Warmest greetings from the entire Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Village
As we celebrate our 55th Anniversary Season, we are honored to welcome you to the 15th Annual Dancing with the Denver Stars —From Doo Wop to Hip Hop: Celebrating Girl Bands! Tonight, some of Denver’s most respected business, civic, and community leaders take the stage in support of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s (CPRD) renowned Arts-in-Education program and our expanding Arts-in-Well-Being initiatives. Bravo to these extraordinary Stars—your dedication of time, talent, and resources is making a lasting impact across the Front Range.
This past season has been vital and vibrant. CPRD’s professional Ensembles and Education & Wellness teams reached over 40,000 people through performances, residencies, and workshops in more than 150 venues across Colorado, the nation, and internationally. We hosted our 7th Annual Creative Academy and 31st Annual International Summer Dance Institute (ISDI), providing young dancers with world-class training from exceptional master teachers. Our year-round Academy now serves more than 800 students of all ages and abilities.
Through generous support from donors and tonight’s Stars, we continue to offer scholarships and grow our programs. We remain committed to using dance as a tool for education, healing, and connection—especially for K–12 students who attend our special concerts and events, often experiencing live dance, music, and spoken word for the very first time. Their joy, wonder, and healing inspire all of us.
We are deeply grateful to Event Co-Chairs Stacey and Michelle Campbell, Lisa Levin Appel, our DWTDS Steering Committee led by CPRD Board Chair Gwen Brewer, and the CPRD Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Thank you to our staff, volunteers, and the Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel team for helping bring this night to life.
Thank you for your continued support. Together, we are building a future where creativity, wellness, and cultural connection uplift every generation. Let us celebrate the spirit of the girl groups—and keep dancing toward a brighter, more compassionate world.
In the Spirit of Dance,
MALIK ROBINSON President and CEO
GWEN BREWER Board Chair
Greetings and welcome to the 15th annual of Dancing with the Denver Stars! This year’s celebration is particularly meaningful as it coincides with our 55th anniversary of the organization as we prepare for the Grand Opening of the CPRD Center for the Healing Arts.
For more than 5 decades, the organization has operated from a premise of deep investment in artistic excellence, civic engagement and individual development. Each decade has served as a building block for the next, strengthening programs and deepening impact. It takes time, and this event, particularly has been instrumental in the evolution of CPRD into a multifaceted cultural institution.
Comprised of the CPRD Ensembles, Theatres, Academy, Arts-in-Education and Arts-in-Wellness programs, the organization has cultivated growth across the board. Since 2010, our very first DWTDS, CPRD has established Cleo II, the dynamic artists who are directly responsible for increasing arts-in-education programming from an average of 40 schools per year to an average of 80 schools. In this time, CPRD forged the partnership for the BA in Dance program with MSUD completing our direct line of programming from the cradle to college. In 2017, CPRD formalized its technical theatre internship track, STREAM, and most recently broadened this cradle to career pathways with the Mental Health is Wealth – a trauma informed, workforce program in partnership with the Farley Health Policy Center.
In the face of greater economic and social uncertainty, we rely on the arts and strong cultural institutions to keep us grounded, healthy and vibrant. In this light, CPRD is working now while building for the future. With the new Center for the Healing Arts on the horizon, CPRD is poised to augment its capacity to serve the growing needs and demands of our communities. In turn, your support ensures program vitality and accessibility – on a daily basis throughout the year. Tonight, we ask that you consider making an investment in CPRD that will propel us into the new year as we launch new and expanded programming.
Welcome to the 14th Annual Dancing with the Denver Stars, presented by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance! Tonight, we invite you to enjoy an evening of dazzling dance entertainment as Denver’s leading business, civic and community leaders step out of their comfort zones to perform choreographed routines alongside the professional dancers of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.
But this event is more than just a showcase of talent; it’s an opportunity to create a meaningful impact. Cleo Parker Robinson Dance reaches over 25,000 youth annually through innovative education programs. Their Arts-in-Education initiative provides in-school, after-school, and summer classes for pre-K through grade 12 students in underserved communities across Metro Denver. Additionally, their newest pillar, Arts-in-Wellbeing—developed in partnership with the Farley Health Policy Center—integrates evidence-based mental health practices into arts programming. Their Mental Health is Wealth program offers paid workforce development opportunities, blending mental health coursework with artistic therapies for students aged 14-25.
