For one summer, 13 of Denver’s civic and business leaders traded boardrooms, offices and executive meetings for dance studios, rehearsals and choreography — all in support of a cause that reaches thousands of young people throughout the Denver metro area.

On Aug. 22, those newly minted “Dancing Stars” stepped onto the stage at the Sheraton Denver Downtown to perform two-minute routines before an audience of 750 friends, family members and community supporters at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s 16th annual Dancing with the Denver Stars.

By the end of the evening, their fancy footwork had helped CPRD achieve something worth celebrating: a record-breaking $500,000-plus raised to support and expand its Arts-In-Education programs.

Denver comedian and actor Sheddrick “Shed G” Garrett, a veteran emcee of the gala, returned to guide the evening with his signature humor and mischief.

Dancing With a Purpose

For more than 30 years, CPRD’s Arts-In-Education program has brought teaching artists into schools and welcomed students into dance experiences that combine movement with history, culture, social movements and traditions from around the world.

The program has grown significantly during the past decade and is expected to serve 32,126 students in 216 metro-area schools during the 2026 school year. During the 2025 school year, CPRD also collaborated with fellow Scientific and Cultural Facilities District cultural partner the Colorado Symphony.

The evening also marked the announcement of CPRD’s new AIE Gold Star School Program, which will expand teaching-artist residencies throughout the school year.

Lakewood’s Belmar School of Integrated Arts is among the program’s early adopters.

“Our students have benefitted from CPRD programs since 2018, and we are delighted to add more this year,” said Belmar Principal Meredith Leighty, who also serves as mayor of Northglenn and was a 2023 Dancing Star.

Honoring Stars Who Inspire

The celebration extended beyond the dance floor as CPRD Founder and Artistic Director Cleo Parker Robinson recognized three community leaders whose contributions have inspired movement in Denver and beyond.

“We are delighted to honor three stars in our constellation of Denver leaders tonight who inspire movement!” Robinson said.

Internationally renowned sculptor and astronaut Ed Dwight received CPRD’s 2026 Legacy Award. Dwight, who became the nation’s first Black astronaut candidate during President John F. Kennedy’s administration, made history decades later when he traveled to space at age 90.

Although Dwight was unable to attend the gala, Gwen and Moses Brewer accepted the honor on his behalf — along with a message from the honoree that drew laughter from the crowd.

“What took Cleo so long?!” Dwight joked.

Karen McNeil-Miller served as the 2026 Honorary Event Chair. Robinson recognized McNeil-Miller for her leadership in community health and her longstanding support of people and organizations serving communities throughout Colorado.

Robinson also celebrated her longtime friend George Sparks, president and CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, noting his many years of support for CPRD and the gala.

“Our very dear George Sparks has danced with me for years as my July birthday buddy and has supported this gala in many roles over the years,” Robinson said.

We Are Family

This year’s Dancing Stars performed to the musical theme “We Are Family: Celebrating Musical Families and Dance,” bringing soul, hip-hop, funk, disco and, for the first time at the gala, Bollywood to the stage.

Between performances, auctioneer Simone Morrison rallied guests for an auction and paddle raise that generated $154,000 in additional support.

Another highlight of the evening brought dance, visual art and Denver history together.

Denver and Five Points native and artist Darrell Anderson shared how Robinson and choreographer Milton Myers’ Raindance — a beloved CPRD work performed for more than 30 years — inspired his own artwork.

After seeing Raindance performed during CPRD’s September 2025 Bolero concert at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Anderson created an intricate colored-pencil work across three actual architectural blueprint sheets used in the development of CPRD’s Center for the Healing Arts.

“Raindance moved me so deeply,” Anderson said. Seeing the new Center for the Healing Arts inspired him to integrate dance and architecture in an effort to capture “what it takes to integrate the two perfections.”

Anderson donated the original Rain Dance artwork to Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, where it is installed in the first-floor El Pomar Foundation dance studio.

For the gala’s live auction, Anderson donated signed Print No. 1 of the three-panel Rain Dance triptych. The piece brought $14,000, with the winning package also including a studio evening with Anderson and Robinson.

A Legacy That Keeps Moving

Beyond the music, laughter and applause, Dancing with the Denver Stars supports a mission that continues long after the final dance.

Proceeds from this year’s record-breaking gala will help CPRD expand its Arts-In-Education outreach throughout metro-area schools and introduce more students to movement as a pathway to creativity, culture, history and self-expression.

For the 13 Dancing Stars who accepted this year’s challenge, their two minutes in the spotlight represented months of preparation.

For the more than 32,000 students CPRD expects to reach this school year, those two minutes will help keep arts education moving forward.

Editor’s Note: For information about scheduling CPRD Arts-In-Education programs at a school, contact Shelby Jarosz or Mimi Patel at Education@cleoparkerdance.org. Programs offer sliding-scale pricing and subsidies.