Granny Dances To A Holiday Drum

Shale Wong, MD, MSPH, is a pediatrician and professor of pediatrics and family medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, teaching child health, advocacy, policy and health care reform with focused interests in integrated care and achieving health equity. She is director of the Eugene S. Farley, Jr. Health Policy Center and Vice Chair for Policy and Advocacy in the Department of Pediatrics. Wong served as health policy advisor to First Lady Michelle Obama for development and implementation of her signature child obesity initiative, Let’s Move, and assisted in launching Joining Forces to improve wellness and resilience of military families. Additionally, she was a senior program consultant to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Wong continues to serve on several national and community boards. As a lifelong dancer, she is inspired to advance health through the arts.

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 O’Farrill, 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.

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 Jacob’s Pillow & Vail Dance Festival with the CPRD Ensemble.

A Dallas, TX native, Ms. Carter began training at Dallas Black Dance Academy and Ozsoy’s 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 Theatre’s DBDT: Encore! under the direction of Nycole Ray. She’s 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.

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 Mosley’s 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.

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 Roussève. 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.

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 Limon’s Psalm, Andrea Millers Spill, Jerome Robbins Fanfare, and the original restaging of Twyla Tharp’s Deuce Coupe and Rennie Harris’ 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 Assistant Director.

A native of Atlanta, GA., Devrae “DJ” 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.

Originally from Fremont CA, Ms. Maduro began her dance training at Yoko’s 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 McKayle’s 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.

Originally from Denver, Max Nelson-Steinhoff began his dance training at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy in 2009. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory, where he earned his BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, with an emphasis in Ballet and Modern. Mr. Steinhoff has trained on full scholarship at the Ailey School and the Kansas City Ballet, furthering his training at The School at Jacob’s Pillow under the direction of Milton Myers. During his time at UMKC, Mr. Steinhoff performed with companies such as Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, the Kansas City Lyric Opera, and Owen/Cox Dance Group. He is honored to have performed works by José Limón, Gary Abbott, Jennifer Archibald, Omar Román De Jesús, and Jae Man Joo. This is his first season as an Apprentice with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble.

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, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Helen Simoneau, Rennie Harris and other acclaimed choreographers. He is now in his third season with the Ensemble.

Lauren Slaughter, a Colorado native, began her dance training at Miller’s 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 Jacob’s 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.

Ms. Watson is a dance artist born and raised in Cleveland Ohio. She began her formal dance training at Cleveland School of the Arts where she studied ballet, modern, jazz, and contemporary styles for nine years. She subsequently continued her training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, with a focus in contemporary dance. She then went on to study at the Ailey School in New York City. Ms. Watson has trained, studied and worked with numerous world- renowned dance artists and choreographers including Robert Battle, Christopher Huggins, Troy Powell, Darrell Moultrie, Ronald Alexander and Caridad Martinez, among others. After a season with Cleo II, she now joins the Ensemble for her first season as an Apprentice.

Santos García, originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, received his early training at Dance Etc. School of the Arts, where he studied tap, jazz, contemporary, ballet and hip hop. He graduated from Charles J. Colgan High School with a concentration in the Fine Arts before pursuing higher education at George Mason University. There, under the direction of Karen Reedy, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in Graphic Design. During his time at Mason, García was an understudy for repertory by Alejandro Cerrudo and Rafael Bonachela, while also performing works by Christina Robson, Lawrence Jackson, and Susan Shields. He furthered his training through summer intensives with Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance as a scholarship student. Now in his first season with Cleo II, García is honored to begin his professional career with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.

Faith E. Johnson is from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where she began her formal training at the Divine Dance Institute under the direction of Amanda Standard, studying ballet, modern, tap, and jazz. She later attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where she focused on classical ballet. Faith earned her BFA in Dance from the California Institute of the Arts, where she had the opportunity to perform works by Donald Byrd, Mike Tyus, Luca Renzi, and Yvonne Rainer. She has attended summer programs with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Most recently, Faith graduated from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program in May 2025. During her time there, she learned repertory by Alonzo King and had the opportunity to work with choreographers Gregory Dawson, David Harvey, Sidra Bell, and Chuck Wilt. Faith now begins her first season with Cleo II.

