CLEO PARKER ROBINSON
leads the renowned 55-year-old Denverbased dance arts institution encompassing five operational pillars at a 50,000 squarefoot creative campus of historic and modern landmarks, the Cleo Parker Robinson Center for the Healing Arts. Inside there are two professional and two student ensembles, the CPRD Academy, Arts-In-Education and ArtsIn-Wellness outreach programs, and CPRD facilities rentals supporting arts development for 30 groups.
Ms. Parker Robinsonâs recognitions span local to international work in dance and educational outreach from corporate, civic, community, and artistic entities. As a master teacher/choreographer and cultural ambassador, she and the CPRD Ensemble toured 40 countries throughout Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, Mexico, and Colombia. In 2025 she was a guest artist at Brazilâs renowned Sacatar Institute. Awards and honors began since founding CPRD: the 1971 Peabody Award, Colorado Governorâs Award for Excellence (1974), Denver Mayorâs Award (1979), induction into the Colorado Womenâs Hall of Fame (1989) and the Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame (1994). Recognized in Whoâs Who in America Colleges and Universities, she holds four Honorary Doctorates: University of Denver (1991); Colorado College (2003), Regis University (2008), and the University of Colorado at Boulder (2021). The International Association of Dance Medicine and Science inducted her in 2021.
At the federal level from 1999 to 2005, Ms. Parker Robinson served on NEA panels on Dance, Expansion Arts, Arts America, and Inter-Arts panels for the USIS, and for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. She served on the National Council on the Arts advisory panel to the NEA Chair for policy, programs, and grants.
Ms. Parker Robinsonâs expertise is also recognized as a program founder of local and international dance art institutions. In 1987, she and four founders established the International Association of Blacks in Dance; in 2023 IABD received the National Medal of the Arts from President Biden. In 1992, she co-founded National Bahamian Dance Company. In 2005, she received the Kennedy Center Medal of Honor in the âMasters of African American Choreographersâ series. In 2011, she was named an Honorary Lifetime Trustee of the Denver Performing Arts Complex. In 2017, she received the highly prestigious Dance USA Honor Award. In 2018, the CPRD Academy created the BA in Dance program with Metropolitan State University; there in 2023 she was the Rachel B Noel Distinguished Visiting Lecturer. In January 2026, she accepted the Award of Merit in New York by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals.
Her philosophy of âOne Spirit, Many Voicesâ carries her creative voice to the world community as an example of Peace, Love, and Respect.... for Everybody!!
WINIFRED R. HARRIS currently serves as Associate Artist Director for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, honoring both the companyâs new and historical repertoire. She is co-creator of Dance for Schools, a codified curriculum for public education that is currently being taught in different high school programs throughout the United States. Ms. Harris has been described as âa visionary who creates art as conversation, viewing it as connective tissue to the world. A means to see beyond what we think of as limitsâ. Her choreography is story-telling with a balance of technical prowess and expression.
She founded Winifred R. Harris Between Lines, a contemporary modern dance company that performed both nationally and internationally and was also a part of the Music Center on Tour. Inclusive of educational and performance components, the significance of the companyâs name is grounded both in movement and life perspectives. She also founded Your Souls Movement Performing Arts, in Denver. A life-long student of mind-body spirit, Harris is a certified Yoga instructor as well as a Life Mastery Consultant.
As a dance artist, she had the opportunity to perform long before she began her formal training, as part of To My Fatherâs House, choreographed by her first dance teacher Cleo Parker Robinson. Through that work she learned to love dance and advanced her training at such a rapid rate that she became a company member at a young age. She is grateful for the long list of dance luminaries with whom she has trained or performed their works, including the incredible faculty at California Institute of the Arts. Harris was also a member of Dallas Black Dance Theater, where she headed the professional dance division. Subsequently, she traveled to New York, working with an array of companies. She later returned to California where she performed with different companies and music artists, and for industry events and film projects. Her passion for choreography and her connection to the wonders and concerns of our society helped birth the artist she is continually becoming.
Her teaching career spans residencies with the California University system: Long Beach, Northridge, and Los Angeles, the Orange County Performing Arts High School, the Los Angeles Music Center teaching division, ReykjavĂk Iceland, and London England. She continued choreographing for her company, as well as musicals, stage plays, fashion shows and other dance companies. Motivated by engagement and purpose in the choreographic space that engages the heart and mind, Harris spent time teaching within shelters for women and children, engaging them in the art of dance, helping strengthen their voice in the world. She was also part of The Heart Project, a special engagement foryouth in a critical place within their lives, either being released or on their way to lockup facilities. This purpose-driven work was awarded with the Mayorâs Award for Community Engagement.
