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CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE PRESENTS

CARIBE

THE ELLIE CAULKINS

OPERA HOUSE SEPTEMBER 19 & 20, 2026

FEATURING GUEST ARTISTS FROM THE NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY OF THE BAHAMAS PHOTO: MARTHA WIRTH

CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE

Inspiring Movement

Currently celebrating its 56th Anniversary Season, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is an international performing arts and educational institution rooted in African American traditions and the Diaspora, dedicated to excellence in providing crosscultural performances, and enrichment programs - empowering all our communities by cultivating healthy mind, body, and spirit development for intergenerational students, artists, and audiences. Viewing dance as a universal language of movement that transcends boundaries of culture, class, and age, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is committed to honoring all people throughout the global community.

Located in Denver’s Historic Five Points District 2025 N Washington St, Denver, Colorado 80205 (303) 295-1759 | www.cleoparkerdance.org

PHOTO: MARTHA WIRTH

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CARIBE

Artistic & Production Team

Cleo Parker Robinson Founder / Artistic Director

Michael Sullivan (HAUS) Mask and Costume Designer

Winifred R. Harris Associate Artistic Director

Michael Battle Wardrobe Supervisor

Jasmine Francisco Ensemble Rehearsal Coordinator

Caeli Blake Wardrobe Supervisor

Corey Jamel Asst. Ensemble Rehearsal Coordinator

Gabriela Maduro Props Supervisor

John E. Lambert-Roberts Cleo II Director

Deborah Powell Wardrobe Construction

Trey Grimes Technical Advisor

Cedric D. Hall Print Media and Video Research

Conor Morford Technical Director Anastazia Coney Associate Technical Director/ Lighting Designer

The CARIBE Community CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE ENSEMBLE Cleo Parker Robinson | Founder & Artistic Director Winifred R. Harris | Associate Artistic Director Michael Battle, Caeli Blake, Tori Carter, Adrian Dominguez, Jasmine Francisco Kabria Holland*, Corey Jamel, Gabriela Maduro, Max Nelson Steinhoff Lamar D. Rogers, Lauren Slaughter *Apprentice to the Ensemble

CLEO II John Lambert-Roberts | Director Santos Garcia, India Johnson, Kyndall Taraji Johnson, Jaida W. Nutall Sheamar Williams-Robinson, Tripp Starr, Khiana Carpenter+, Ethan Telfort+ Nia Bellinger ^ +Apprentice to Cleo II ^Cleo II Trainee

THE NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY OF THE BAHAMAS Robert J. Bain, Jr. | Artistic Director LeKeisha Bostwick | Rehearsal Coach Sydney Davies, Trez Ferguson, T’Mea Munroe, Brenay Murphy Jonathan Sturrup, Annissa Young

A letter from Cleo

Welcome Family and Friends to our Fall 2026 performance, CARIBE It is such a joy for us to welcome you as we return to the beautiful and newly renovated Ellie Caulkins Opera House! This incredible space is truly a Denver jewel! Tonight we’re taking you on a journey of discovery. Most of us have a concept of the Caribbean (whichever way you happen to pronounce it) and might be surprised to know the region encompasses almost 93,000 square miles, bordered to the North by the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida, the Northern Atlantic Ocean to the east and northeast, and by the coastline of the continent of South America to the south. Home to over 44 million people, this is one of the most ethnically diverse regions on the planet. The rhythms of the Caribbean are connected through the roots of its indigenous peoples and those of the African Diaspora. My own introduction to the rich diversity of Caribbean culture came as a child when my parents shared recordings, TV and film appearances with my siblings and I which featured Harry Belafonte, Katherine Dunham, Sidney Poitier, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Fuente, Paul Robeson and many others. For my father, Jonathon “JP” Parker, who was the first recognized Black actor in Denver theatre, Harry Belafonte and Paul Robeson were particularly inspiring! And of course, we all just loved dancing around the house to Day O (the Banana Boat Song)! My younger brother, Randy, was even given the name Belafonte as his middle name! Our beloved Junkanoo King character in our holiday show, Granny Dances to A Holiday Drum, which many of you have already experienced, was inspired when I first traveled to Nassau in 1989 to help establish the National Dance Company of the Bahamas (NDCB) at the request of the U.S. State Department. They had observed the mission and structure of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (CPRD) and felt we could bring that same concept to Nassau. Much like my mentor Katherine Dunham, a cultural anthropologist, I fell in love with that beautiful region and its incredibly diverse legacy and culture. Working in tandem with Robert Bain, Jr. we created a multi-faceted theatre and dance company, drawing on European and African influences while celebrating Bahamian identity. NCDB’s concert performances now range from traditional folk dances to contemporary and classical works, often inspired by local themes and international classics. For CARIBE, Robert brings members of his company to perform two works (one in collaboration with our Cleo II) as well as a World Premiere work set on the Ensemble entitled Junkanoo: Passage of Time, sharing the depth of this most beloved of Bahamian celebrations. A second World Premiere by our Professor Emeritus Gary Abbott, a CPRD alumnus, brings the complexity of Cuban and Venezuelan culture, lifted from today’s headlines onto the stage with Lloramos Al Partir: Somos El Hogar Del Otro (We Weep as We Leave: We Are Each Other's Home). The work is created under the auspices of the 2nd Annual Tom Robinson Innovation Fund, awarded each Fall to a CPRD alumnus to create and set a new work on the Ensemble. Additional works presented in CARIBE, created by the iconic Donald McKayle, as well as Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernández, Artistic Director of Ballet Folklórico de México, touch on those regions that many of us may not immediately associate with the Caribbean, namely South America, and the Vera Cruz region of Mexico.

