Dear friends, colleagues, and family:
In the truest sense of the Aloha Spirit , we welcome you all to Firebird!
It has always been a significant part of our mission and vision to bring the world together here in Denver, and this concert certainly does just that. This evening you will experience the amazing scope of the universal spirit – experiencing the richness of the Hawaiian culture as reflected in my interpretation of this classic ballet, contrasting with the passion and innovation of an extraordinary black dance company, based surprisingly in Oslo, Norway!
Since the mid-1980s, it has been my heart’s joy to be able to dance and teach on Hawai’i Island (what many call the Big Island). My dear sister-friend and colleague, Mauliola Cook , was my guide and teacher as I immersed myself in the deeply spiritual and artistic culture of the Hawaiian people. I felt a profound connection as I discovered the many similarities between the deities of Hawaii, West Africa, and Egypt. I felt especially drawn to Pele, the Hawaiian people’s beloved goddess of the volcano. At one point, I even danced on the slopes of the great volcano, Kilauea . The Hawaiians warned me that Pele wanted my full attention and that she would not be denied! It was there that I learned to move with great respect and homage to the land and its people.
When the great conductor, Marin Alsop, approached me in 1997 to choreograph Firebird to be performed by my company in collaboration with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for the anniversary of the Boettcher Concert Hall which we had helped to open 20 years prior, I felt that full energy of Pele speaking to me. The inspiration came that it was time to take the mystical and powerful Firebird out of the forests of Eastern Europe and transport her to the rainforests and volcanoes of Hawai’i!
Pele must have been guiding me again in 2016 when Cleo Parker Robinson Dance hosted the annual International Blacks in Dance Conference here in Denver. It was then that I first met and experienced the powerful vision of Thomas Talawa Prestø, Founder and Director of Tabanka Dance Ensemble. How incredible to learn of this extraordinary black dance company, based in Oslo, Norway, melding the traditions and complexities of black dance into a fusion of tradition and modernity as guardians of the Talawa Technique™, a rare, codified form of African and Caribbean dance. When I began to discuss my desire to re-stage my Firebird with Thomas, he shared that he was eager to set a work on my company that would express another perspective of spiritual and cultural fire. Out of those discussions grew the work Catch Ah Fire which is being premiered by the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, along with Spirit Dares to Dance This Body, performed by three members of Tabanka Dance Ensemble as Thomas’ gift to our organization and the people of Colorado.
As we launch this historic 53rd ANNIVERSARY SEASON, the mission and vision of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance remains strong through the leadership of our Executive Director, Malik Robinson - and the perseverance of our Ensembles, Staff, Faculty, and Board of Directors. With the support of generous individuals, businesses, corporations, and civic organizations, we continue to advance our artistic and educational vision into an everexpanding community of students, communities, and audiences. You’ll want to visit our website at www.cleoparkerdance.org to keep up on all the dates and locations where we’ll be teaching and performing, locally, nationally, and internationally. Be sure to sign up on our mailing list so you don’t miss a thing!
Our 29th Annual International Summer Dance Institute (ISDI), the region’s finest and most exciting summer intensive program, with students and master teachers from around the world participating, was outstanding this year. The Institute culminated in a memorable two-day Mile High Dance Festival that featured many of the Denver metro area’s most dynamic and innovative dance performers, including the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Cleo II and members of Tabanka Dance Ensemble offering a taste of what you’ll be experiencing this evening. We are so grateful to SCFD for their support of dance in Colorado.
Our SOLD-OUT 13th Annual “Dancing with the Denver Stars” Gala took place at the Hilton City Center on August 12th and was our most successful gala yet – raising a record amount of funding to support our Educational Programming. The most often heard comment was “was our most successful gala yet!” with 13 superstars including Denver Bronco Terrell Davis! We know you’ll all want to join us next year!
Our Academy of Dance (which is also in its 53rd year), under the guidance of Academy Manager, Victoria Shead, continues to provide an ever-expanding variety of classes, with an expansive range to fit all ages and abilities! Class offerings include a lively series of popup classes for all ages, so keep an eye on the many ways you too can dance in ways you never thought possible!
And of course, as you can see from the back cover of this program it’s almost time for our annual holiday production Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum, now in its 32nd anniversary. As we celebrate the universal spirit of family, culture, and spirit, we will look forward to seeing all of you there!