Along with a nomination for the Lester Horton Award. Harris is grateful to be a Legends of Dance award winner. Through her love of teaching and dance making, Ms. Harris is elated that she is able to train, and endeavors to inspire generations of dance artists to come.
MICHAEL BATTLE (Ensemble Member /
Wardrobe Supervisor) A native of Detroit, MI, Mr. Battle began his dance training at Detroit School of the Arts at the age of 14. In 2009, he joined the Lula Washington Dance Theatre as a company member, and in 2019, joined Ronald K. Brown/ Evidence, A Dance Company as a company member. Mr. Battle has traveled to China, Russia, Haiti, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy-performing works by nationally and internationally acclaimed choreographers worldwide. He has performed with Grammy Award Winning and Nominated artists Kamasi Washington, Meshell Ndegeocello, Terence Blanchard, Aurturo OâFarrill, and Jody Watley. After guesting with the Ensemble in 2022, he is now in his fourth season as an Ensemble member with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.
CAELI BLAKE (Ensemble Member / Wardrobe
Supervisor) From Washington, DC, Ms. Blake began her formal training at BalletNova Center for Dance in Arlington, VA. She attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts under the tutelage of Charles Augins, Sandra Fortune-Greene, & Katherine Smith. Ms. Blake has also studied with various company institutions such as Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Dance Theater of Harlem at the Strathmore, and Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive. Blake graduated from Southern Methodist University, with a BFA in Dance Performance and BS in Education & Human Development. While being a full-time student at SMU, she joined B.Moore Dance. She has performed in choreographic works by Katherine Dunham, Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Robert Battle, Christopher Huggins, Kevin Iega Jeff, Silas Farley, Nicole Clarke-Springer, and many more. Ms. Blake joined the Ensemble in 2022. Now in her fourth season, Ms. Blake has performed at Jacobâs Pillow & Vail Dance Festival with the CPRD Ensemble.
TORI CARTER (Ensemble Member) A Dallas,
TX native, Ms. Carter began training at Dallas Black Dance Academy and Ozsoyâs School of Ballet. She graduated Valedictorian from Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy and earned her BFA in Dance Arts with a minor in Afro-American Studies from Howard University. In 2022, she showcased her choreography set on Company | E at the Richmond Dance Festival. Upon graduation, she performed for two seasons with Dallas Black Dance Theatreâs DBDT: Encore! under the direction of Nycole Ray. Sheâs had the privilege of performing works by Kevin Iega Jeff, Ronald K. Brown, Dwight Rhoden, Tommie-Waheed Evans, and more. Ms. Carter now joins the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble for her first season.
ADRIAN DOMINGUEZ (Ensemble Member)
A native of Denver, CO, Mr. Dominguez graduated from Anderson University with a B.A. in Dance Performance and has since made significant strides in his dance career. Most recently, he performed with Dance Kaleidoscope under the direction of Joshua Blake Carter, and previously under the guidance of David Hochoy. He has also had the privilege of dancing with Gregory Hancock Dance Theater, where he further developed his artistry. He has had the pleasure of performing works by renowned choreographers including David Hochoy,
Joshua Blake Carter, Earl Mosley, Nicole Springer, Eddy Ocampo, Sidra Bell, Christal Brown, Alexander Diaz, Vincent Hardy, and Matthew Rushing. Additionally, he spent his summers training at Earl Mosleyâs Institute of the Arts, enhancing his skills and artistic expression. Having been a guest artist with Cleo II, and an Apprentice to the Ensemble for one year, he is now in his first season as an Ensemble member.
JASMINE FRANCISCO (Ensemble Member
/ Ensemble Rehearsal Coordinator) Originally from Houston, TX, Ms. Francisco began her training at the Fine Arts Magnet School and graduated from The High School of Performing and Visual Arts as a dance major under the directions of Luanne Carter and Janie Carothers in 2012. She continued her education and received her Bachelors of Fine Arts 2016 from Point Park University while having an esteemed repertoire from Jessica Lang, Terrance Marling, Troy Powell, Bennyroyce Royon, Garfield Lemonius and MADBOOTS. In her
sophomore year of 2010, her student choreography project Tales of Courage was chosen to be featured at ACDA for the University. Six months after graduating from Point Park, she joined the Lula Washington Dance Theater in Los Angeles, CA for two seasons performing works by Kyle Abraham, Donald Bryd, Rennie Harris, Christopher Huggins and David RoussĂšve. Ms. Francisco moved to Denver, CO to begin her journey with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. She is now in her seventh season as an Ensemble member and also serves as the Ensemble Rehearsal Coordinator.
