10th Anniversary Dancing with the Denver Stars- Cleo Parker Robinson Dance

Warmest greetings from Cleo and the entire Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Village: Tonight, at this onset of our 49th Anniversary Season, we welcome you with the deepest appreciation to our 10th Annual Dancing with the Denver Stars (DWTDS)! Some of Denver’s most prominent business, civic, and community leaders are performing in support of the diverse educational and community programming of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (CPRD). Bravo to these extraordinary Stars and our Alums, whose generosity of time and resources have a profound effect throughout the Front Range!

This past season has been stellar for our educational and community programming, with the varied elements that make up the CPRD Education Team providing performances, workshops, master classes and residencies to over 40,000 people in over 150 venues throughout the state. We celebrated the first year of our two-week Creative Academy along with the 25th Anniversary Season of our International Summer Dance Institute (ISDI), bringing world-renowned artists and eager students together for four weeks of master classes, culminating in our 9th Annual Mile High Dance Festival. Our year-round Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy continues to thrive with over 700 students of all ages and levels of abilities receiving extraordinary training. Each of these programs (and their respective scholarships) is largely sustained through the support of tonight’s Stars, Alums, and all of you attending this evening.

We continue to define the role of dance and its relationship to health, wellness, and academic achievement through both participation and performance. With the on-going support of our community, corporate and civic partnerships, not only did we share the power, passion and beauty of movement throughout the Front Range in teaching residencies, but we also enabled hundreds of K-12 students to attend special performances of last season’s Rhapsody In Black, Cleo On Cleo, Tour de Force, and Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum. For many of these students, this was their first opportunity to experience professional dance, live music, and spoken word. Their enthusiastic appreciation of these opportunities was motivating and inspirational to all of us.

We extend our deepest thanks to our Event Chair Celia Dietrich and the members of our DWTDS Steering Committee (led

by CPRD Board Chair, Gwen Brewer), as well as the CPRD Board of Directors and Advisory Board, our Executive Director Malik Robinson, the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Cleo II, Youth Ensemble, our staff, interns and volunteers – all working countless hours on every detail of DWTDS to ensure not only a fabulous event but a successful outcome in meeting this year’s financial goals to sustain and nurture CPRD’s educational and community programming for the coming scholastic year. Special thanks as well to the incredible Hilton Denver City Center staff who have worked so closely with our Gala team.

We sincerely thank all of you for your continued advocacy and commitment. We look forward to advancing our goals of providing excellence and access to the most diverse and comprehensive cultural arts programming in the Western United States. Having included acclaimed tours to Bogota, Colombia and the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC in our 2018-2019 season, we find it extraordinary that students are able to train with artists of such exceptional caliber. We encourage you all to visit our facilities in Five Points to learn more about our diverse educational programs.

As we enter our 50th Anniversary Season next year, we want to thank our phenomenal community as we co-host the Dance USA Conference with Malik Robinson as Chair. You have helped us strengthen Denver’s place within the world dance community, bringing the most positive attention and energy to our city.

Tonight’s Stars and Alums are performing with all the excitement and glamour of a Night on Broadway, an excitement that the iconic Donald McKayle, the first African American director and choreographer on Broadway, brought to audiences in numerous productions such as his powerful Sophisticated Ladies. Let’s keep that same magic alive, recognizing our creative selves and nurturing that spirit in others so that everyone, young and old, of every culture and background, can truly step forward to a bright new day, filled with opportunity, compassion, and love!

In the Spirit of Dance.

Cleo

Good Evening, 10th Anniversary Dancing with the Denver Stars Guests!

As we sit on the cusp of the 50th anniversary of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (CPRD), we, as Board Chair and Executive Director, couldn’t feel prouder. Last year, we discussed CPRD’s unprecedented growth, much of it made possible through DWTDS and our paddle raise. At that time, we stood in front of you with an audacious goal: to provide services to 75 schools in the 2018-19 school year.