We hope you’ll come away from today’s concert with a deeper understanding of the place that tradition and culture hold in your own life - and that you’ll feel encouraged to seek out the stories of your own heritage - honoring and celebrating the roots that anchor you and nurture your growth. May you all be blessed with the power and energy of the Firebird –and may your hearts truly catch ah fire of strength, compassion, and LOVE! Let us all find the courage to make LASTING CHANGE!
In the Aloha Spirit,
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON is founder and artistic director of the 53-year-old Denver-based artistic institution, CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE (CPRD), leading a professional Ensemble (CPRDE), Cleo II (her 2nd company), a Youth Ensemble, an Academy of Dance, an International Summer Dance Institute, a 240-seat theatre, and numerous community outreach programs nationally and internationally. She has received honors and awards from corporate, civic, community, and artistic entities world-wide, bringing CPRDE to a myriad of 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 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.
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 Doctorate 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 of the National Bahamian Dance Company, based in Nassau. 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 DanceUSA 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.
Ms. Robinson has served on NEA panels on Dance, Expansion Arts, Arts America, and Inter-Arts 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 re-staged 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 Performing Arts Complex.
In 2019, she traveled to UMKC, Kansas City, to set a work on the students of CPRDE alum Gary Abbot, 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 original work commissioned by the Colorado College Fine Arts Center in Colorado Springs. Her newest 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. September 2023 sees the reprise of her innovative interpretation of The Firebird, set amidst the pantheon and legacy of Hawaiian culture.
As part of its mission and vision to preserve the legacy of Black Dance in America, the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble also proudly holds within its extensive repertoire the works of many of the icons of American dance, including those of Katherine Dunham, Donald McKayle, Alvin Ailey, and Eleo Pomare.
Cleo Parker Robinson continues to be dedicated to celebrating the human experience and potential through the Arts and Education. Her life-long vision of “One Spirit, Many Voices” remains strong and steadfast, expanding to welcome, embrace, and sustain all people.
OUR MISSION & VISION
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE – INSPIRING MOVEMENT!
Currently celebrating its 53rd Anniversary Season, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is an international performing arts and education institution rooted in African-American traditions, dedicated to excellence in providing cross-cultural instruction, 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 diversity and inclusiveness throughout the global community.
CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE
www.cleoparkerdance.org
Located in Denver’s Historic Five Points District 119 Park Avenue West, Denver, Colorado 80205
Ph # 303 295 1759
In Norway’s serene backdrop lies the pulsating and unlikely seat of Tabanka Dance Ensemble, a beacon for African Diaspora Dance. Applying the ancient power of African and African Diaspora performance technologies, Tabanka Dance Ensemble offers audiences an unparalleled fusion of tradition and modernity - ancient power, modern use. Beyond performance, Tabanka Dance Ensemble stands at the crossroads of artist development, community engagement, and education. Internationally, members of the Ensemble are esteemed as guardians of the Talawa Technique™, a rare codified form of African and Caribbean dance. More than performers, Tabanka Dance Ensemble champions the voices of Black Nordic Personhood, creating platforms that spotlight and uplift this unique artistic legacy.
THOMAS TALAWA PRESTØ
Thomas Talawa Prestø is a renowned dance artist and researcher who is dedicated to promoting inclusive and diverse approaches to dance and performance. As the founder and artistic director of Tabanka Dance Ensemble and the creator of the Talawa Technique, a unique and comprehensive approach to African and Caribbean dance, Mr. Prestø has made significant contributions to the dance world. He is also a research fellow at Østfold University College and is set to become one of Scandinavia’s first Ph.D. candidates to focus on decolonial dance and performance practices. With over 25 years of experience working to make the Norwegian art field more open and inclusive, Mr. Prestø continues to inspire and educate dancers around the world.
SHIRLEY LANGHELLE
Over her 12-year journey with Tabanka Dance Ensemble, Ms. Langhelle has grown to be a figurehead and pioneer as one of few African heritage female dancers in the Nordic countries. Her prowess as a captivating soloist is matched by her skills as an exceptional teacher, guiding and inspiring many in the realm of dance. Beyond her technical expertise, it is Ms. Langhelle’s passion, dedication, and ability to connect with her audience that truly sets her apart.
