Denver and Beyond
A cultural institution since 1970
CPRD is a Denver institution, based in Five Points, that has served the community for 49 years, teaching generations of families the beauty, fun and healing power of dance.
About CPRD
From children as young as three and students pursuing dance on a collegiate level to adult fitness classes designed with fun in mind, CPRD offers a wide range of classes for every skill level.
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We perform thousands of hours of outreach every year, allowing children from all over the metro area to experience the healing and invigorating effects of movement through dance.
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Our Ensemble is comprised of legendary and emerging artists—working to transcend the boundaries of culture, class and age while tapping into the complexity of the human condition.
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The CPRD Theatre is a 240-seat venue and is an ideal location for a variety of activities, including concerts, weddings, recitals, meetings, performances, lectures, and more.
More Details“In 1970, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance was born out of a deep love for Black people and our African heritage. The very roots of our community strive for common ground and compassion while never losing sight of a rich heritage. We protest the status quo which suppressed our voices, our citizenship, our creativity, our liberties. Every racial equity gain we now proudly celebrate as a nation has been paid with real lives we must remember—even if painful. Too often our country regresses into fear and hate, so our work doesn’t stop: our art revolves around social justice. Often our protests are not heard until our voices are amplified. We are fully in support of the protests, the demands for justice, and the work to build equitable systems.”
— Malik Robinson, Executive Director, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
“As a nation, we find ourselves in a Sankofa* moment, realizing we must confront our past of 400 years of racism, injustice, and inequity, recognizing that while strides have been made through peaceful protest, we have many more miles to go. We need an open vital conversation and honest dialogue—an exchange without fear of reprisal. We must be able to have our voices heard, especially when systems in place no longer serve everyone. In this struggle, the tool of the artist is creativity. I believe we are stronger than this polarization and that we are capable of moving forward and evolving our moral consciousness together.“
— Cleo Parker Robinson, Founder and Artistic Director, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
*Sankofa, a term from the Akan Tribe in Ghana, is a concept in the culture of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and “One Spirit/Many Voices”: The Akans believe that there must be movement and new learning as time passes. As this forward march proceeds, the knowledge of the past must never be forgotten. Together we must move forward keeping in mind the history which has brought us here.
Source: The symbol is based on a mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward with its head turned backwards. Thus, the Akan believe the past serves as a guide for planning the future. To the Akan, it is this wisdom in learning from the past which ensures a strong future. Carter G. Woodson Center, Berea College, Kentucky.
CPRD is a Denver institution, based in Five Points, that has served the community for 49 years, teaching generations of families the beauty, fun and healing power of dance.
About CPRD