In this historic 56th ANNIVERSARY SEASON, the mission and vision of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, through the leadership of President and CEO, Malik Robinson, and the perseverance of our Ensembles, Staff, Faculty, Board of Directors, and Advisory Board has seen our direction and purpose grow ever stronger. With the support of generous individuals, businesses, corporations, and civic organizations, we continue to advance our artistic and educational vision into an ever-expanding community of students and audiences. The level of creative energy was incredible during the seven weeks of our 31st Anniversary Annual International Summer Dance Institute (ISDI), the region’s finest summer intensive program, bringing together students, master teachers, and choreographers from around the world to share the highest standard of artistic excellence. This was our first ISDI in our newly expanded Center for the Healing Arts. One of the high points of this year’s ISDI was our Mile High Dance Festival, featuring dancers and artisans from the Denver-Metro area over the span of two nights’ soldout performances in our theatre, celebrating the joy of One Spirit, Many Voices! On Saturday, August 22, we held our 16th annual Dancing With the Denver Stars Gala at the Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel. What a party it was with area civic and business leaders partnered with our dancers to bring amazing performances to the stage, raising funds to support our health and wellness programs, serving our youth from early childhood through young adult through scholarships, internships, classes and performances. This was our most successful Gala yet, and we thank our Board / Gala Chair, Gwen Brewer, our Chairs Michelle Griego and Chris Ross, and our amazing thirteen Stars! Special Thanks also to our out-going VP of Development and Communications, Hillary Harding who was a vital member of our Village for 10 years! Our Academy of Dance continues to thrive and grow in our beautiful new studios, welcoming students of all ages and levels of ability! Visit our website at www.cleoparkerdance.org and find the class that will uplift your mind, body, and spirit! As you’ll see from the back cover of your program, it’s almost time for everyone to begin making plans to join us for the 35th Anniversary Season of Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum! We’re in our new theatre, so the show is getting a new look, and the Caribbean section with our own Junkanoo King just may be more exciting than ever! Immerse yourself now in the joy and magic of CARIBE and get ready to literally dance up the aisles tonight! Let’s all keep dancing in Mind, Body, and Spirit - and as they say in Jamaica…. Walk Good!

PHOTO: MARTHA WIRTH

CLEO PARKER ROBINSON

Founder / Artistic Director / Choreographer / Producer

PHOTO: MARTHA WIRTH

CLEO PARKER ROBINSON is founder and artistic director of the 56-year-old Denver-based artistic institution, CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE (CPRD), leading a professional Ensemble (CPRDE), Cleo II (her second company), two training-track Youth/Junior Youth Ensembles, an Academy of Dance with a BA affiliation, an International Summer Dance Institute, a 240-seat theatre, and numerous community outreach programs nationally and internationally. CPRD’s current home in the 100-year-old Shorter Building in Denver’s Historic Five Points District recently expanded with an expanded adjacent 25,000 square foot state-of-the-art extension. The Grand Opening ribbon cutting January 17, 2026 was part of a week of events launchinga multi-level ADA-accessible facility with four new studios, an underground Flex Space t theatre with 240 retractable seats, meeting spaces, and administrative facilities.

Ms. Robinson’s lifetime of work in dance, evidence-based somatic movement therapy, education, and community outreach includes nearly 30 choreographed works. The common theme is social justice and the human condition, aptly described by CPRD supporter and Denver attorney Skip Netzorg: “Cleo Parker Robinson is at the intersection of social justice and the performing arts.” CPRD holds the greatest number of works/performance rights by American Dance Master Donald McKayle. Throughout the 56 years of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, she has collaborated with Mr. McKayle, Professor Maya Angelou (Lush Life, 1983), mentor and Cultural Anthropologist Katherine Dunham (who bequeathed her own role in Barrel House Blues to Ms. Parker Robinson), Talley Beatty, Eleo Pomare, danced with Eartha Kitt, and was featured in a film Run Sister Run (1974/84, about activist Angela Davis) by photographer/director Gordon Parks. She recently collaborated with fellow Denver native and renowned Grammy-Award winning jazz artist Dianne Reeves on Freedom Dance. Ms. Robinson has received honors and awards from corporate, civic, community, and artistic entities world-wide, bringing CPRDE to myriad organizations and venues for performances, teaching residencies and community engagement programming. A master teacher/choreographer and cultural ambassador, she and CPRDE have performed nationwide and internationally in 40 countries throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, and the African continent, with their most recent international tours taking them to Bogota, Colombia in Spring of 2019 and Mexico in Fall 2019 and again in Fall of 2024. In early summer of 2025, Ms. Parker Robinson joined an artistic consortium in Bahia, Brazil, for seven weeks as a guest of the Internationally renowned Sacatar Institute. Ms. Parker Robinson’s awards and honors include the Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence (1974), Denver Mayor’s Award (1979), induction into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame (1989) and the Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame (1994). Recognized in Who’s Who in America Colleges and Universities she holds an Honorary Doctorates from Denver University (1991), an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Colorado College (2003), an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Regis University in Denver (2008), an Alumni Award from University of Denver (2021), the 2020 Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, Honous Causa from CU Boulder, and was named an Honorary Member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (2021).

In 1991, Ms. Parker served on the task force creating a permanent location for the Denver School of the Arts (DSA), Denver’s first performing arts magnet school, and was subsequently honored In September 2017 at their 7th Annual Fall Gala, in recognition of her long-term commitment to excellence in arts education. She is also co-founder (2000) of the National Bahamian Dance Company, based in Nassau. In 2005, Ms. Parker Robinson received the Kennedy Center Medal of Honor during the Center's “Masters of African American Choreographers” series. In 2011, Ms. Parker Robinson was voted an Honorary Lifetime Trustee of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, in recognition of her longtime commitment and lasting impact. In June 2017, she received the highly prestigious Dance/USA Honor Award and in September 2017, the Randy Weeks Arts Leadership Award from the Denver School of the Arts. In March 2023, Ms. Parker Robinson, along with the other four founders of the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD), was honored at the White House as the IABD received the 2021 National Medal of the Arts. In 2024, she was named as the Professor for the Rachel B. Noel Distinguished Visiting Professorship. On January 12, 2026, she accepted the Award of Merit in New York City by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP). Ms. Robinson has served on NEA panels on Dance, Expansion Arts, Arts America, and InterArts panels for the USIS, and for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts as well as other national task forces, boards, and committees on the arts. In April 1999, she was appointed by then President William Jefferson Clinton, with Senate confirmation, to serve for four years on the National Council on the Arts, a 14-member panel advising the Chairman of the NEA on agency policy and programs, evaluating and making recommendations on grant applications.