WOLMAN LUCIANO
An emblematic figure in the Nordic European world of dance, Wolman Luciano’s 14-year tenure with the company has seen him flourish as a Principle Dancer and a celebrated soloist. His impeccable artistry is a testament to his dedication, especially as the leading demonstrator of the Talawa Technique, the company’s movement technology for African Diaspora Dance. His performances stand out, not just for their technical brilliance, but for the depth of emotion and narrative he infuses into each movement.
JOEL RAMIREZ
Joel Ramirez, in his 13-year association with the company, has grown into a Principle Dancer and a visionary choreographer. He is the company’s rehearsal director and is also in charge of guarding the rich legacy of pioneering Black dance that the company has spearheaded in Scandinavia. Mr. Ramirez’ own choreographic work finds innovative ways to bridge Black dance past and present to create pulsating work with both agency and urgency.
OPENING REMARKS Cleo Parker Robinson / Thomas Talawa Prestø
CATCH AH FIRE Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble World Premiere
September 2023
Catch Ah Fire was commissioned by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and choreographed by Thomas Talawa Prestø, artistic director of Tabanka Dance Ensemble (based in Norway) and founder of the Talawa Technique, a unique training system for dancers who have an African and African Diaspora dance praxis. At the heart of this performance lies Prestø’s homage to Cleo Parker Robinson and her enduring influence. For over fifty years, Robinson’s dedication has cultivated a platform for Black dancers to express their artistic heritage and cultural identity. By advocating for their rightful compensation and recognizing the intrinsic value of Black dance and its performers, she has driven social mobility and empowerment within the community. Catch Ah Fire finds its inspiration in the iconic song by Bob Marley, bearing a profound message of freedom and resistance against injustice. The lyrics poignantly convey the struggle against poverty and illiteracy even after the abolition of slavery. The phrase “catch ah fire” symbolizes the urgency to stand up against oppression and reclaim agency, mirroring the call for positive change and societal transformation. Catch Ah Fire plays with the thought of catching some of Cleo Parker Robinson’s fire and dedication and carrying it on into the future.
Choreographer Thomas Talawa Prestø
Music “War” Bob Marley & the Wailers
“Help is Coming” Ayo
“Mocking Bird” Etana
Conversation “The Groove You Liked” (Mala Dub) Savanj Rooms
Lighting Design Anastazia Coney
Wardrobe Design Mo9k aka Monique Prestø
Wardrobe Creation
Dance Interpretation
Deborah Powell
Michael Battle, Caeli Blake, Corey Boatner, Jasmine Francisco, Samuel Gaines Jr., Ralaya S. Goshea, Devrae Jefferson, Samiyah Lynnice
SPIRIT DARES TO DANCE THIS BODY
Compiled specifically for this concert, this work is an evocative fusion of spoken word and the dynamic dance rhythms of the African diaspora. Weaving the diaspora’s rich tapestry into the fabric of Nordic Black existence, Spirit Dares to Dance This Body isn’t just a performance—it’s a journey, an exploration of our roots, a celebration of our present, and an anticipation of our future. It melts the icy barriers of the Nordic snow, creating a warm abode—a home where the heart finds its rhythm, and the spirit dares to dance.
Choreographer Thomas Talawa Prestø
Dance Interpretation
Shirley Langhelle, Wolman Luciano, Joel Ramirez
Producer Tabanka Dance Ensemble
I. Riddim
Author / Narrator
Thomas Talawa Prestø
Dance interpretation Shirley Langhelle
II. Shaka Zulu Pickney
Composer Tarrus Riley
Dance interpretation
III.
Shirley Langhelle, Wolman Luciano, Joel Ramirez
Sweet in the Morning
Composer Bobby McFerrin
Dance interpretation
IV.
Author / Narrator
Dance interpretation
Shirley Langhelle, Wolman Luciano, Joel Ramirez
Dance My Child
Thomas Talawa Prestø
Shirley Langhelle, Wolman Luciano, Joel Ramirez
NA ‘AUMAKUA
Adapted from “Hawaiian Antiquities” by David Malo
Spoken by Mauliola Cook
Please join us in a moment of reverence as we share a Hawaiian prayer to the ancestors. While this is a traditional Hawaiian prayer, like all prayer it has a message of universal love. Here, many cultures and heritages come together in a celebration of dance, music, art, and community. Let us pause to remember and honor those families who have lost loved ones, their homes, churches, businesses, and schools in the apocalyptic fire that recently destroyed the city of Lāhainā, Maui.
