Their jobs require Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and City Councilman Darrell Watson to approach complex issues affecting the city and its residents with caution.  

Which may have served them well as they prepared for the 15th “Dancing with the Denver Stars,” signature fundraiser for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. 

Johnston, partnered with CPRD pro Caeli Blake for a blazing hot cha-cha, and Watson, who came very close to outdoing pro Melvin Sutton with some crazy hip-hop moves, brought down the house with prolonged standing ovations from the 800-plus who’d gathered at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel for this Aug. 23 event emceed by actor-comedian Shed G. 

“Well all right,” exclaimed Cleo Parker Robinson as Watson and Sutton exhibited their talent to “Lady Marmalade.” 

Co-chairs Stacey and Michelle Campbell, along with Lisa Levin Appel, report that while the total income is still being tallied, the paddle raise alone brought in a record $193,200, which is earmarked for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s Arts-in-Wellbeing program — a course titled “Mental Health is Wealth.” 

“In the face of greater economic and social uncertainty we rely on the arts and strong cultural institutions to keep us grounded, healthy and vibrant,” added Malik Robinson, president/CEO of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. “With our new Center for the Healing Arts on the horizon, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is poised to augment its capacity to serve the growing needs and demands of our communities.” 

His mom, Cleo Parker Robinson, admitted to being overwhelmed by the event’s “extraordinary” success.

“When we started out, we didn’t have a dime, or a building,” she said.

Today, with a multi-million-dollar expansion underway at the dance company’s headquarters in the historic Shorter AME Church in Five Points, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is poised to become a hub for dance, culture and education in Denver. 

The paddle-raise was called by Simone Ross, president/CEO of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and a professional auctioneer who was also part of the evening’s Starlettes. 

The Starlettes — nine civic leaders, including DCPA chief Janice Sinden, The Equity Project founder Dwinita Tyler, business consultant/public speaking coach Gloria Neal and banker Faye Tate — helped carry out the fundraiser’s theme of “From Doo-Wop to Hip-Hop: Celebrating Girl Groups” by dancing to tunes made famous by the Supremes, TLC and Destiny’s Child.  

In addition, early childhood education advocate Anna Jo Haynes was presented with the inaugural Cleo Parker Robinson Legacy Award.

“Cleo and I love the kids so much,” Haynes said, “and her programs set them on the right road for life.”

Artist Darrell Anderson, who created a piece for the Center for the Healing Arts, was honored as the night’s mystery dancer — the one accompanying Parker Robinson as she entered the ballroom and made her way to the stage. 

Besides Johnston and Watson, the 2025 Denver Stars were: 

• Jeronimo Villa, a district manager with US Bank 
• Debbie Brown, president of Colorado Business Roundtable 
• Loren Furman, president/CEO of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce 
• Nicole Dorsey, a vice president with PNC 
• Dianne Myles, founder of Human Focused Media 
• Brian Flores, morning anchor on CBS Colorado 
• Kelli Ogunsanya, chief operating officer of Delta Dental Colorado 
• Chad Oliver, LOM Consulting Services 
• Paul Adkins, senior marketing manager for CoBank 
• Juan Suarez, vice president and chief inclusion officer for Southwest Airlines 
• Dr. Andre Mansion, CEO of Big Haus Consulting 
• Michael Sapp, state government affairs manager for Xcel Energy 

About the organization: Now in its 55th season, the nonprofit Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is a multi-cultural performing arts organization perhaps best known for its internationally acclaimed CPRD Ensemble. Other elements include are the Cleo II and Youth and Junior Youth Ensembles, the CPRD Academy, an arts-in-education program that reaches 20,000 students in 80 Colorado schools, arts-in-wellness programming and an affiliation with Metropolitan State University of Denver’s bachelor’s degree in dance.  

Website: cleoparkerdance.org 

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