Since 2011, Ms. Parker Robinson has significantly returned to her greatest passion as a choreographer, creating and presenting Dreamcatchers: The Untold Stories of the Americas and the world premiere of her Romeo and Juliet, in collaboration with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Her work On the Edge… Reaching to Higher Ground premiered in October of 2014 in answer to resurging racial and human rights infractions world-wide. In Spring 2017,, she restaged two works, melding classical and jazz composition with the power, passion and beauty of modern dance – Romeo and Juliet and Porgy and Bess. Fall 2017 saw the premiere of Copacetic: A Tribute to Jonathon “JP” Parker, honoring her late father. In Spring of 2018, she premiered Lark Ascending in collaboration with the Boulder Philharmonic. Her Rhapsody in Black, created in collaboration with CPRD Associate Artistic Director, Winifred R. Harris, premiered at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, University of Denver. In January 2019, in collaboration with the Denver Brass, she choreographed an innovative interpretation of Bernstein’s On the Town and Spring 2019 saw a collaboration with the Colorado Ballet entitled The MOVE/ment as part of the Tour de Force series at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Center for the Performing Arts; in 2021 Tour De Force the documentary dance film began a film festival tour. In 2019, she traveled to UMKC, Kansas City, to set a work on the students of CPRDE alumnus/UMKC Professor Gary Abbott, entitled Check Cashing Day in tribute to the jazz genius of Bobby Watson and Milt Abel. In August 2021, she premiered Standing On the Shoulders, a work commissioned by the Vail Dance Festival. September 2021 saw the debut of her work Freedom Dance, created in collaboration with jazz icon Dianne Reeves and CPRD co-founder and poet, Schyleen Qualls and in October 2021, she premiered R.I.Power, an riginal work commissioned by the Colorado College Fine Arts Center in Colorado Springs. Her newest social justice master work, Sacred Spaces? set to an original score by Adonis Rose, Director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, premiered in September 2022 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex with tours in Detroit, New York, and Louisiana. September 2023 saw the reprise of her innovative interpretation of The Firebird, set amidst the pantheon and legacy of Hawaiian culture. In September 2023, Rocky Mountain Public Television (RMPBS), featured Ms. Parker Robinson in the first season to feature notable individuals in their Season 10, Episode 1 of The Colorado Experience launch with The Fabulous Cleo, airing September 20. Continuing the CPRD Season 53 launch in October 2023, she choreographed and co-produced the production of Mozart Requiem Evermore in collaboration with Dr. Dennis Law.

In September 2025, Ms. Parker Robinson returned to the stage at age 77 for a heartfelt World Premiere solo performance choreographed by CPRD Ensemble alumnus Christopher PageSanders, honoring her late husband, Tom Robinson, The Love We Carry. It was presented by another CPRD Ensemble alumna, Marissa Hollingsworth, Founder and Executive Director of Presenting Denver, at the University of Denver’s Newman Center. (She reprised this beautiful solo during the Grand Opening of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Center for the Healing Arts January 15, 2026.) In 2025, arts journalist Lisa Kennedy interviewed Ms. Parker Robinson for the Jerome Robbins Oral History Dance Archive in the New York Public Library. The six-part series will soon be available via digital access. Cleo Parker Robinson remains dedicated to celebrating the human experience and potential through the Arts and Education. Her life-long vision of “Inspiring Movement” with “One Spirit, Many Voices” remains strong and steadfast, expanding to welcome, embrace, and sustain all people. Each performance she attends invokes a participatory gesture and blessing of “Peace/Love/Respect…for EVERYBODY!”

WINIFRED R. HARRIS Ms. Harris currently serves as Associate Artist Director for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, honoring both the company’s 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. It has been written Harris is “a visionary who creates art as conversation, viewing it as connective tissue to the world. A means to see beyond what we think of as limits”. 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 company’s 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 Father’s 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, Reykjavík 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 for youth 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 Mayor’s 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.

JOHN E. LAMBERT-ROBERTS A native of St. Louis, MO, Mr. Roberts has been dancing from early childhood, training in jazz, modern, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, musical theatre, and tap. During his eleven years training at COCA, the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis. he worked with significant professionals of the dance world including Antonio Douthit-Boyd, Alicia Graf-Mack, and Kirven Douthit-Boyd of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Christopher Page-Sanders of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble andCo- 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, Alanzo 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 preprofessional 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 the musical, In the Heights the musical, Suessical the Musical, Ragtime the Musical, 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 has now returned to Cleo Parker Robinson Dance as Director of Cleo II and Jr. Director of Bookings and Touring.

GARY ABBOTT

Choreographer: Lloramos al Partir: Somos el Hogar Del Otro Gary Abbott is a founder and resident choreographer of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater in Chicago, Illinois. His work first exists in and is inspired by the African American community, ultimately celebrating the diversity of the world community. He’s a dance maker using curiosity and creativity to express, inspire, and rejuvenate all those seeking uplift. Through teaching and choreography, he offers dance as a meeting place where movement, ideas, triumphs, and fears intersect, empowering each to strengthen the other's spirit. He strives to celebrate humanity through dance, exploring the human condition. Abbott began his career in Atlanta, GA, with Barbara Sullivan’s Atlanta Dance Theatre and later attended the California Institute of the Arts and Hollins University. He danced with Lula Washington Dance Theatre and then with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble of Denver, CO, where Ms. Parker Robinson generously mentored him as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. He’s taught and choreographed for Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas Black Dance Theater in Dallas, Texas; Iliev Foundation in Bar, Montenegro, and Sofia, Bulgaria; FlatfootDance Theater in Durban, South Africa; and the Tianjin Conservatory in Tianjin, China, and has conducted workshops in Shenzhen, China, among others. Abbott is a Professor Emeritus of Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory and a recipient of the 2022 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship.

ROBERT J. BAIN JR.