We are so pleased to tell you, we did it! We served 77 unduplicated schools in the past school year.

Is it possible to keep growing?

Our answer is an emphatic yes. Your support tonight continues our upward trajectory and we thank you in advance for your generosity during our paddle raise, where we hope to beat last year’s total of $100,000 to support our Arts-in-Education programs.

Ten years ago, a risky idea to connect business leaders with our mission on the dance floor seemed a bit crazy. As of tonight, over 100 Denver Stars are now a part of our family, celebrating culture, community and education.

Dancing with the Denver Stars is a must-see event, consistently selling out and boasting one of the best nights of the year. This evening, as our newest class of Denver Stars perform to the songs of some of Broadway’s greatest musicals, let’s cheer them on!

We are deeply gratefully to the individuals who worked so diligently to make this event possible: our Event Chair Celia Dietrich (also a Star Alumna), the members of the Dancing with the Denver Stars Steering Committee, and the CPRD dancers who worked countless hours to develop our Denver Stars into dancers. We also thank the CPRD Board of Directors, Advisory Committee and staff (especially Rhetta Shead), our corporate sponsors, contributors, supporters and friends for being a part of this wonderful evening.

Sincerely, Malik Robinson, Executive Director Gwen Brewer, Board Chair Cleo Parker Robinson Dance

As Chair of this year’s Gala, I want to personally welcome you to Dancing with the Denver Stars!

I am delighted you could join us for the 10th anniversary of this very special night.

It is an incredible honor to continue my support of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance organization.

Having attended the Gala for several years, I had the pleasure of being selected as a Denver STAR in 2017— it was one of the best experiences I have ever had! In thinking back, it is hard to articulate all of the emotions that go into participating as a dancer—I was scared, challenged, excited and proud of myself all at the same time. It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of more than 700 attendees. That said, the short two minutes on stage is more than worth the benefit to help support the programs delivered by the CPRD Arts-In-Education team.

Our event tonight is an important fundraiser to continue the support and dance experience provided to nearly 20,000 students in 77 classrooms throughout the Denver and Front Range communities. When students work with the teaching artists, they not only witness professional talent but also see how beautiful a historical event can be when demonstrated through healthy physical movement. They find the dance experience a refreshing, simple distraction to reduce anxiety and add joy to their lives. Like all of us, children are not designed to sit at a desk all day -- their minds work better when their bodies move. Creative movement also fosters critical social-emotional development to allow young minds to see the world in a unique way.

Last year, the paddle event raised more than $100,000. Tonight, let’s join together to break the record and allow the CPRD Arts-In-Education experience to expand even further.

Please join me in thanking Cleo Parker Robinson, Malik Robinson, Gwen Brewer, the CPRD Board and Advisory Committee, our corporate donors, dinner committee members, and all attendees for making this night the most successful one yet.

Also, knowing what it takes, I extend a special thank you to our 13 dancing STARS and their professional partners for giving their time and talents to make this night happen.

Have a wonderful evening!

Celia Dietrich, Founder & Executive Chair, Dietrich & Company, 2019 Gala Chair & 2017 STAR

PRESENTING SPONSOR | DANCE OF LIFE Dietrich & Company

EVENT CHAIR Celia Dietrich

DANCE OF LIFE SPONSORS: Safeway Foundation and Xcel Energy

Steering Committee Gwen Brewer | Chair Hillary Harding Cleo Parker Robinson Rhetta Shead Celia Dietrich

DANCE OF PASSION SPONSORS: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck DANCE OF GRACE SPONSORS: City of Denver, Colorado Health Foundation, Denver International Airport, Dr. Reggie and Faye Washington, Empowerment Retirement DANCE OF FAITH SPONSORS: AOR, Butler Snow, Delta Eta Boule, Denver Art Museum, Denver Center for Performing Arts, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Department of the Interior, 4-Ever Young Foundation, Hilton Downtown, Janus Henderson, Law Offices of Mardi Moore, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Polsinelli, PSAV, State of Colorado, Vectra Bank 10TH ANNIVERSARY ALUM DANCE SPONSORS: Innovative Retail Group, The Sawaya Law Firm, University of Colorado, Polsinelli, National Center for Women & Information Technology, City and County of Denver, Denver Office of Financial Empowerment & Protection

