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Cleo’s Campaign for the Future

A Black Cultural Anchor in Denver

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (CPRD) was founded to educate, celebrate, and honor the African Diaspora and African American experience. Established in 1970, CPRD emerged from the Black Arts and Civil Rights movements and is now one of the largest arts organizations of color in the Rocky Mountain Region and western United States.

40+ countries toured
100+ original ballets produced and commissioned
150+ national & international teachers hosted in Denver
1,000,000+ students served through cultural education and movement outreach programs

Donate to the CPRD Capital Campaign
 

Progress to Date

We are so happy to see your success translate into the ability to expand into a new facility and we would like to participate in a small way by donating to your capital campaign. In addition to enjoying the outdoor concerts, my wife has been to your Christmas show, and one of our neighbors had been a student there when she was young, but it was the expansion that moved us to contribute. — Robin M.

Congratulations Cleo Village! We have raised 100% of CONSTRUCTION costs.
Ground Blessing Ceremony: May 2023
Ground Breaking Ceremony: May 2024
Expected Opening: January 2026

CPRD Expansion Timeline

December 2021 – Cleo Parker Robinson Dance purchases and becomes holder of the title to the existing land and building at 119 Park Avenue West — the Historic Shorter Facility that was once the region’s oldest African American church.

May 2023 – CPRD reaches a 75% milestone of hard cost project funding. A public announcement of project is made along with a ground blessing.

Spring 2024 – Anticipated start of groundbreaking and construction.

Janaury 2026- CPRD Expansion Grand Opening. All expanded programming will begin.

How You Can Help

The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Campaign for the Future would not be possible without the many people who have helped us meet our milestones. CPRD is STILL FUNDRAISING! Our campaign goal continues to fund this project so we can continue as a cultural anchor in our community and Rocky Mountain Region. Donations of all sizes are welcome, just as all are welcome at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance!

Gifts can be paid over multiple years. More information about our Aya and Sankofa Societies for giving are below.

CPRD can receive gifts of stock and donations over $250. Please contact hillary@cleoparkerdance.org to inquire about what may qualify for tax credits.

 

Aya Society

Aya Society

In the West African Akan language, Twi, the word Aya represents an Adinkra symbol that means “fern” and is representative of endurance, resourcefulness, and defiance against oppression. Our Aya Society is a group of vibrant, diverse, resourceful, and forward-looking individuals who contribute $100,000 or more to the CPRD Campaign for the Future, our Capital Campaign. Our esteemed Aya Society receives unique benefits for its support of the CPRD Campaign for the Future.

Sankofa Society

Sankofa Society

The Sankofa Society is our second giving society for gifts of $50,000 and up to $100,000. From the West African Akan tribe in Ghana, the Sankofa symbol is based on a mythical bird flying forward with its head turned back. The Akan believe the past serves as a guide for planning the future — knowing from where one comes as one proceeds. The Sankofa Society was founded in 2019 and launched the CPRD Campaign for the Future with donor commitments ensuring the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance legacy survives — and thrives.

Donate Today

Our Village Of Support

 

Aya Society $100,000 +

Ann and Hal Logan
The Anschutz Foundation
Anonymous (2)
Boettcher Foundation
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
BRIC
Cleo and Tom Robinson
COCETA
The Colorado Health Foundation
The Colorado Trust
Community Project Funding Grants

Community Revitalization Tax Credit
Daniel Ritchie
Dr. Dwinita and Tim Tyler
El Pomar Foundation
Gates Family Foundation
History Colorado
Jane and Skip Netzorg
Judith Wagner
Kathryn and James Kaiser
Lisa Hogan
Lisa Levin Appel

Maude B. Lofton, MD
Merle Chambers & Chambers Initiative
Mile High United Way
Mortensen Construction
New Market Tax Credits
State of Colorado – Revitalization Funds
The Paula and William Bernstein Family Foundation
Shirley Dindy Harrison and Gar Parries
Tina A. Walls
Zula Solomon and Mowa Haile

 

Sankofa Society $49,000 to $99,000

Amanda Recourt
Amy Harmon
Anonymous
Audra and Sean McNicholas
Brenda J. Allen
Caring for Colorado
Celia Dietrich
CoBank
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Board of Directors 2018-2025
Dr. Renée C. King
Ellen Bruss and Mark Falcone

 

Gary Community Ventures
Grace Family Foundation
The Granger Williams Family Foundation
Jandel Allen-Davis and Anthony Davis
Joanne Posner-Mayer
Robert and Judi Newman
King Harris
Linda and Roland Thornton
Lloyd Lewis – ARC Thrift Store
Marie Logsden, Matthew Buckstein, and Cooper Krapfl
Marisa and Chad Hollingsworth

Nancy and Chris O’Brien
Nina Sohn
Pam and Duke Hartman
Rose Andom
Rose Community Foundation
Sidney E. Frank Foundation
Toni and Abasi Baruti
Toni and Benjamin Rodgers
U.S. Bank
Vectra Bank

Elevating Dance Excellence in our New Studio A

Reflecting the visceral Colorado spirit of light and height in the hub of our creative sacred space, Fentress Architects has designed the new home for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance to develop award-winning excellence. The new building will have 4 dance studios, pre-function areas, additional public bathrooms, and office space.

Literally elevating our existing Studio A from a basement level to a Second Floor bathed in sunlight, there is nearly 20 percent more floor space, and approximately 40 percent more ceiling height (2,361 square feet and 28 feet tall). The New Studio A is a world-class space to meet the needs of the art inside.