Choreographer: Celebration of Life, One Dream, Junkanoo - Passage of Time Robert Bain is a distinguished Bahamian cultural icon whose contributions to the field of dance have had a lasting impact both nationally and internationally. Born and raised in The Bahamas, Bain’s journey into dance began at the age of nine, when his grandmother encouraged him to take lessons to overcome shyness and clumsiness an introduction that would ultimately shape his life’s purpose. He began his formal training at the Vera Allen School of Ballet in Freeport, Grand Bahama under thedirection of English ballerina Vera Allen, where he developed a strong classical foundation. In 1972, he expanded his studies to include jazz and modern dance at the Louis Seiler Dance Academy in Freeport, sharpening both his technical skills and artistic expression. A defining moment in Bain’s life came in 1970 when he viewed a PBS broadcast featuring the Dance Theatre of Harlem under the direction of Arthur Mitchell. Seeing dancers of African descent excel in classical ballet for the first time profoundly inspired him. Determined to pursue this path, he wrote to Mitchell; despite the absence of a ZIP code, the letter eventually reached him. Months later, Mitchell responded, initiating a life-changing connection. In 1975, Bain travelled to New York at Mitchell’s invitation to attend a summer program. Recognizing his promise, Mitchell encouraged him to return after completing high school. In October 1976, Bain relocated to New York to pursue dance professionally while attending New York City College, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Education. In 1978, he and several of his classmates were invited to become apprentices. Both Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook played pivotal roles in shaping his career, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem provided guidance that would transcend expectations. During his professional career, Bain performed nationally and internationally, gaining recognition for his discipline, artistry, and commitment to excellence. His work with the Dance Theatre of Harlem allowed him to contribute to a groundbreaking movement that expanded opportunities for dancers of African descent in classical ballet. Upon returning to The Bahamas in the mid 80s, Bain became a central figure in the development of dance in the country. He dedicated himself to teaching, mentorship, and choreography, playing a pivotal role in nurturing young Bahamian talent and elevating the standard of dance education. Through his leadership, he has cultivated a deeper appreciation for ballet and contemporary dance throughout the region.

Bain’s contributions have been recognized through numerous national honours and cultural awards, acknowledging both his artistic achievements and his enduring commitment to youth development and the arts. His influence extends beyond performance; he is widely regarded as a cultural ambassador who has helped place Bahamian dance on the global stage. In 1993, Bain was appointed Artistic Director of the National Dance Company of The Bahamas and Principal Instructor of the Bahamas National Dance School. Under his leadership, the company has performed in the United States, Europe, and across the Caribbean. Bain vision and focused is to establish a world-class dance company that present a uniquely Bahamian features and movement styles. Through his work, he developed a training system that embraces the Bahamian movement vernacular, incorporating elements of Bahamian folkloric traditions and Junkanoo. His approach addresses both artistic development and the physical conditioning of dancers, emphasizing strength, alignment, and physiological awareness. He also created a distinctive style known as “Emergence,” a contemporary movement language rooted in Bahamian imagery and cultural expressions. He currently hosts the podcast Tea and Talk: A Perspective on Bahamian Arts and Culture, where he shares his passion, insight, and dedication to preserving the cultural heritage of The Bahamas. The podcast features provocative, encouraging, and memorable discussions, with ongoing advocacy for dance and the arts. In 2023, Bain published his first book Profiles of Bahamian Dance – The Dance and The Dancers, the first book of its kind to document the history of Bahamian dance. Over the years, Bain has established an international network with dance companies, dancers, and choreographers who are brought to The Bahamas to expose local communities to global dance practices. In 2025, through the National Dance Company of The Bahamas, he launched an annual performance and workshop titled The People’s Performance. This initiative is designed to provide young and aspiring dancers with access to international artists, teachers, and choreographers. That same year, the program featured renowned guest artist Cleo Parker Robinson who was brought to The Bahamas thirty-four years ago to assist in the establishment of the National Dance Company of The Bahamas. Bain has also created opportunities for dancers to audition for international dance companies and institutions, further extending his legacy of mentorship and global cultural exchange. Bain is also the founder of and Artistic Director of Dance Bahamas School which was established in 2000 to facilitate the ongoing development of The National Dance Company of The Bahamas. Now retired Bain continues to expand the scope of dance in The Bahamas by writing books to facilitate the ongoing education from an artistic and historical perspective.

AMALIA VIVIANA BASANTA HERNÁNDEZ Choreographer: La Mulata De Córdoba

Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernández Artistic Director of Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández. Training with contemporary legends Alvin Nikolai, Hania Holm, Katherine Dunham and Alvin Ailey facilitated Ms. Basanta’s more than 20-year career as a principal and soloist with Ballet Folklórico de México. She has been recognized around the world for her interpretation of her mother’s works, Los Maya, Sones Antiguos de Michoacan, and her portrayal of La Juana Gallo from The Mexican Revolution. Ms. Basanta also directs México Movimiento, where she has captured the rich history and essence of Mexico, past and present, with a vocabulary of movement that speaks to a sophisticated and international audience. Ms. Basanta has collaborated and created works for La Sinfónica de Mineria and La Sinfónica Naciónal de México. Her most recent ballets include Maria, Lara y Sus Mujeres, Homenaje a Hidalgo, De la Caña a Carnaval, Mexico Ayer y Hoy and Fandango en Rojo. Her unique approach to combining history, folklore and contemporary movement, parallels the rapidly changing demographic and image of America today.

DONALD MCKAYLE

Choreographer: Angelitos Negros from Songs of the Disinherited Donald McKayle’s distinguished career began in 1948 and has spanned choreography, direction, writing, education, and performance in dance, theater, film, recordings, and television. Some of Mr. McKayle’s iconic choreographic works; Games, Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder, District Storyville, and Songs of the Disinherited, were first performed by Donald McKayle and Company in New York, and later by the Inner-City Repertory Dance Company of Los Angeles. Under his directorship, some of these pieces are being performed anew by dance companies around the United States as part of the American Dance Festival’s prestigious program, The Black Tradition in American Modern Dance. Mr. McKayle’s choreography and direction for Broadway musical theater, television, and films has been honored by five Tony nominations, an Outer Critics Circle Award, the NAACP Image Award, an Emmy nomination, a Los Angeles Drama Logue Award, and a Golden Eagle award. In April 2005, Mr. McKayle was honored at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and presented with a medal as a Master of African American Choreography. Mr. McKayle has more than 50 concert dance works to his credit and had worked in television and film and on Broadway, most notably as the choreographer for Raisin and Golden Boy. Ten retrospectives have honored his work. He was one of the first black dancers and choreographers to establish a hold in modern dance as we know it today, an experience that helped to develop the wryly distanced humanism that has distinguished him in part as a teacher and mentor. Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is honored and proud to hold more of Mr. McKayle’s works in its repertoire than any other company.