DINNER COMMITTEE Dawn Bookhardt, Toni Baruti, Gwen & Moses Brewer, Brookfield Properties, Ivan Burwell, CHFA, Tara Emrick and Bryan Kono, Farley Center, Jane and Skip Netzorg, Cleo and Tom Robinson, Malik Robinson & Vianey Gonzalez, Ponderosa & Studio School, Porter Billups Leadership Academy, SCL Health, Al Walker, Leslie Sue Parker Wallace - In Memory of Jim Wallace VIDEOGRAPHER Lawrence Alexander Reflections in Video Productions, Inc. GRAPHIC DESIGN Jody Gilbert KOLORGRAPHIX

ADMINISTRATION Cleo Parker Robinson Founder / Artistic Director Malik Robinson Executive Director Rhetta Shead Director of Administration Hillary Harding Director of Development Shelby Jarosz Senior Director of Programs and Education Winifred R. Harris Associate Artistic Director Chloe Abel Ensemble Rehearsal Director Mary Hart Director of Bookings and Touring Trey Grimes Theatre and Technical Director Amelia Dietz Academy Director Zach Reese Marketing and Engagement Manager Victoria Shead Assistant Academy Administrator Lauren E. Smith Assistant Academy Administrator Pat Smith (OnTarget Public Relations) Public Relations Contractor

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gwen Brewer Chair Cleo Parker Robinson * Founder / Artistic Director Malik Robinson Executive Director Tyrone Gant Treasurer Debbie Herrera Vice Chair Shale Wong Vice Chair Josett Valdez Secretary Jehan Benton-Clark, Tim Davis, Honorable Crisanta Duran, Demesha Hill, Lisa Hogan, Matthew Keeney, Tony Price, Maria Sepulveda, Shelley Thompson, Alfred Walker, Jennifer Wozniak STUDENT AMBASSADORS Priscilla Saldaňa MSU Senior & CPRD Intern for 2018-2019 Xee Vang: MSU Senior Markus Stokes: STREAM Intern Jaron Van Horn: STREAM Intern Lacey Burdine: 4th Grader at Studio School Berkley Pegram: 5th Grader at Studio School Grace Reitsma: 4th Grader at Studio School Madelyn Reitsma: 4th Grader at Studio School

2019 MARKETING ADVISORY Andrea Fulton Demesha Hill Tasha Jones Matt Keeney Jennifer Nealson Jennifer Wozniak Emeritus Board of Directors Judge Raymond Dean Jones J.D. * Chelsye J. Burrows Michael Donegan Kevin Fallon Les Franklin Helen Franzgote Rosalind “Bee” Harris Eric Hughes Renee Hurley Nancy McClosky Dawn Nakamura-Kessler Edmond “Buddy” Noel * Schyleen Qualls Brown * Tom Robinson * John Wagner Lester Ward Dr. Reggie and Faye Washington *Founding members of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance

1st Annual DWTDS Event Chairs | Moses Brewer and John Wagner Honorary Chair | Sandy Wolf Dance Styles from Around the World 2010 Dawn Bookhardt 2010 Moses Brewer 2010 Louisa Collins 2010 Eric Lee 2010 Richard Lewis 2010 Donna Lynne 2010 Scott Mitchell 2010 Laura Nieto 2010 Jesse Ogas 2010 Sandra “Coco” Roberts-Taylor 2010 Rich Rogers 2010 Faye Washington 2010 Faye Wilson Tate