Ancestors from the rising to the setting sun, from the zenith to the horizon
Ancestors who stand at our back and front, you who stand at our right hand
A breathing in the heavens, an utterance in the heavens
A clear, ringing voice in the heavens, a voice reverberating in the heavens
Here are your descendants, the Hawaiians
Safeguard us that we may flourish in the heavens
That we may flourish on earth, that we may flourish in the Hawaiian islands
Grant us knowledge, grant us strength, grant us intelligence
Grant us understanding, grant us insight, grant us power
The prayer is lifted, it is free.
THE FIREBIRD CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE WORLD PREMIERE 1997
This interpretation of the classic ballet was originally presented as a collaboration between Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and the Colorado Symphony, under the direction of renowned conductor, Marin Alsop. There are many similarities between the gods and goddesses of many cultures from around the world. This unique retelling of the story of the Firebird is reflective of a deep pride in the royal heritage of all peoples. In this production, the Firebird is represented by Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of the volcano.
Composer
Choreographer
Associate Choreographer
Igor Stravinski
Cleo Parker Robinson
Barbara Gardner
Restaging Winifred R. Harris
Assistant to the Choreographer Jasmine Francisco
Original Scenic Design
Scenic Adaptation
Original Lighting Design
Lighting Adaptation
Rodney J. Smith
Trey Grimes / Conor Morford
Keith W. Rice
Keith W. Rice / Trey Grimes
Props Gabriela Maduro / Michael Battle
Makeup Artist Tennesia Littleton Broberg
Original Costume Design
Costume Adaptation
THE CHARACTERS
The Firebird (Pele)
Jeffery Patterson, Jean Robertson
Ralaya S. Goshea, Deborah Powell
Samiyah Lynnice
The King Devrae Jefferson
The Queen Ralaya S. Goshea
The Prince Tyveze Littlejohn
The Princess Caeli Blake
The Ogre Corey Boatner
God of the Sea (Kanaloa)
Goddess of the Sea (Nāmakaokaha’i)
God of the Forest (Ku)
Goddess of Healing (Hi’iaka) / Forest Spirit
Goddess of Snow (Poli’ahu / Forest Spirit
Goddess of Sorcery (Uli)
Shape Shifter (Kupua)
God of Growing Things (Lono)
Forest Spirits
Michael Battle
Gabriela Maduro
Melvin Sutton
Lauren Slaughter
Sadie Sandoval
Jasmine Francisco
Lamar Rogers
Samuel Gaines
Katie Carothers, William Davis, Kayla Massey
Zinnia McKenna, Jasmine Valencia
ACT I THE RAINFOREST (EARTH)
As the Goddess of Sorcery awakens the forest, the King and the Prince discover the mythical Firebird who embodies the forces of both Good and Evil which are inherent in fire. She is protected by the various gods and goddesses of the Island who also dwell in the forest. With the blessing of the King, the Prince captures the Firebird. The King and Prince share a vision with her about the way their world was long ago, when the ancient deities were strong and beautiful. The Firebird is intrigued but still wishes to escape. She trades a magical feather with the Prince in order to gain her freedom. If he ever has need of her, this feather will summon her to him.
ACT II THE VOLCANO (INFERNO)
The Queen and the Princess are being held captive in the volcano by an Ogre who has invaded the Firebird’s realm. As they dance, the prince approaches and enters the volcano. He expresses his passion for the Princess, and they discover their new-found love. They share their joy and sorrow with the King and Queen, gods and goddesses who have also fallen under the spell of the Ogre. The prince realizes that his holy deities have been transformed into evil forces and that he must fight for the freedom of his beloved princess and the restoration of his ancestral heritage. As the prince is overwhelmed in battle by the Ogre, the magical feather summons the Firebird. Furious that her sacred volcano has been desecrated, she causes an eruption that destroys everything in its path. In remorse, she bestows the gift of life’s renewal on all humanity. Confronting the Ogre, she banishes him to the depths of the volcano for all eternity.