RITMO JAZZ LATINO / CONJUNTO COLORES These members of Conjunto Colores and Ritmo Jazz Latino are proud and honored to be a part of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s Caribe Conjunto Colores and Ritmo Jazz Latino have performed Salsa - Afro Caribbean music for more than three decades in Denver Colorado. The groups have opened for great Latino artists including Tito Puente, Eddie Palmeri, Arturo Sandoval, Bob James, and Sonara Poncena. Ocho y Mas!

Francisco Mejias | Leader / Timbau Drum Riky Sanchez | Bata Drum Tomas Bello | Vocals / Percussion Zack Rich | Trombone

THE NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY OF THE BAHAMAS The National Dance Company of The Bahamas (NDCB), under the direction of Robert Bain, Jr., is the official national dance entity of The Bahamas, established in 1992 to promote and develop the country’s dance arts, blending Bahamian, Caribbean, African, and European influences. The NDCB was created as an initiative of The Bahamas Government, with the original vision from the late E. Clement Bethel after the establishment of the National Dance School in 1976. It serves as a cultural ambassador, presenting works that reflect Bahamian and Caribbean life, myths, and contemporary issues. The company has worked with both local and international choreographers, including Cleo Parker-Robinson, who was brought to the Bahamas in 1991 to help establish the company. As a multi-faceted theatre and dance company, the NDCB’s repertoire is diverse, drawing on European and African influences while celebrating Bahamian identity. Its performances range from traditional folk dances to contemporary and classical works, often inspired by local themes and international classics. The NDCB also operates Dance Bahamas School, its official training institution, offering classes in: Classical Ballet, Contemporary Modern, Ethnic and Bahamian/Caribbean Dance, Jazz and Hip-Hop, Gymnastics, Flexibility, and Conditioning for ages 3 to adult, with students also sitting the Royal Academy of Dance examinations. The school presents annual concerts and offers pre-professional and professional programs.

Listen to a podcast with Cleo Parker Robinson and Robert Bain here.

THE CLEO PARKER ROBINSON 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 Italyperforming 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 fifth season as an Ensemble member with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.

CAELI BLAKE Ensemble Member + Wardrobe Supervisor A native of Washington, D.C. Ms. Blake began her formal training at BalletNova Center for Dance in Arlington, VA. She later attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where she trained under the tutelage of Charles Augins, Sandra Fortune-Green, and Katherine Smith. Ms. Blake has studied with several esteemed institutions, including Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem at The Strathmore, and the Joffrey Ballet. She earned a BFA in Dance Performance and a BS in Education & Human Development from Southern Methodist University (SMU). While at SMU, she danced with B. Moore Dance and served as an assistant to Myra Woodruff in teaching the Graham Technique. Ms. Blake’s recently obtained her masters degree in Educational Leadership at Hawai’i Pacific University, during her tenure with the ensemble. In 2022, she joined the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, where she is now entering her fifth season as a company member. Ms. Blake has performed works by renowned choreographers such as Katherine Dunham, Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Milton Myers, Christopher Huggins, Kevin Iega Jeff, Silas Farley, Hope Boykin, and many others. She has also graced the stages of prestigious festivals, including Jacob’s Pillow and the Vail Dance Festival, with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. TORI CARTER Ensemble Member 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 AfroAmerican 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 Alvin Ailey, Kevin lega Jeff, Ronald K. Brown, Dwight Rhoden, Christopher Huggins, and more. Ms. Carter now joins the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble for her second 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 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 second season as an Ensemble member.

DANCE ENSEMBLE MEMBERS JASMINE FRANCISCO Ensemble Member + Ensemble Rehearsal Coordinator Originally from Houston, Texas, Ms. Francisco began her dance training at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts, later graduating from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in 2012, where she studied under the direction of Luanne Carter and Janie Carothers. She continued her education at Point Park University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While at Point Park, Ms. Francisco performed works by acclaimed choreographers including Jessica Lang, Terrence Marling, Troy Powell, Bennyroyce Royon, Garfield Lemonius, and MADBOOTS. In her sophomore year, her student choreography project, Tales of Courage, was selected for presentation at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) conference representing Point Park University. Following her graduation, she joined Lula Washington Dance Theatre in Los Angeles, California, performing for two seasons in works by Kyle Abraham, Donald Byrd, Rennie Harris, Christopher Huggins, and David Roussève. In the summer of 2018, Ms. Francisco relocated to Denver, Colorado, and began her journey with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. Now entering her ninth season as an ensemble member, she currently serves as the company’s Rehearsal Coordinator. During her first seven years with the organization, she also served as the Children’s Director for the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy. Throughout her tenure with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, she has been privileged to at renowned dance festivals and venues, including the American Dance Festival, Vail Dance Festival, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Her performance repertoire includes works by influential choreographers including Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Katherine Dunham, Talley Beatty, Milton Myers, Hope Boykin, and Micaela Taylor. As an emerging choreographer, Ms. Francisco continues to explore themes of identity, human connection, community, and lived experience through movement. Her recent choreographic works, Quid Pro Quo, Sisterhood of the Traveling Vest, and Contagion, have been performed by the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in Denver. Her eight-minute solo, The 5th Element, was performed by Samiyah Lynnice at the Hartford Dance Collective in Hartford, Connecticut.

KABRIA HOLLAND Apprentice to the Ensemble Originally from Lorton, Virginia, Ms. Holland first trained at The Washington School of Ballet under the direction of Septime Webre, Kee Juan Han, Rinat Imaev, and Julie Kent before continuing her studies at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, where she performed in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and the Company Gala. She has been featured in Brown Girls Do Ballet, The Ballerina's Little Black Book by Brittani Marie, and Pointe Magazine. As a member of MOBBallet, she has been mentored by Lauren Anderson, Aesha Ash, and Theresa Ruth Howard. A 2025 graduate of The Ailey School Certificate Program, she has performed Alvin Ailey repertory, including Memoria alongside Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and selections from Revelations within ASPG. She was seen in Edges of Ailey at the Whitney Museum and The Ailey school's residency at Hollins University. She also participated in curriculum filming for Ronald K. Brown's movement methodology and has performed at Harlem Stage in WATERWORKS and with Shades Dance Theater in The Return. Ms. Holland now joins the Ensemble as an Apprentice for her first season.