2nd Annual DWTDS Event Chairs | Donna Lynne and Richard Lewis Honorary Chairs | Dawn Bookhardt and Moses Brewer Salute to Ballroom Dance Styles 2011 Geta Asfaw 2011 Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis, 2011 Damon & Heather Barry 2011 Felix Burrows Jr 2011 Brenda W. Granger 2011 Charles “CJ” Johnson 2011 Tara LaBrie 2011 Danielle LaCabe 2011 Gregory Moore & Nina Henderson Moore 2011 Chuck Morris 2011 Murugan Palani 2011 Mike & Dawn Perez 2011 Nita Mosby Tyler 3rd Annual DWTDS Event Chairs | Lloyd Lewis & Jerome Davis Honorary Co-Chairs | Geta & Janice Asfaw and Elder & Brenda Granger Disco Lives!

2012 Priya Burkett 2012 Verne Harris 2012 Kim Huskins 2012 Ken Johnson 2012 Lloyd & Kennedy Lewis 2012 Janice Turner 2012 Danielle Vaughn 2012 Quinn Washington 2012 Denver Police Chief Robert White

4th Annual DWTDS Event Chair | Janice Turner Corporate Chair | Priya Burkett Honorary Chairs | Gwen and Moses Brewer A Tribute to Michael Jackson 2013 Matthew Burkett 2013 State Rep. Rhonda Fields 2013 Demesha Hill -Alumni Dance Only 2013 Cathy Kuo 2013 Mary Louise Lee 2013 Chris Martinez 2013 Kathy Nesbitt 2013 Frances & Monica Owens 2013 Ryan Ross 2013 Landri Taylor 2013 Hollie Velasquez-Horvath 5th Annual DWTDS Event Chair | Janice Turner Honorary Chair | Kathy Nesbitt A Night at the Grammys 2014 Albus Brooks 2014 Daphne Fink 2014 Jim Guttau 2014 Wanda Harris 2014 Steve Jordan 2014 Eddie Koen 2014 Kasia Iwaniczko MacKleod 2014 Elizabeth Oyekan 2014 Kirk Scheitler 2014 State Rep. Angela Williams 2014 Mollie Zimmerman

6th Annual DWTDS Event Chairs | Tim Davis, Susan France, James Kaiser, Hal Logan, Richard Male and Tina Walls Honorary Chair | Pat Cortez Ballroom Dance Styles 2015 Donna Baros 2015 Kim Bimestefer & Brent Brown 2015 Justin Cooper 2015 Hon. Crisanta Duran 2015 Hon. Michael B. Hancock 2015 Pastor Chris Hill 2015 Wy Livingston 2015 Isaiah Salazar 2015 Michael Sawaya 2015 Gloria Schoch 2015 Dee Wisor 2015 Jennifer Wozniak 7th Annual DWTDS Event Chairs | Dee Wisor and Gloria Shoch Honorary Chair | Governor John Hickenlooper Honoring Music Royalty 2016 Brian Allen 2016 Tracee Bentley 2016 Terrance Carroll 2016 Mark Clemency 2016 Eric Hiraga 2016 Lisa Hogan (Aerial) 2016 Courtney Hutchison 2016 Kim Locker 2016 Michelle Lucero 2016 Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz 2016 Monica Rosenbluth 2016 Simone Ross 2016 George Sparks 2016 Paul Washington

8th Annual DWTDS Event | Chair Kim Bimestefer Salute to Motown 2017 Jonathan Adelman 2017 John Bolger 2017 Ivan Burwell 2017 Evan Dreyer 2017 Scott Gilmore 2017 Ken Greene 2017 Bruce Johnson 2017 Dr. Johnny E. Johnson 2017 Britt Moreno 2017 Huy Pham 2017 Marcia Romero 2017 Janice Sinden 2017 Celia Dietrich Wattles 9th Annual DWTDS Event | Chairs George Sparks and Dr. Shandra Wilson A Night in Las Vegas 2018 Kristin Bronson 2018 Leslie Eaton 2018 Colleen Faddick 2018 Tyrone Gant 2018 Patrick Heck 2018 Gov. John Hickenlooper 2018 Joel Hillan 2018 Alice Jackson 2018 Kelli Kelly 2018 Gloria Neal 2018 Amy Parsons 2018 Cliff Rigsbee 2018 Murphy Robinson