 

CPRD Construction Update:

Support the Renaming of Washington Street:

Cleo Parker Robinson has been a cornerstone of Denver’s cultural and community life for over five decades. Her work has brought people together, celebrated the richness of African American heritage, and kept the spirit of Five Points alive through dance, education, and advocacy. Naming a street in her honor would mark the first time in Denver’s history that a street is permanently named after an African American woman. This moment is about more than recognition—it is about honoring a legacy that continues to shape lives and inspire future generations. It reflects the power of community and the lasting influence of a true Denver icon.

Cleo has spent over 55 years building a cultural home for Denver, uplifting generations through the transformative power of dance and education. Born in the heart of Five Points at the historic Rossonian Hotel, she turned a vision into a nationally recognized institution that has helped shape the city’s cultural identity. Naming this street in her honor is a tribute to a living legacy—one that continues to inspire, lead, and open doors for others.

We invite you to be part of this historic conversation.

We know street renaming can feel like a big change, but we believe this could be a joyful and historic way to celebrate Cleo’s powerful legacy in Five Points and beyond.

If you’re a property owner in the neighborhood, your voice is especially important!

Let’s explore this possibility together and make sure the community is at the center of the conversation. info@cleoparkerdance.org

The East and North interior walls hold mirrors approximately 7 feet tall. Above them are observation windows from Cleo’s office and one of the meeting spaces. The space will include the beautiful acoustic piano gift from Toi Massey and space for other musicians to accompany dancers as works are developed and rehearsed for presentation.

This is not just an artistic development space. Of the four studios, the New Studio A will be a part of the Academy, teaching students of all ages, as well as a rental space. Both activities will support CPRD’s growth and financial stability. Diverse talent across Denver will have access to the New Studio A space to collaborate and rehearse. This multi-use space will allow CPRD to create, teach, and convene talent for many years to come.

CPRD New Studio A Rendering

A Seat Awaits in the New Theatre

At the heart of our expansion is an intimate underground theater with seating for 240. Designed with a professional wood-sprung floor throughout, this space will be a sanctuary for performance, creation, and connection. Behind the stage, dedicated backstage areas will include dressing rooms, storage, and fully accessible ADA-compliant bathrooms, designed to support the needs of all artists and guests.

Our Future & Leadership

A new 25,000-square-foot expansion will connect to our existing Historic Shorter Facility landmark, establishing CPRD as a cultural anchor in Denver and the Rocky Mountain Region.

We thank our amazing Capital Campaign Cabinet led by Lisa Hogan and Dwinita Mosby Tyler. Cabinet Members include: Gwen and Moses Brewer, Hal Logan, Maude Lofton, Jane and Skip Netzorg, Chris Ross, and Kelly Hawthorne Smith. Additional advisors include Shelley Thompson, Tina Walls and Paul Washington.

  • Providing More Space

    The new wing will allow for a better experience and room for program growth. CPRD will now serve an additional 12,000 Theatre patrons, 2,500 Academy students, and 3,000 on-site Arts-in-Education participants.

  • Celebrating Black Culture & History

    This new campus expansion elevates a space that celebrates Black American culture and history. CPRD’s vibrant Creative Campus is home to nearly 30 arts organizations and is a critical resource for those organizations whose leadership is more than 50% BIPOC. Our entire community’s level of art will rise to new levels!

  • Anchoring the CPRD Legacy

    The new wing anchors the CPRD legacy as one of our region’s leading arts institutions, as a tourist destination, and as an arts hub welcoming all in.

Helping Our Communities Thrive

Education
Academy
Ensemble
Theatre
Arts-In-Wellness

Education

CPRD serves an average of 80 area schools each year, by providing students with cultural arts and movement outreach programming during or after their school day. Our education programs infuse arts into the curriculum to help ignite a truly unique learning process.

Academy

CPRD Academy teaches more than 60 movement classes a week for dancers of all ages, including an Academy training track. We also partner with the Metro State University Bachelor of Arts in Dance program to offer a mixture of dance and academic rigor. Our International Summer Dance Institute (ISDI) teaches students over a dozen dance genres with visiting artists from around the Globe. Instruction ranges from PreK through Middle School and from Global Kids’ Weeks to Pre/Professional training.

Ensemble

The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble is internationally esteemed. The performance has been seen by over 2,000,000 fans throughout our 25 Colorado performances and 10-city national tour each year, as well as some international tours. The Ensemble has exclusive United States rights to dance works by quintessential African American dance icons spanning the past 100 years.

Theatre

The CPRD Theatre is a 240-seat arts incubator leased to nearly 30 arts organizations from around the world who develop, rehearse, perform, and present their work. The CPRD Theater also holds community meetings and is a local hub for presentations, debates, and wellness outreach, and is ADA accessible.

Arts-In-Wellness

CPRD Arts-In-Wellness (AIW) programs work with underserved communities to provide cultural outreach and health education. Our programs are part of our commitment and advocacy for Health Equity in Colorado, and beyond, through Arts and Dance. We work to encourage civic engagement practices which recognize multicultural community roots and promote active participation in the community.

Current Funding Partners: Colorado Health Foundation, Centura, Caring For Denver
Current Partner: Farley Health Policy Center

Campaign News

Contact Us

For more information, please contact Hillary Harding, VP of Development & Communications, at hillary@cleoparkerdance.org or Malik Robinson, President/CEO, at malik@cleoparkerdance.org.

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