COREY JAMEL Ensemble Member, Asst. Ensemble Rehearsal Coordinator

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 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 seventh season as a Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble member, and his second season as Assistant Ensemble Rehearsal Coordinator and Youth Ensemble Director.

GABRIELA MADURO Ensemble Member + Props Supervisor Originally from Fremont California, Ms. Maduro began her dance training at Yoko’s Dance and Performing Arts Academy and Nor Cal Dance Arts. She trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary and modern. She has attended Summer Intensives with the Ailey School, the Martha Graham School, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. Ms. Maduro is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine where she earned 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. Upon graduation, Ms. Maduro joined Cleo Parker Robinson Dance as a Cleo II member in 2019 and then became a part of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in 2020. She has performed works by Donald McKayle, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, Micaela Taylor, Avree Walker, Garfield Lemonius and several others. She has also performed at well-renowned dance conferences, such as Jacob’s Pillow, IABD and APAP. Ms. Maduro is currently in her seventh season as an ensemble member with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. MAX NELSON STEINHOFF Ensemble Member 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 and furthered 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 second season with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. 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, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Helen Simoneau, Rennie Harris and other acclaimed choreographers. He is now in his fourth season with the Ensemble.

LAUREN SLAUGHTER Ensemble Member 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 third season as an Ensemble member.

CLEO II SANTOS GARCIA Cleo II Ensemble Member Originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, Mr. Garcia 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 second season with Cleo II, he is honored to continue his professional career with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. INDIA A. JOHNSON Cleo II Ensemble Member A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Ms. Johnson 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 performed 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 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 second season with Cleo II. KYNDALL TARAJI JOHNSON Cleo II Ensemble Member An Orlando, FL native, Ms. Johnson attended Dr. Phillips High School's Visual & Performing Arts Magnet Program as a member of the Dance in Motion Company. In2019, she was named Florida Dance Masters' Senior Miss Dance, winning the organization's statewide scholarship competition and convention. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. She was also a Rotunda Scholar, served as an executive board member for the Association of Black Students, worked as an SMU Athletics Marketing Intern, and was initiated into the Legendary Nu Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Following graduation, she continued her training as an Independent Study student at The Ailey School in New York City. Having performed works by Robert Battle, Paul Taylor, Silas Farley, Michelle N. Gibson, Jon Lehrer, Sekou McMiller, and Larry Keigwin, she is now in her first season as a member of Cleo II.

JAIDA M. NUTALL Cleo II Ensemble Member A native of Washington, D.C., Ms. Nutall first trained at the Jones-Haywood Dance School, under Sandra Fortune-Green. While there, she performed at notable civic and cultural events, including the Mayor's Arts Awards, African American Women in Dance at the White House, and National Dance Day at the REACH Center. During the process of earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Howard University in May 2026, she performed in works by Michael Jackson Jr., Sidra Bell, Christopher Huggins, and Ronald K. Brown. In 2024, she was selected to perform in the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Gala, dancing in Dwight Rhoden's evocative work Black is Beautiful. Additional training included Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, EVIDENCE, A Dance Company, Jon Lehrer Dance Company, and the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy. Ms. Nutall is now in her first season with Cleo II. SHEAMAR WILLIAMS-ROBINSON Cleo II Ensemble Member Originally from Miami, Florida, Mr. Robinson began his artistic journey through liturgical dance with Unashamed Mime, Perfected Praise, and Declare/Decree Ministries before receiving formal classical training at the age of 17 under Cilva Timothy at North Miami Senior High School and Traci Young Byron with Young Contemporary Dance Theatre (YCDT). He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a focus on Contemporary Dance from the University of South Florida, performing works by and training with acclaimed artists including Joshua L. Peugh, Stephanie Martinez, John Parks, Bliss Kohlmyer and Andrew Carroll. His professional experience includes Missouri Contemporary Ballet (Mareck Dance), and Water Street Dance Milwaukee. As a performer and choreographer, he is passionate about education and mentorship, using movement to tell compelling stories. This is his first season with Cleo II. TRIPP STARR Cleo II Ensemble Member Recently obtaining his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Dance Conservatory, Mr. Starr specializes in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, ballet, and liturgical dance. With a strong foundation in technique through his training at UMKC, Kansas City Ballet, and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, he has worked with esteemed choreographers, including Christopher Huggins, Gary Abbott, Pat Taylor (Jazz Antiqua), DeeAnna Heitt, Tempe Ostergren, Christina Burton, Lonell Phillips, and Cleo Parker Robinson. He is now in his first season with Cleo II.

KHIANA CARPENTER Apprentice to Cleo II A New Jersey native, Ms. Carpenter began her training at Dance Sensations in Pennsauken before continuing her education at the Dance Institute of Philadelphia, where she trained in ballet, Horton, Graham, jazz, tap, West African, and acrobatics. She performed with Grace Dance Theatre’s second company under the direction of Kareem Goodwin. She has continued her training through summer intensives with Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Ailey School, and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, while also attending the International Association of Blacks in Dance annual conference. In addition to her dance career, Ms. Carpenter proudly serves in the United States Army, where the values of discipline, resilience, and service have strengthened her approach to both performance and personal growth. Balancing military service with a professional dance career has deepened her appreciation for every opportunity to create and perform. Now in her first season with Cleo II, she is honored to continue her artistic journey with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance community.

ETHAN TELEFORT Apprentice to Cleo II Mr. Telfort is a Miami-based performance artist specializing in afro-diasporic movement and street dance styles. Performing with Zest Collective, Peter London Global Dance Company, and Heritage Dance Collective, he has worked with a range of choreographers including Robert Battle, Jamar Roberts, Kashia Kancey, Vitolio Jeune, Justin Rapaport, and Miguel Quinones III. His performances have encompassed television, musicals, and music videos, with credits including The First Wives Club on BET, Bodyguard: The Musical with Slowburn Theatre, and Visa Live at the Rocket Garden with Anderson. Paak. As an educator he has worked with Miami Children’s Theatre, Arts 4 Learning and other educational institutions across Miami Dade County Public Schools. This is first season as an Apprentice to Cleo II.