ACT III THE SHORELINE (PARADISE)
The Prince and Princess are united in a Paradise of the gods and goddesses. Their ceremony is a testimony to the living royal heritage of all people. They dance for the preservation of beauty and dignity while The Firebird celebrates the triumph of Good over Evil.
Program selection, order, and casting are subject to change without prior notice.
Audio and/or video recording of any kind, using any device (including phones and tablets) is not permitted without prior written permission from Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. Failure to comply may result in confiscation of recordings, equipment, or both.
WINIFRED R. HARRIS
Associate
Artistic Director
Ms. Harris, choreographer, artist, teacher, and community activist has created a significant body of work with a strong balance of technical prowess and gestural expression. Having trained under Cleo Parker Robinson, she danced professionally for ten years with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble before moving on to Dallas Black Dance Theater and a solo stint in New York and abroad. In October 1991, she relocated to Los Angeles, CA, founding her own awardnominated contemporary modern dance company. In recognition of her dedication and commitment to underprivileged youth, Ms. Harris received several awards from the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles for her teaching efforts within that community. Having served on faculty at various universities and studios nationwide, including Cal Arts (her alma mater), Cal State Los Angeles and Spelman College, she returned to Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in 2010 as Ensemble Rehearsal Director and became Associate Artistic Director in 2014. Many of her innovative works are part of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble’s repertoire.
CEDRIC D. HALL
Cleo II Rehearsal Director
First dancing with the Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre’s CONSORT Youth Dance Training and Development Program, Mr. Hall later became a full company member. He was featured in numerous musicals including “The Wiz”, “West Side Story” and “Footloose”, and has worked with renowned choreographers Terrance Greene, Dianne McIntyre, Gary Abbott, and Kevin “Iega” Jeff. After twelve seasons as a member of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Mr. Hall is now the Rehearsal Director of Cleo II, for whom he also choreographs, and is an integral part of the Cleo Parker Robinson Education Department and Academy of Dance.
CHLOÉ-GRANT ABEL
Senior Ensemble Manager
A Kansas City native, Ms. Abel trained for twelve years under full scholarship at the Kansas City Ballet School. She studied in New York at the Ailey School as a Fellowship recipient, and received her BFA in Dance, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. Her professional career includes performances with Quixotic Performance Fusion, the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, the Owen/Cox Dance Group, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company and as an Apprentice with the Kansas City Ballet. Following twelve seasons as a member of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (also as Ensemble Rehearsal Director from 20172023), Ms. Abel is now Senior Ensemble Manager.
MICHAEL BATTLE
Ensemble Member
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 first full season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.
CAELI BLAKE
Ensemble Member
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 FortuneGreene, & 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 Company. She has performed in choreographic works by Katherine Dunham, Donald McKayle, Robert Battle, Christopher Huggins, Kevin Iega Jeff, Silas Farley, Nicole ClarkeSpringer, and many more. Ms. Blake joined the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in 2022.
COREY BOATNER
Ensemble Member
Growing up in Hammond IN, Mr. Boatner 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 and performed overseas with Norwegian Creative Studios. After one season as an apprentice, Mr. Boatner is now in his fourth season as an Ensemble member.
JASMINE FRANCISCO Ensemble Member
Originally from Houston, Tx , Ms. Francisco began her training at the Fine Arts Magnet School, originally called Johnston Middle School, under Jesse Woodcock 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. In the summer of 2018, Ms.Francisco moved to Denver, CO to start her journey with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. She is now in her sixth season as a company member, serving also as the Children’s Director for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy.
SAMUEL GAINES Jr. Ensemble Member
Originally from Washington, D. C., Mr. Gaines began his dance training at Divine Dance Institute and trained under scholarship at Dance Theatre of Harlem, Pneuma Dance Project, and in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2020, he received his BFA in Dance and Business Management at Goucher College. Mr.Gaines has performed as a company member with Dance Iquail!, Sound Xpressed, and Contemporary West Dance Theatre. Additionally, he performed in productions of Mary Poppins, Wonderland, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Tuacahn Amphitheater and performed in the original cast for the very first musical in Saudi Arabia, presented by the Royal family. He now joins Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble for his first season.
