources; Makesha Boothe, President, Sistah Biz; Brian Fitzpatrick, VP General Manager, Denver, Mortenson; Jocelyn Hittle, Associate Vice Chancellor, CSU; Robert Kenney, President, Xcel; LaTonya Lacy, Deputy Chief of Staff, City of Denver Mayor’s Office; Andrea Miller, Director of Environmental, Social and Governance, Delta Dental; Mahes Prasad, SVP US Bank; Dr. Dedrick Sims, CEO, Sims Fayola Foundation; Samantha Unell, Senior Manager of State & Higher Education, Southwest Airlines. Members of CPRD Ensemble and Cleo II paired with the dancing Stars, and the audience enjoyed performances by CPRD’s Youth Ensemble and Junior Youth Ensemble.

Six DWTDS alums returned for a special group performance as The Constellations. Albus Brooks, Terrance Carroll, Elias Diggins, Bruce Johnson, Charles “CJ” Johnson and Huy Pham performed a group dance celebrating The Bad Boys of Rock ‘n Roll. Well-known Denverites we spotted in the crowd, not on the event dance card, include: Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, State Sen. Janet Buckner, former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, CSU President Amy Parsons (previous DWTDS event chair), former Denver First Lady Wilma Webb and Northglenn Mayor Meredith Leighty.

Cleo Parker Robinson

This year, funds will support CPRD’s newest pillar, Arts-In-WellBeing, emphasizing the value of expanding access to the arts to address needs for community and personal health. The organization integrates proven holistic approaches to address mental and physical health challenges across all of its offerings. A full 100 percent of gala funds go to CPRD for overall work in the community that includes paid internships plus funding health, movement and well-being events in Denver and numerous rural areas around Colorado. In addition to her own revered dance institution, Robinson is a co-founder of The International Association of Blacks in Dance. The group was a recipient of a National Medal of Arts, with Robinson and all founders present at that White House ceremony in 2023. Look for Black Orpheus, presented by CPRD and Denver Arts & Venues, Sept. 14-15 at Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

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