Shed G Master of Ceremony CPRD Ensemble, Youth Ensemble and Junior Ensemble Performing to a medley of Broadway Show Tunes Cleo Parker Robinson Mistress of Ceremony

GRAND ENTRANCE The Denver Stars, Part 1 (6 Stars) (in order of appearance) Karen McNeil-Miller Dave Mayhan Dr. Janine Davidson Nikki Price Ron Klump Mardi Moore

Celia Dietrich Chairperson, Dancing with the Denver Stars Introduced by Markus Stokes, Lacey Burdine, Berkley Pegram and Xee Vang

PADDLE RAISE Reggie Rivers

Denver Star Alumni Crisanta Duran Colleen Faddick Bruce Johnson Amy Parsons Huy Pham Marcia Romero Michael Sawaya

The Denver Stars, Part 2 (7 Stars) Quincy Shannon Maude Lofton Kynnie Martin Ashley Kilroy Dianne Primavera Gisela Shanahan Darryl Collier

INVOCATION

Closing Remarks and Special Acknowledgements

VIDEO

DINNER Malik Robinson Executive Director, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Gwen Brewer Chair, CPRD Board of Directors Chair, DWTDS Steering Committee Introduced by Jaron Van Horn, Grace Reitsma, Madelyn Reitsma and Priscilla Saldana

DJ Starchild Entertainment

During the past school year, CPRD partnered with 77 un-duplicated schools, reaching over 17,000 students in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver and Jefferson County. As we approach our 50th Anniversary, this is an unprecedented level of outreach in the history of CPRD. “When we teach dance, we teach math, movement, culture, memorization, the blend of music and movement, and this collaborative intention between people. Not only are we blending culture and history with movement in the moment, we are building connection…often between known and unknown things about ourselves and our community. When kids understand the History of Dance and its connection to their lives, they often see a subject come to life. When children from different backgrounds see the diversity of our teaching artists and professionals in the CPRD Ensemble, they can visualize a new future for themselves as we introduce hope and confidence.”

– Malik Robison, CPRD Executive Director “Our goal from 2018 was to expand the CPRD Arts-In-Education program reach from 60 to 75 schools. We have exceeded this goal of adding 20% more schools, and more students, who thrive with the multifaceted outreach based in dance while expanding a worldview of global culture and stagecraft technology. Thank you for helping ignite new dancers, artists, and technology experts in our community of children!”

The CPRD AIE Outreach Team: Shelby Jarosz | CPRD AIE Director Trey Grimes | CPRD Theatre/Facilities Director & STREAM Instructor Amelia Dietz | CPRD Academy Director And our team of Teaching Artists

CPRD Mission

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is an international, performing arts and educational institution rooted in African American traditions, and dedicated to excellence in providing cross-cultural instruction, performances and enrichment programs empowering all our communities by cultivating the healthy mind, body and spirit development for inter-generational students, artists and audiences.

Funds from the 10th Anniversary of Dancing With The Denver Stars delivers art, movement, multiculturalism, and dance to schools across the Denver Metro Area. Schools of all sizes and budgets benefit from a sliding scale of fees and subsidies supplemented by tonight’s event.

For schools to qualify for support, the CPRD AIE team reviews these factors:

✔ Reside in Five Points, and/or ✔ Have an 80% or higher free and reduced lunch rate (FRL), and/or ✔ Support an arts-based curriculum model.

