Cleo Parker Robinson Center hits $25M milestone in Denver

DENVER — The Cleo Parker Robinson Center for the Healing Arts has reached a major fundraising milestone in its capital campaign, surpassing $25 million in construction commitments. The new 25,000-square-foot wing recently received its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, marking a significant step toward the center’s long-planned expansion.

The addition, designed by Fentress Architects and built by Mortenson, sits next to the organization’s historic headquarters at the National Historic Landmark Shorter AME site in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Staff, performers and students are preparing for the 34th season of “Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum,” which will be the final production staged in the original CPRD Theatre.

Rooted in community support

“In December 2021, we announced our acquisition of the Historic Shorter AME facility, once home to Denver’s oldest African American church and our sacred space,” said Malik Robinson, president and CEO of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. “Since this became our headquarters in 1988, the community has embraced our space of art and belonging. Today, we announce that this new facility expansion is securely rooted with the financial support of our beloved Village.”

Robinson said the organization continues to build a foundation of long-term financial stability and emphasized that supporters can still participate in the campaign. “Any gift is welcome, from grassroots giving to sponsoring theater seats, through the final steps to completion,” he said.

Built to reflect light, art and history

The building’s east-facing solar panels incorporate Labanotation, the choreography notation system used to transcribe “Mary Don’t You Weep,” part of Cleo Parker Robinson’s masterwork “Spiritual Suite.” The piece was created for the first national celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in 1986.

“The brilliant facility design by Fentress welcomes the light into our new sacred space,” said Cleo Parker Robinson, founder and artistic director. “It reflects the light carried by our ancestors, founders, dancers, artists, staff, students, board members and decades of volunteers and supporters who continue to build what we have today. Together we are capturing light and creativity for a new era of belonging in dance and healing arts in our global Village.”

A campaign shaped by community

Capital Campaign Chair Lisa Hogan said CPRD’s impact extends well beyond dance. “Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is so much more than a world-class dance organization,” she said. “It is a place of belonging, inspiration and aspiration toward our better selves. Supporters stayed with us through rising post-pandemic costs and donated more than double our original $11 million goal.”

Hogan said nearly 200 individuals, families, foundations and government partners contributed to the milestone. More than half of all individual donors came from the African American community. CPRD also created two giving societies: the Sankofa Society for gifts between $50,000 and $99,000 and the Aya Society for gifts of $100,000 and above.

Weeklong celebration planned for January 2026

The organization will celebrate the new facility with public events scheduled during Denver’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations:

• Friday, Jan. 16: Film Festival in the new CPRD Theatre
• Saturday, Jan. 17: Public ribbon-cutting and tours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 17: Inaugural dance performance at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 18: Community church service in the historic Shorter AME theatre
• Monday, Jan. 19: Participation in Denver’s MLK Marade
• Friday, Jan. 23: Arts-In-Education student movement session
• Saturday, Jan. 24: CPRD Academy Open House with free dance classes

Key features of the new center

The new wing doubles CPRD’s space and includes:

• A 240-seat performance venue with collapsible seating
• Four new dance studios, including a 28-foot-high Studio A
• Energy-efficient exterior fins in 54 colors
• Solar panels that generate power and display Labanotation choreography
• Updated dressing rooms and locker rooms
• An outdoor north-facing deck
• A reception area, café and expanded office space
• A two-story glass atrium connecting the new design with the historic structure

The CPRD Theatre and studios will be available for rental beginning January 2026, expanding opportunities for community arts, rehearsals and events.