All funds raised in the paddle raise tonight will directly support the Arts-in-Wellbeing program (which includes Mental Health is Wealth), helping CPRD to both enhance and expand its reach to positively impact even more young lives.
A special thank you goes out to the Dancing with the Denver Stars Steering Committee, led by CPRD Board Chair Gwen Brewer, as well as the CPRD Board of Directors, Advisory Board, President and CEO Malik Robinson, and the entire Cleo Parker Robinson Dance team—Cleo II, the Youth Ensemble, and Junior Youth Ensemble. We also extend our appreciation to Rhetta Shead, Hillary Harding, and the dedicated CPRD staff for their hard work and commitment.
Sincerely,
Lisa Levin Appel Board Member CPRD
Welcome to the 15th Annual Dancing With the Denver Stars and the 55th Anniversary Season of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
Denver has a true treasure in Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (CPRD)—an organization that has grown far beyond Colorado while deeply impacting lives here at home. When we were invited to co-chair this premier celebration, we accepted with gratitude and honor, knowing we would be supporting an institution that represents the very essence of art and culture in our community. Through CPRD’s performances, classes, and programs, people of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. We are humbled and thankful that tonight’s DWTDS is a historic sold-out event—thanks to all of you.
For 55 years, CPRD has used its artistry—through storytelling, music, and dance—to build bridges between communities, ensuring that everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. The Robinson family’s legacy, beginning with Cleo and the late Thomas Robinson and continuing under the leadership of their son, Malik Robinson, is a testament to vision, resilience, and excellence. As family business owners, we understand the dedication it takes to sustain an organization over decades while staying true to its mission.
We own Campbell Litigation, P.C., a labor and employment defense law firm representing corporate America in discrimination, wage and hour, and employee benefit cases, and Campbell HR, LLC, which provides organizational effectiveness, professional development, and talent acquisition services. As Denver-based family business owners supporting another Denver-based family business, we invite you to join us in ensuring CPRD’s continued success—tonight and throughout its 55th year—through your generosity and engagement.
Let’s make this milestone 15th DWTDS the biggest and most memorable celebration in CPRD’s history.
Thank you for your participation, enthusiasm, and steadfast support.
Sincerely,
Michelle Campbell
Respectfully,
Stacey Campbell, CEO, Campbell HR, LLC Shareholder, Campbell Litigation, P.C.
With gratitude to our Sponsors, Community Partners, and Service Sponsors for making the 15th Anniversary of Dancing with the Denver Stars our most successful to date.
PLATINUM
CoBank
GOLD SPONSORS
Mission Yogurt | Safeway | Southwest Airlines | Xcel Energy
SILVER SPONSORS
Delta Dental | Dr. Reggie and Faye Washington
BRONZE SPONSORS
Empower | CHFA | Colorado State University | Colorado Trust | Comcast
Denver International Airport | Fentress Architects | Janus Henderson | Maude Lofton | Vectra Bank
VIP RECEPTION SPONSORS
Mortenson Construction | United Airlines
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
All Health Network | Alpine Bank | Archetype Distillery | Butler Snow | Colorado Symphony | Denver Art Museum
Denver Museum of Nature and Science | HCA HealthONE | Huntington Bank | Porter Billups
PRODUCT & SERVICE PARTNERS
Enstrom Candies | Oakridge Winery| Safeway Floral Department | Sheraton Hotel | Vino Del Sol
DINNER COMMITTEE
Michelle Barnes | Kim Bimestefer and Sara Wahls | Gwen and Moses Brewer | Ivan Burwell | Jane and Tim Davis
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance | JE Dunn | Lisa Hogan | In Memory of Jim Parker | Kbean Inc./Juno Lee Huy Pham/Innovative Retail | Victoria Scott Haynes | Alfred Walker
SHED G
Master of Ceremony
