ISDI is a five-week artist in-residence program that hosts master teachers from around the world that was recognized as the Top Summer Program for youth by Colorado Parent Magazine in 2004. The program will run from June 21 - July 23, 2010. For more information please call 303 295 1759, ext. 10.
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Devin BakerA native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Mr. Baker began dancing at a young age with local community and hip hop groups. His formal training began at age eighteen with Iibada, an African youth ensemble, and later with Kenyette Dance Company under the direction of Vanessa Owens. Upon moving to Chicago, he trained with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre under Kevin Iega Jeff, Gary Abbott, and Elana Anderson. This is Mr. Baker’s first season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Kendell DempsterBorn in Port-Of- Spain, Trinidad, Mr. Dempster began his training at Newark Community School of the Arts, under the direction of Alfred Gallman’s Newark Dance Theater in Newark, New Jersey, which led to his acceptance at Arts High School in Newark. Upon graduation he was named a Star Ledger Scholarship recipient in dance, received the American Ballet Theatre “Make A Ballet” Costume Design Award for “Firebird”, and obtained his BFA in dance from Purchase College. He performed alongside Ben Vereen in “Follow the Star." As a costume designer, he has designed and constructed costumes for the Kevin Wynn Collection, American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensives Program, Sidra Bell Dance New York, New Jersey Performing Arts Center Young Artists Program and Ronnie D. Carney Dance Collection. This is Mr. Dempster’s second season with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Cedric HallMr. Hall began dancing with the Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre’s CONSORT Youth Dance Training and Development Program. He worked his way through the ranks to become a full company member. Mr. Hall has been featured in a number of musicals including “The Wiz”, “West Side Story” and “Footloose”, and has worked with such renowned choreographers as Terrance Greene, Dianne McIntyre, Gary Abbott, and Kevin “Iega” Jeff. This is Mr. Hall’s third season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Katie JenkinsA native of Kansas City, Ms. Jenkins began her training at Graves Talent Company. As a scholarship recipient from Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York and The Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, she began her professional career with Wylliams / Henry Danse Theatre out of Kansas City, working with choreographers such as Donald McKayle, Kevin Iega Jeff, Milton Myers, and David Parsons. She has danced with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company II, CityDance Ensemble in Washington DC, and most recently TILT Contemporary Dance Company of Maui, Hawaii. She has performed, taught and choreographed nationally and internationally, graduating with a BFA in Dance from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri- Kansas City. This is Ms. Jenkins third season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Chris PageOriginally from St. Louis, Mr. Page received his training from the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City / Conservatory of Music & Dance as a B.F.A. Dance Major. He has performed with the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, Wylliams / Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Owen / Cox Dance Group, the St. Louis Black Repertory, the Madison-Cannon Project among others. As a choreographer, he has served as resident choreographer for Young Musical Theatre Workshop (COCA), UMKC Musical Theatre & Opera Department, That Uppity Theatre Co. (Becoming Emily), as well as other high-schools, community theaters and dance companies. This is Mr. Page’s first season with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Edgar PageMr. Page is originally from Detroit, Michigan, where he began his dance training through the Detroit Public School System before furthering his studies at the Alvin Ailey Dance School, the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and others. A former member of the Dayton Contemporary Second Dance Company under the direction of Shonna Hickman-Matlock, he is also founder and choreographer for Ebony Vision Dance Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mr. Page has taught throughout the Detroit area; Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Dayton, Ohio. He has been resident choreographer for Cass Technical High School's Dance Workshop since 2002 and guest choreographer for numerous other schools and dance programs. While a teaching assistant at Western Michigan University, he received his BFA in Dance as an M. L. K. Cultural Diversity Scholar and Wade H. McCree Jr. Incentive Scholar. This is Mr. Page’s first season with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Gabi RojasBorn and raised in the world of circus, Ms. Rojas has performed with her mother for Carter Circus, Pickle Family Circus, and Big Apple Circus. She studied at the New York School for Circus Arts, Albuquerque School for