COREY JAMEL (Ensemble Member/ CPRD
Youth Ensemble Director) Born in Chicago, IL and growing up in Hammond IN, Mr. Jamel trained in multiple dance techniques at the Hammond Academy for the Performing Arts. An alum of Indiana University, he performed there in notable works including Kyle Abrahams Radio Show,Jose Limonâs Psalm, Andrea Millers Spill, Jerome Robbins Fanfare, and the original restaging of Twyla Tharpâs Deuce Coupe and Rennie Harrisâ Home. He has also toured professionally with Elizabeth Shea Dance in Philadelphia and New York, performed
overseas with Norwegian Creative Studios and toured with Anita Baker during her Songstress tour. After one season as an apprentice, Mr. Jamel is now in his sixth season as a Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble member, and his first season as Youth Ensemble Director.
DJ JEFFERSON (Ensemble Member)
A native of Atlanta, GA., Devrae âDJâ Jefferson began his training in the Magnet Program for Visual and Performing arts at Tri-Cities HS where he focused on all genres of dance. With a special affinity for ballet, he attended summer programs including Metropolitan Ballet Theater and Lines Contemporary Ballet. Having furthered his training, he subsequently received a BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem NC. Mr. Jefferson has performed with BallethnicDance Company and Dallas Black Dance Theater Encore. With extensive experience in coaching gymnastics and teaching a variety of dance techniques, he first joined Cleo Parker Robinson Dance as a guest artist for the holiday production Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum before becoming an Apprentice to the Ensemble. He is now in his second season as an Ensemble member.
GABRIELA MADURO (Ensemble Member/
Props Supervisor) Originally from Fremont CA, Ms. Maduro began her dance training at Yokoâs Dance and Performing Arts Academy and Nor Cal Dance Arts. She has attended Summer Intensives with the Ailey School, the Martha Graham School, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. She is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Performance. While at UCI, she was honored to perform as part of the distinguished Donald McKayleâs Etude Ensemble. She has performed works by Donald McKayle, Martha Graham, Darshan Singh Bhuller among others. Upon graduation, Ms. Maduro joined Cleo II. After one season with the second company, she joined the Ensemble, where she is now in her sixth season.
LAMAR D. ROGERS (Ensemble Member
)
Mr. Rogers is a performer and choreographer hailing from Philadelphia, PA. Having graduated from The Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, he later earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from The University of the Arts under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield. During his college career, he toured and performed with Eleone Dance Theatre under the direction and mentorship of Shawn-Lamere Williams. He has trained at various institutions throughout the Philadelphia area as a scholarship
student attending Koresh School of Dance, DCNS Summer Dance Intensive and the Rock School for Dance Education. Following graduation, he joined the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO!) as a full-time company artist. He has performed works by Sidra Bell, Kyle & Dinita Clark, Merce Cunningham, Ulysses Dove, TommieWaheed Evans, Helen Simoneau, Rennie Harris and other acclaimed choreographers. He is now in his third season with the Ensemble.
LAUREN SLAUGHTER
(Ensemble Member)
Lauren Slaughter, a Colorado native, began her dance training at Millerâs Dance Studio where her love for dance grew through ballets, showcases, and competitions. Lauren is a 2020 graduate of Washington University in St. Louis where she earned a B.A. in Biology and a Minor in Dance. At the University, she danced with the Washington University Dance Collective and performed works by choreographers such as Ting-Ting Chang, Diadie Bathily, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, and Dana Tai Soon Burgess. Following graduation, Lauren returned to
Colorado where she began her professional dance career with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. With the company, she has performed works by Donald McKayle, Christopher Huggins, Milton Myers, and Gary Abbott among several others, as well as toured at the Jacobâs Pillow Dance Festival. Lauren first joined the company as a Cleo II member, and after a season as an Apprentice, is now in her second season as an Ensemble member.