India A. Johnson, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, has trained at Jacksonville Centre of the Arts, LaVilla School of the Arts, Barbara Thompson School of Dance, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, and Howard University, where she earned her BFA in Dance as a member of the Class of 2025. She has studied a wide range of styles including Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, and more, and has had the privilege of performing works by renowned choreographers such as Andile Ndlovu, Annique Roberts, Christopher L. Huggins, Desmond Richardson, and Dwight Rhoden. India has also performed alongside Complexions Contemporary Ballet at the Joyce Theater in New York City for their Opening Gala Night and at The Kennedy Center during their 2024-25 tour. To further her training, she has studied at Collage Dance Collective, Complexions Dance Academy, Dallas Black Dance Theatre Academy, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy, the International Association of Blacks in Dance, and Assemblée Internationale at Canada’s National Ballet School. This marks her first season with Cleo II.

From Upper Marlboro, MD, Ms. Massey is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where she received a dual degree in Dance (B.A.) and Information Systems (B.S.) with a minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. She began her formal training under the tutelage of Vicki Wooten Tchanque. Simultaneously, she trained at The Washington School of Ballet. During her college career, she has performed with the Baltimore Dance Project, and at venues such as the REACH/Kennedy Center and the Baltimore Lights Festival. Additionally, her choreographic work, Between You & Me (2021), was selected to be in the American College Dance Association’s gala concert. Upon graduation, Ms. Massey received two Departmental Honors from the UMBC Dance Department. She has performed works by Shaness Kemp, Brandon Perry Russel, Ann Sofie Clemmenson, Doug Hamby, Nicole Clarke-Springer, and Tracey Franklin. She has also had the opportunity to attend intensives with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Dallas Black Dance Theater, and Cleo Parker-Robinson Dance. This is Ms. Massey’s first season with Cleo II.

Jesús David Muñoz is a Latin dance artist and percussionist within Mexican, Cuban, Ballet, Modern, and Contemporary dance techniques. Muñoz is a recent MFA in Dance Graduate at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Theatre & Dance and he holds a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma, Department of Dance. Alongside his contemporary dance work, Muñoz continues his involvement in the Latin dance community as a freelance dance artist, educator, performer, and choreographer.

Koura Wright was born in Ithaca, NY, to a mother from Mali, and a father from upstate New York. At 10 years old, Koura moved to Knoxville, TN where she began her dance training with Amy Morton Vaughan, and later attended Austin-East Magnet High School where she studied Graham, Horton, and Humphrey techniques, as well as West African dance. Koura attended the University of Vermont and performed on the dance team, then became a company member with the Ithaca Ballet. She attended the Ailey School, then became a guest artist, the soloist, with the Appalachian Ballet Company. In 2020, she graduated with a B.S. in Dance Performance and Choreography from Middle Tennessee State University. She moved to Las Vegas to dance with Contemporary West Dance Theater, under the direction of Bernard Gaddis, and became the director of the Youth Training Division for the school. Some of her favorite roles were in Night Creature by Alvin Ailey, Vespers by Ulysses Dove, and Uninvited by Jeneane Huggins. She went on to be the director of the youth program for Live Arts, with Avree Walker, and performed in a Tina Turner Tribute show. This is her first season as a member of Cleo II, and she is excited to be a part of this amazing group of artists. Koura also hula hoops and has a cat named Carebear.

Cedric Dawayne Hall is a dynamic force in the world of dance—a performer, choreographer, and educator whose movement speaks volumes. With roots in Cleveland, Ohio, Cedric began his dance journey with the Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre’s Concert Youth Dance Training and Development Program. It was there that his passion for dance ignited, laying the foundation for a lifelong dedication to the art form. Rising through the ranks, he eventually became a full company member, developing his voice through a variety of styles and performances.