Circus Arts, Dance Theater of the Southwest, Dance Theater of Harlem, and University of New Mexico. In 2008, she was nominated by Dance Magazine for the ACDFA student performer of the year, and graduated from the University of New Mexico Summa Cum Laude with a dual degree in theater and dance. She was also selected to join the Cirque du Soliel performance roster. This is Ms. Rojas first season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Katie SwensonA Colorado native, with a B.A. in Dance from Colorado State University, Ms. Swenson represented CSU at American College Dance Festivals in Iowa, Colorado and California. Through stagecraft experience at the American Dance Festival, she worked with Pilobolus, Chunky Move, Brenda Angiel Aerial Dance, and Bill T. Jones /Arnie Zane Dance. She has performed in works by Chung-Fu Chang, Kevin O’Keefe, Kea Kappahua-Hesse, Gabe Masson, and Jane Slusarski-Harris, as well as with IMPACT Dance and Moraporvida Contemporary Dance. Her own work has been seen in the New Visions Dance Festival and the Denver Independent Choreographers Project. Her work with Colorado Ballet’s Education & Outreach Dance Renaissance Program in the Denver Public Schools system led her to working with pre-kindergarten children as a creative movement teacher for the past three years. Having recently decided to focus her time and energies on dancing in Denver, Ms. Swenson is in her second season with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Christina TaylorBorn in Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. Taylor attended the certified program at the Alvin Ailey School before continuing her training at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. While on full scholarship under Georg De La Pena, she received the opportunity to study at the Lines Ballet School where she studied with Alonzo King, and was subsequently awarded a scholarship to attend the 2008 Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program. She has worked with many great choreographers including Helen Picket, Edgar Zendegas, Tim Rushton, Margo Sappington, Peter Pucci, and Enric Labayen. Ms. Taylor is in her second season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Kamilah Shawnte TurnerMs. Turner began training at Diggs School of Dance. She attended college at NC School of the Arts but received her BFA from Alvin Ailey/Fordham University. She has apprenticed with Urban Bush Women and performed with the national tour of Elton John and Tim Rice's “Aida." This is Ms. Turner’s third season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Jessi Knight WalkerA native of Pittsboro, N.C., Ms. Knight Walker began her training on scholarship at Dancentre in Chapel Hill N.C. under the instruction and mentorship of Mary Norkus and Melody Eggen. As an undergraduate at Duke University, she pursued a self-designed dance degree with an emphasis in music and education. While at Duke, she studied and performed with various Duke faculty members, Duke’s Modern and African Repertory Ensembles, and with guest artists Billy Siegenfeld of Jump Rhythm Jazz Project and Ron K. Brown of Evidence. Since graduation in 2004, Ms. Knight Walker has pursued her passion as a teacher and choreographer, creating works for Studio A Dancers, Durham School of the Arts, and for herself and her performance partner ShaLeigh Comerford. This is Ms. Knight Walker’s fourth season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Melissa L. TylerA native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ms. Tyler received her formal training at Howard University where she earned her BFA in dance under the direction of Dr. Sherrill Berryman-Johnson. She continued her studies as an intern with Dallas Black Dance Theatre and Ronald K. Brown / Evidence. This is Ms. Tyler’s second season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
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Shanna WoodsMs. Woods is a native of Delray Beach, Florida where she began her training as a singer and dancer at the Ballet Conservatory. Her dance studies continued under Ms. Penni Greenly, Ms. Julie Bravata (former ABT principal dancer),and with Ms. Kim Dobies at Southern Dance Theatre on a full scholarship. Further training came at Dreyfoos School of the Arts under Mr. Jeff Satinoff and Ms. Gina Buntz. She later became a member of the Southern Dance Senior Company, and continued to grow in dance under the mentorship of Andre Punn, Gina Buntz, Gary Abbott, and Kevin Iega Jeff. This is Ms. Woods’ first season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. |
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is an international, cross-cultural, dance-arts and educational institution rooted in African American traditions, and dedicated to excellence in providing instruction, performances and community programs, for intergenerational students, artists and audiences.
39 - Years of service and excellence in the arts.
55,000 - Patrons experience CPRD programs and performances each year.
23 - Percentage of participants who receive free services
20,000 - K12 students reached each year throughout the seven county Denver metro area.
Cleo Parker Robinson Biography...>>
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