RALAYA S. GOSHEA
Wardrobe Mistress / Ensemble Member
Born in Detroit, Ms. Goshea trained at the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts and Oakland University, receiving her BFA. She has performed with the Brown Dance Project, Patterson Rhythm and Pace, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, SMAGDance Company and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC). After being a member of Cleo II, she is now in her twelfth season with the Ensemble, serving also as Wardrobe Mistress for both the Ensemble’s local performances and national / international touring.
TYVEZE LITTLEJOHN Ensemble Member
After graduating in 2011 from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Mr. Littlejohn apprenticed with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble for one year. In the Summer of 2017, he toured in the south of France touring his original work Evolution of Love. As a choreographer and teacher, he has worked with many diverse communities. In 2014, while performing with Lexington Ballet, he taught children with specific disabilities, and while touring with Ballet Palm Beach, he traveled to Cuba where he worked with the elder community. Having performed with Ballet Eddy Toussaint de Montreal, Lexington Ballet, and Ballet Palm Beach (2015-2018), with leading roles in Giselle, The Nutcracker, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rite of Spring, and Gatsby, he subsequently returned to the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in 2018. Touring with the Ensemble, he has performed at the American Dance Festival in 2019, the Vail Dance Festival in 2021, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in 2022. Mr. Littlejohn is now in his sixth season with the Ensemble
SAMIYAH LYNNICE
Ensemble Member
Samiyah Lynnice is a Florida native. She began her training at Academy of Ballet Arts and Artz 4 Life Academy, Inc. in the Tampa Bay Area, Fl. Miss Lynnice is a graduate of New World School of the Arts and has a BFA in dance from The Hartt School in Hartford, CT. She toured the United States as a principle dancer with DunDu Dole West African Ballet in her youth and starred in the Chocolate Nutcracker as ‘Claire’ and ‘The Dream Princess”. She has performed works by Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Doug Varone, Norbert DeLaCruz, Donald McKayle, Manuel Vignoulle, Brian Arias, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernandez, and Katherine Dunham. Her sophomore year of college, she performed at the Joyce Theater during the Jose Limon International Dance Festival. She has performed with Anita Baker for The Songstress tour, at the American Dance Festival premiering the commissioned work Resist by Micaela Taylor in 2019, and the Vail International Dance Festival where she premiered Standing on the Shoulders by Cleo Parker Robinson in 2021. Miss Lynnice was nominated for a Princess Grace award and is elated to start her sixth season with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble of Denver, Colorado, performing the role of Firebird.
GABRIELA MADURO
Ensemble Member
Originally from Fremont California, 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, and after one season as an apprentice, joined the Ensemble, where she is now her third season.
LAMAR D. ROGERS Ensemble Member
Mr. Rogers is a performer and choreographer hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 now joins Cleo Parker Robinson Dance for his second season with the Ensemble.
DEVRAE JEFFERSON Apprentice To The Ensemble
A native of Atlanta, GA., Devrae “DJ” Jefferson is now in his first season as an Apprentice to the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. He 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 Ballethnic Dance 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.
SADIE SANDOVAL Apprentice To The Ensemble
A California native and graduate of the University of California, Irvine, where she received her BFA in Dance Performance, Ms. Sandoval is in her first season as an Apprentice to the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. During her time at UC Irvine, she was fortunate enough to dance for Donald McKayle in his final Etude Ensemble, and in 2019 received the Donald McKayle Endowment for Modern Dance. She also performed as a soloist in Lar Lubovitch’s “North Star” and worked directly with Dante Puleio, Artistic Director of the Limon Dance Company. Ms. Sandoval has traveled to Israel and worked with several Israeli modern dance companies including Batsheva Dance Company, Vertigo Dance Company, and Kolben Dance Company. Prior to joining Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, she had attended the Alvin Ailey Professional Division Program and the Abraham in Motion Summer Intensive in New York City.
LAUREN SLAUGHTER Apprentice To The Ensemble
A Colorado native, Ms. Slaughter is now in her first season as an Apprentice to the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. She began dancing at a local competitive studio before moving to St. Louis to attend Washington University where she expanded her dance training and received a Minor in Dance. Ms. Slaughter performed for three years with the Washington University Dance Collective and worked with multiple MFA candidates on their thesis projects. During her time at the university, she performed works by Ting-Ting Chang, Diadie Bathily, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, and Dana Tai Soon Burgess. Following graduation, she returned to Colorado to join Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.