Cedric’s early artistic expression extended beyond the concert stage. He appeared in several high school musicals, including The Wiz, West Side Story, and Footloose, honing his theatrical presence and connecting storytelling with movement. His training spans a broad spectrum, including ballet, jazz, modern (with a foundation in Horton and Dunham techniques), hip hop, musical lyrical contemporary, and varied African traditions. While well-versed in many styles, Cedric’s specialty lies in jazz, modern, and hip hop—forms through which he channels raw emotion, precision, and rhythm.

In 2007, Cedric relocated to Denver, Colorado, where he joined the internationally acclaimed Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. Over 12 powerful seasons with the ensemble, he performed, toured, and grew under the direction of Cleo Parker Robinson, collaborating with renowned choreographers and teachers such as Christina Noel, Michael Medcalf Terrence Greene, Gary Abbott, Christopher Huggins, Diane McIntyre, Donald McKayle, Millicent Johnnie, and Milton Myers Winifred R. Harris, Rodger Jeffries,

Today, Cedric serves as the Rehearsal Director for Cleo II, CPRD’s second company, where he continues to shape the next generation of dancers through his choreography and mentorship. He is also a vital educator within the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy, sharing his expertise, discipline, and joy of movement with students of all levels.

Each holiday season, audiences delight in seeing Cedric bring to life the beloved character of “Grill, the Preacher” in Cleo Parker Robinson’s cherished production of Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum. With an infectious energy and deep commitment to storytelling through dance, Cedric Dawayne Hall continues to inspire, educate, and elevate through every step he takes.

John, born on July 31, 1995, has been dancing since the age of six years old. He is the only child of Johnna Roberts, his mother. He loves and enjoys the dancing styles of Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Tap, and many others. He has been trained at COCA, the Center of Creative Arts which is located in St. Louis, Missouri. He has trained at this facility for more than eleven years. St. Louis is also where John was born and raised. Within his training, John has worked with profound professionals of the dance world. Some of these professionals include but are not limited to: Antonio Douthit -Boyd, Alicia Graf-Mack, and Kirven Douthit-Boyd, all from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Christopher Page-Sanders from the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and Co- Artistic Director of Nu-World Contemporary Danse Theatre, Rolando Yaines, Artistic Director of the Milwaukee Ballet, Jessica Taylor, Founder and Director of DAMAGED Dance Company, River North Dance Chicago, Alonzo King, Artistic Director of the LINES Ballet Company, Gary Abbott Co- Artistic Director and Founder of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, DanceWORKS Chicago and many more. John has also been a part of 2 pre-professional Companies within his training. These companies were Ballet Eclectica, a contemporary and classical ballet company and COCADance, a contemporary, jazz, and modern company. John has also participated in Musical Theater shows at COCA through the FOX Charitable Foundation. Some of these shows include Legally Blonde the Musical, AIDA, In the Heights, Seussical the Musical, Ragtime, and many others. John has also done some commercial work as well. Some of those jobs include but are not limited to: Quixotic and an AD campaign for LG TV, The Kansas City PLAZA Lighting Ceremony, broadcasted to over 1 million people, and the list goes on. John has graduated from North County Technical High School with a High School Diploma, Missouri State Cosmetology CA License and is now currently a graduate of the Class of 2017 Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance Program at the University of Missouri Kansas-City (UMKC) Conservatory with an emphasis in Dance Performance and Choreography. While at this prestigious institution, John has participated in countless faculty Fall and Spring Concerts at the Conservatory and has been granted countless outside experience. Some of which, but are not limited to Performing Memoria, a ballet performed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. John performed side by side with the Company at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in the fall of 2014. Proceeding his graduation in May of 2017, John was a first company ensemble member and spent 6 seasons of being in the National/International, world renowned, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble located and based in Denver, CO. In the year 2022, Mr. Lambert-Roberts took a step away from dancing in the main ensemble. For 3 and a half years, John was a freelance artist ; choreographing, teaching and dancing all over the world. After getting married, and resettling, He is back at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in his 7th Season, but now as a Co-Director of the Second Company.