NIA BELLINGER Cleo II Trainee Ms. Bellinger is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, where she began her preprofessional dance training at Ballethnic, DanceMakers of Atlanta, the Anthony Burrell Center for Dance, and Atlanta Dance Connection. She furthered her training with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Whim W'Him, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and BODYTRAFFIC. In May 2026, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Kennesaw State University. Ms. Ballinger has performed works by Jules D. Lane, Maleek Washington, Autumn Eckman, Shannon Alvis, and Ching Ching Wong. This is her first season to train with Cleo II.

PHOTOS: MARTHA WIRTH

CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE PRESENTS

CARIBE

OPENING REMARKS FROM CLEO PARKER ROBINSON CARIBE RHYTHMS I Choreographer | Cleo Parker Robinson Choreographic Assistant | Caeli Blake, John Lambert-Roberts Music | St. Thomas (Ray Bryant) Musicians | Members of Ritmo Jazz Latino / Conjunto Colores Costumes | Caeli Blake / Michael Battle Lighting Design | Anastazia Coney Cleo II | Santos Garcia, India Johnson, Kyndall Taraji Johnson, Jaida M. Nutall Sheamar Williams-Robinson, Tripp Starr, Khiana Carpenter+ Ethan Telfort+, Nia Bellinger^

+Apprentice to Cleo II / ^Cleo II Trainee

Exerpts from LA MULATA DE CÓRDOBA Cleo Parker Robinson Dance World Premiere 2018

According to legend, in the time of the Inquisition, a beautiful mulatta in the town of Cόrdoba, Veracruz used traditional medicines to heal the sick. This was frowned upon by the church, but the mulatta continued to attend mass to pray for the people. An aristocrat of the region declared his love for her and being rejected, was enraged and denounced her to the Inquisition. Imprisoned for witchcraft and sentenced to death, the mulatta asks a guard for chalk so that she can draw on the wall of her cell. Drawing a beautiful ship, she magically positions herself inside as it begins to sail until disappearing completely from the wall.

Choreographer | Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernández Costume Design | Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernández Costume Adaptation | Alex J. Gordon Lighting Design | Roberto Guillén Lighting Adaptation | Anastazia Coney La Mulata (The Mulatta) | Tori Carter El Aristocrata Esposo (The Husband) | Corey Jamel La Aristocrata Esposa (The Wife) | Caeli Blake La Aristocrata (The Aristocrat) | Gabriela Maduro El Inquisidor/Sacerdote (Inquisitor/Priest) | Sheamar Williams-Robinson Los Esclavos (The Slaves) | Michael Battle, Max Nelson Steinhoff Lamar D. Rogers, Sheamar Williams-Robinson Las Mulatitas (The Mulattas) | Jasmine Francisco, Lauren Slaughter

ONE DREAM

World Premiere June 2026 Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Premiere September 2026 This work is a celebration of our shared humanity. We all dream of a world united in peace, love, hope, and joy. Through movement and music, One Dream brings us together as one community, connected by one heartbeat and one beat. It is a testament to the power of togetherness a reminder that despite our differences, we share one world, one spirit, and one dream. —Robert J. Bain Jr. 1st Movement | Sunrise & Mid-day 2nd Movement | Celebrate the Dream Choreographer | Robert J. Bain Jr. Music | Louie Vega (One Dream), Johann Johannsson (The Rocket Builder (LoPan!) Costume Design | Robert J. Bain Jr. Rehearsal Coach | LeKeisha Bostwick Lighting Design | Anastazia Coney The National Dance Company of the Bahamas: Sydney Davies, Trez Ferguson, T’Mea Munroe, Brenay Murphy Jonathan Sturrup, Annissa Young Cleo II: Sat 9/19| Jaida M. Nutall, India Johnson, Kyndall Taraji Johnson Tripp Starr, Santos Garcia Sun 9/20 | Jaida M. Nutall, India Johnson, Kyndall Taraji Johnson Tripp Starr, Ethan Telfort

LLORAMOS AL PARTIR: SOMOS EL HOGAR DEL OTRO WE WEEP AS WE LEAVE: WE ARE EACH OTHER'S HOME Cleo Parker Robinson Dance World Premiere September 2026

This piece is dedicated to every Venezuelan, Cuban, Afro-Latino, and Afro-Haitian individual who has been forced to choose between survival and their homeland. It is also for those who have made their own homes in a new land, arriving with nothing but their bodies and their grief. The border has followed them here as well. This work is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Ruth. —Gary Abbott

Part I | Lloramos al Partir (We Weep As We Leave) Part II | Somos el Hogar del Otro (We Are Each Other’s Home) Choreographer | Gary Abbott Assistant to the Choreographer | Taylor Edwards Music | “Prologo” Adonis Gonzalez, “Años de Soledad” Astor Piazzolla Costume Design | Gary Abbott, Caeli Blake Lighting Design | Anastazia Coney Dancers | Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. Santos Garcia*

Intermission

*Cleo II

ANGELITOS NEGROS from SONGS OF THE DISINHERITED World Premiere, Inner City Repertory Dance Company, 1972 Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Premiere 1990

”Painter, why are there no black angels in the Sistine Chapel? Won’t they go to heaven too?”

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

World Premiere 2005 Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Premiere September 2026 Celebration of Life serves as the final movement of Caribbean Odyssey, a larger choreographic work by Robert Bain, first presented in 2005. As the concluding section of the piece, it brings the work’s journey to a close by celebrating the richness, vitality, and enduring spirit of the Caribbean experience. —Robert J. Bain Jr.