CLEO II
Katie Carothers | William Davis
Kayla Massey | Melvin Sutton
APPRENTICE TO CLEO II
Zinnia McKenna
Student MSU DENVER / CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE ACADEMY
Jasmine Valencia
Cleo Parker Robinson Founder / Artistic Director
Winifred R. Harris Associate Artistic Director
Rhetta Shead Production Director
Cedric D. Hall Cleo II Rehearsal Director
Chloé-Grant Abel Senior Ensemble Manager
Trey Grimes Technical Director / Scenic Design
Conor Morford Senior Technician / Digital Audio / Scenic Design
Anastazia Coney Senior Technician / Original Lighting Design and Adaptations
Gabriela Maduro Props Mistress
Ralaya S. Goshea Wardrobe Mistress
Deborah Powell Costume Design and Construction
Jody Gilbert Playbill Design
Mary Hart Playbill Editor
Amelia Dietz-Rowe Media Design
Micah Bursh Group Sales Coordinator
Sylvia Lambe (Lambe PR) Publicist
Stan Obert CPRD Photographer
David Andrews CPRD Videographer
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
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
John Byers Director of Operations
Tobias Juniel Director of Advocacy and Engagement
Mary Hart Director of Booking and Touring
Amelia Dietz-Rowe Marketing Manager
Micah Bursh Marketing Communications Specialist
Kollin Payne Grants Manager
Victoria Shead Johnston Academy Manager
Shawnee DeChristopher Youth Enrichment Coordinator
Amandine Aubertot Academy Administrative Assistant
Michael Battle Academy Administrative Assistant
Gabriela Maduro Academy Administrative Assistant
Trey Grimes Technical Director
Anastazia Coney Theatre Lead Technician / Rental Assistant
Conor Morford Theatre Lead Technician / Rental Assistant
Patricia Smith OnTarget Public Relations
Sylvia Lambe Lambe PR
ARTISTIC STAFF
Winifred R. Harris Associate Artistic Director
Chloé Grant Abel Ensemble Rehearsal Director
Cedric D. Hall Cleo II Rehearsal Director
Jessica Horton Youth Ensemble Director
Jasmine Francisco Junior Youth Ensemble Director
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
Lisa Levin Appel, Toni Baruti, Christopher Cardenas, Darryl Collier, Tim Davis, Demesha Hill, Lisa Hogan, Matt Keeney, Kelli Kelly, Robert Thompson, J. Matt Thornton, Josett Valdez, Alfred Walker, Jennifer Wozniak
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
Special thanks to the Ensembles, Board of Directors, Sponsors, Donors & Foundations, Education Partners, Administrative & Technical Staff, Faculty, Students, Parents, & Volunteers of CLEO PARKER ROBINSON DANCE and the “FIREBIRD” community
As well as the Administrative and Technical Staff of the DENVER PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX
We also thank the following for their extraordinary support of this production.
“FIREBIRD” CO-CHAIRS
Kelli Kelly | Carla Ladd
David Andrews
Pat Brooks
Mauliola Cook
Civil Technologies
Denver Herald (Reporter - Chancy Anderson / Photographer - Christy Steadman)
Denver Post (Reporter - Lisa Kennedy / Photographer - Helen Richardson)
KMGH Denver 7 (Mile High Living / Host Sam Boik)
Tamara Leonard
Life On Capitol Hill (Reporter - Chancy Anderson / Photographer - Christy Steadman)
National Endowment for the Arts
Stan and Chris Obert
The Parker and Robinson Families
Deborah Powell
Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast
Malik and Vianey Robinson
Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD)
Rhetta Shead and Family
Springhill Suites
Leslie Sue Parker Wallace
Warwick Denver
Washington Park Profile (Reporter - Chancy Anderson / Photographer - Christy Steadman)
Letitia Williams
Martha Wirth
In memoriam
Tom Robinson
Harry Belafonte
Carl Bourgeois, Jonathon “JP” Parker, Martha Parker, James Wallace, Marceline Freeman, Robertta Freeman, Abuelita Olga Gonzalez, Jaime Gonzalez, Kevin McNicholas, Ron Thornton.