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Denver’s best cultural groups - the ones that truly get it right do even more. They help us understand who we are, what we can be and how much fun we can have along the way…. They increase everyone’s access to art. Cleo Parker Robinson is a local here. Her dance company has been a stalwart since 1970, inspiring young people, giving dancers quality work, staging performances that are a

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heck of a lot of fun.

– The Denver Post

Meet Shed G, one of the hottest and blessed entertainers to hail from Denver Colorado. Shedrick Garrett (Shed G) is a well renowned comedian, actor and radio personality known for his clean faith based comedy. Shed G brings a style of comedy that universally captivates audiences of all ages and races.

In 2000, Shed G gained momentum by taking his talents to Atlanta where he earned his credits on the big screen. He worked alongside Tyler Perry in hit movies like Madea’s Family Reunion, A Madea’s Christmas and Meet the Browns.

Shortly thereafter he was featured on hit TV shows like House Of Payne, Meet The Browns and The Rickey Smiley TV Show. He will be featured on Kevin Hart’s “Hart Of The City” this fall.

Shed G has opened up stages for many music artists such as Eric Benet, Anthony David, S.O.S Band, Earth Wind and Fire, The Temptations, Brian McKnight, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, and Lalah Hathaway. He has also opened for fellow comedians Ricky Smiley, Dave Chapelle, Ron Tripoli, Dave Coulier and Lachlan Patterson.

In 2012, Shed G moved to Minneapolis to pursue his dream of being a radio host/personality where he joined the Morning Show on 89.9 KMOJ FM making it one of the top Morning Shows in the Twin Cities. His professionalism and ability to connect to the listeners landed him on one of the biggest stations in the Twin Cities-- 105 The Vibe!

When Shed G is not working on his shows or traveling the nation performing, he loves being part of a mentor program at Blue Ribbon Award winner, Friendship Academy, where he exposes 9 young men to tools that help make them successful young men.

Starchild is a Self-starter, fast learner with demonstrated ability to manage all types of audiences. Before he owned turntables he won his first DJ competition in 1982 at Scooters Teen Club by drawing a DJ set up on paper and mentally practiced his cues and timed out the songs.

Starchild has worked at various clubs in Denver but is more known for DJing for his fans for 40 years at Requested Events.

Currently Starchild can DJ in 6 languages and can play music for various cultures including but not limited to music from Nigeria, Ghana, The Congo, Kenya, Uganda, The Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Hawaii, Mexico, Italy, Jamaica and Liberia. American genres include R&B, Gospel, Country, Big Band, Jazz, Hip Hop, Motown, Rock, Oldies, Blues and EDM just to name a few. Music is his language!

Starchild has also utilized his talent as an Audio Engineer for the Denver Black Arts Festival, The Aurora Arts Festival, The Safe Summer Festival, Safe Night Colorado, Cinco de Mio, The Englewood Arts Festival, Juneteenth, The Martin Luther King Marade and many more. Starchild has been the loudest Mobile DJ in the Juneteenth, Martin Luther King and Black Arts Festival Parade for the last 10 years!

40 Years as a DJ….

Music Is His Life, Jesus Is His Lord!

The 11th Annual Dancing with the Denver Stars (DWTDS) will be back in August 2020, as a part of our 50th year celebration!

Join Amy Parsons, our DWTDS Chair for another fun-filled extravaganza!

“Because Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (CPRD) has infused so much unique beauty and inspiration into our community and throughout the world for the last 50 years, I believe we all owe them tremendous respect and gratitude.

I’m honored to do my small part in support of the Company by chairing the 11th Annual Dancing with the Denver Stars. Join us for a night to celebrate the dazzling talents of the artists and rally Denver around the heritage, impact and splendor of CPRD.” Amy Parsons, University of Colorado Vice Chancellor and 11th Annual Dancing with the Denver Stars Chair.

Look for special updates this Fall!

Arc Thrift Stores is a proud sponsor of

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Dancing with Denver’s Stars