JUNKANOO - PASSAGE OF TIME

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance World Premiere September 2026 Time is the heartbeat of Junkanoo. It echoes through every beat of the goatskin drum, every vibrant costume, and every step along Bay Street. More than a festival, Junkanoo is a living journey through the history of The Bahamas, a celebration that connects generations while preserving the spirit, resilience, and creativity of the Bahamian people. The theme, “Junkanoo: The Passage of Time,” reflects the remarkable evolution of our national festival. From its humble beginnings as an expression of freedom, cultural identity, and community during the days of slavery, Junkanoo has grown into the premier cultural celebration of The Bahamas. While styles, materials, music, and choreography have evolved over the decades, the soul of Junkanoo remains unchanged: a proud expression of Bahamian heritage. Each generation has added its own voice to this enduring tradition. Master craftsmen have passed down their artistry, musicians have refined the rhythms that stir our spirits, and dancers have transformed the streets into a stage where history meets innovation. As time moves forward, Junkanoo continues to inspire new ideas while honouring the legacy of those who came before. “The Passage of Time” reminds us that Junkanoo is not simply about remembering the past; it is about celebrating the present and shaping the future. It is a testament to the resilience, unity, and imagination of the Bahamian people, ensuring

that this treasured cultural tradition continues to thrive for generations to come. Today, as we celebrate our national festival, we honour the journey of Junkanoo through time, its rich history, its vibrant present, and its limitless future. Every beat, every costume, and every performance tells a story of a people whose culture continues to evolve while remaining proudly and unmistakably Bahamian. — Robert J. Bain Jr.

Choreographer | Robert J. Bain Jr. Music | Benjaman Alexander “Duh Rush - A Celebration” (La Bam Bam Junkanoo) Glen Velez “The Awaking” (Mirrors), “Who You Is” (Temple of Moonlight) Masks and Costumes Creation | Michael Sullivan (HAUS) 1st Movement | The Awaking King of Junkanoo | Corey Jamel Dancers Sat 9/19 | Michael Battle, Caeli Blake, Tori Carter, Jasmine Francisco Corey Jamel, Gabriela Maduro, Max Nelson-Steinhoff Lamar D. Rogers, Jaida M. Nuttall* Dancers Sun 9/20 | Michael Battle, Caeli Blake, Tori Carter, Jasmine Francisco Corey Jamel, Max Nelson Steinhoff, Lamar D. Rogers Lauren Slaughter, Jaida M. Nuttall* 2nd Movement | Who You Is Junkanoo 1 | Tori Carter Junkanoo 2 | Michael Battle Junkanoo 3 | Lamar D. Rogers 3rd Movement | Duh Rush - A Celebration King of Junkanoo | Cory Jamel Dancers Sat 9/19 | Michael Battle, Caeli Blake, Tori Carter, Jasmine Francisco Corey Jamel, Gabriela Maduro, Max Nelson-Steinhoff Lamar D. Rogers, Jaida M. Nuttall* Dancers Sun 9/20 | Michael Battle, Caeli Blake, Tori Carter, Jasmine Francisco Corey Jamel, Gabriela Maduro, Max Nelson Steinhoff Lamar D. Rogers, Lauren Slaughter

*Cleo II

CARIBE RHYTHMS II Choreographer | Cleo Parker Robinson Choreographic Assistant | Caeli Blake, John Lambert-Roberts Musicians | Members of Ritmo Jazz Latino / Conjunto Colores Costumes | Caeli Blake / Michael Battle Lighting Design | Anastazia Coney Dancers | Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble & Cleo II The National Dance Company of the Bahamas Program selections, casting, and order are subject to change without prior notice. Audio and/or video recordings of any type on any device are not permitted without prior written permission from Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. Failure to comply may result in confiscation of the recording and/or the device.

CPRD Behind the Scenes Administrative Staff

Artistic Staff

Winifred R. Harris | Associate Artistic Director John E. Lambert-Roberts | Cleo II Director / Jr. Director of Booking & Touring Jasmine Francisco | Ensemble Rehearsal Coordinator Corey Jamel | Assistant Ensemble Rehearsal Coordinator / Youth Ensemble Director Koura Wright | Youth Coordinator / Junior Youth Ensemble Director Cedric D. Hall | Community Engagement Artist / Director of Musical Theatre Dance Program

Board of Directors

Gwen Brewer | Chair Cleo Parker Robinson* | Founder / Artistic Director Malik Robinson | President and CEO Tyrone Gant | Treasurer - Shale Wong | Vice-Chair Lisa Levin Appel - Toni Baruti - Darryl Collier - Tim Davis - Zelda DeBoyes Nicole Dorsey - Demesha Hill - Lisa Hogan - Eric Itambo - Kelli Kelly - Robert Kenney Robert Thompson - J. Matt Thornton - Alfred Walker - Jacob Welch

Emeritus Board of Directors

Judge Raymond Dean Jones J.D.* | Chairman Emeritus Les Franklin - Helen Franzgrote - Marceline Freeman - Henry Lowenstein - Nancy McClosky Dawn Nakamura-Kessler - Edmond “Buddy” Noel - Schyleen Qualls Brown * Tom Robinson* - Lester Ward - Faye & Reggie Washington *Founding Members of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Board of Directors

In Memoriam

Tom Robinson Jonathon “JP” Parker, Martha Parker, James Wallace, Dr. Rachel Harding, Marceline Freeman, Roberta Freeman Carl Bourgeois, Ruth Sloane

Special thanks...

To the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensembles, Board of Directors, Sponsors, Donors & Foundations, Education Partners, Administrative, Artistic and Technical Staff, Faculty, Students, Parents, Volunteers, and our Honored Elders and Community Members who have supported the production of CARIBE along with the following individuals and organizations: David Andrews Bucket List Community News CBS Colorado News Team Colorado Public Media / Denverite Denver 7 / Mile High Living Denver Arts Complex Administrative & Technical Staff Denver Ballet Guild Denver Gazette / N. P. Report (J. Moore / J. Davidson) Denver Post Denver Urban Spectrum (Bee Harris) Elevate Denver / TV 8 FOX 31 (CW2) The Government of The Bahamas Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage Lisa Kennedy, Arts Journalist

KUSA 9 News.com Chris and Stan Obert OnTarget Public Relations (Pat Smith) The Parker and Robinson Families Joanne Possner Presenting Denver Dance Writers Rocky Mountain PBS / KUVO 89.3FM Safeway Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) The Shead Family Visit Denver Westword (Kristen Fiore)

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PHOTO: MARTHA WIRTH

CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE PRESENTS THE 35 TH ANNIVERSAY OF

GRANNY DANCES TO A Holiday DRUM

DECEMBER 5-20 2026

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