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON
Mistress of Ceremony
PERFORMANCE:
CPRD Ensemble and Cleo II
VIDEO: Anna Jo Haynes
PRESENTATION:
Cleo Parker Robinson Legacy Award to Anna Jo Haynes
Lisa Levin Appel
Michelle and Stacey Campbell Event Co-Chairs
GRAND ENTRANCE OF DENVER STARS
DENVER STAR DANCES, PART 1
Jeronimo Villa and Kayla Massey
Debbie Brown and Adrian Dominguez
Loren Furman and Devrae “DJ” Jefferson
Nicole Dorsey and Michael Battle
Dianne Myles and Lamar Rogers
Darrell Watson and Melvin Sutton
Brian Flores and Koura Wright
GWEN BREWER Chair, CPRD Board of Directors Chair, DWTDS Steering Committee
MALIK ROBINSON President and CEO
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
VIDEO: Arts-in-Education
PADDLE RAISE
Simone Ross
The Gala Team
DENVER STAR DANCES, PART 2
Kelli Ogunsanya and Corey Jamel
Chad Olivier and Lauren Slaughter
THE STARLETTES:
The Supremes
Janice Sinden, Faye Tate, Dwinita Tyler
TLC
Zelda DeBoyes, Gloria Neal, Tori Vendegna
Destiny's Child
Jocelyn Hittle, Kelli Kelly, Simone Ross
Paul Adkins and Nasira Watson
Juan Suarez and Gabriela Maduro
Dr. Andre Mansion and Jasmine Francisco
Mike Johnston and Caeli Blake
Michael Sapp and Yoojung Hahm
GRAND FINALE
Closing Remarks and Special Acknowledgements
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CLEO PARKER ROBINSON
Founder / Artistic Director
WINIFRED R. HARRIS
Associate Artistic Director
RHETTA SHEAD
Production Director
VICTORIA SHEAD-JOHNSON
Stage Manager
MAX NELSON-STEINHOFF
Assistant Stage Manager
CEDRIC D. HALL
Cleo II Rehearsal Director
JOHN LAMBERT ROBERTS
Cleo II Rehearsal Director
TREY GRIMES
Technical Advisor
CONOR MORFORD
Technical Director / Camera Operator
PAULINA NUNEZ
Camera Operator
JODY GILBERT
(Kolorgraphix) Program Design
MARY HART
Program Editor / Volunteers Coordinator
STAN OBERT
CPRD Photographer
LAWRENCE ALEXANDER
Reflections in Video Productions
LISA PERRY
Blacktie Denver Society Photographer
STEERING COMMITTEE
Gwen Brewer
Cleo Parker Robinson
Malik Robinson
Rhetta Shead
Hillary Harding
Lawrence Alexander
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON
Founder / Artistic Director
MALIK ROBINSON President and CEO
RHETTA SHEAD
Vice President of Theatre Operations
HILLARY HARDING
Vice President of Development and Communications
SHELBY JAROSZ
Vice President of Educational Programs
ISAAC TAFOYA Comptroller
MARY HART Director of Booking and Touring
WINIFRED R. HARRIS
Associate Artistic Director
CEDRIC D. HALL Cleo II Rehearsal Director
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
DERRICK HINTON Arts and Wellness Manager
HANNA GHADESI Marketing Manager
MICAH BURSH Marketing Communications Specialist
KOLLIN PAYNE Grants Manager
COLLEEN CURRAN Advancement Manager
VICTORIA SHEAD JOHNSTON Senior Academy Manager
KYLIE STRAUB Academy Manager
AMANDINE AUBERTOT Academy Assistant
ARTISTIC STAFF
JOHN LAMBERT ROBERTS Cleo II Rehearsal Director
JESSICA HORTON Youth Ensemble Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GWEN BREWER Chair
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON* Founder / Artistic Director
MALIK ROBINSON President and CEO
TYRONE GANT Treasurer
GABRIELA MADURO Academy Assistant
THERESA PEOPLES Academy Assistant
JASMINE VALENCIA Academy Assistant
AMELIA DIETZ-ROWE
Graphic Artist
TREY GRIMES
Technical Advisor
CONOR MORFORD
Technical Director
ANASTAZIA CONEY
Senior Technician
KOURA WRIGHT Junior Youth Ensemble Director
Shale Wong Vice-Chair
Lisa Levin Appel / Toni Baruti
Darryl Collier / Tim Davis /Zelda DeBoyes
Nicole Dorsey / Demesha Hill / Lisa Hogan
Eric Itambo / Kelli Kelly / Robert Kenney
Robert Thompson / J. Matt Thornton
Alfred Walker / Jacob Welch
EMERITUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Judge Raymond Dean Jones J.D.* Chairman Emeritus
Les Franklin / Helen Franzgrote / Marceline Freeman
Henry Lowenstein / Nancy McClosky
Dawn Nakamura-Kessler / Edmond “Buddy” Noel *
Schyleen Qualls Brown * / Tom Robinson *
Lester Ward / Faye & Reggie Washington
*Founding Members of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Board of Directors
