When is a ribbon cutting so much more than opening a modern wing on a historic building? (Opinion)

Just on the other side of the holiday season Cleo Parker Robinson Dance the organization that helped raise me and that I at this time lead is celebrating the grand opening of our new Center for the Healing Arts As I think about this milestone I m reminded of a Denver interview a decade ago with the great Black American ballerina Misty Copeland as she reflected on how dance rescued her from a chaotic childhood to help her find her voice through artistic expression Once I discovered ballet it was so clear to me that it was such an escape from all of the obstacles at home And when I was in the studio is really the first time that there was this clarity and it was something that was so beautiful that again was my own And I never experienced that as a child And to this day it still is an escape for me she noted Copeland was addressing young girls but her comments resonate for anyone curious about the power of dance The arts have been a balm for the soul for individuals young and old from every background and political persuasion It is something Cleo Parker Robinson Dance has understood for our years of existence Our square-foot expansion adjoining our longtime home in the Historic Shorter African Methodist Episcopal Church years old in is not just a beautiful edifice It represents a melding of the old and new to forge an expansive future My parents grew up a couple of blocks away and my late dad Tom Robinson attended Boy Scouts in the church s garden-level gymnasium Thirty-eight years ago CPRD transformed that very gym into dance studios and the sanctuary upstairs into a theatre that has been home to more than performing arts companies from around the metropolitan area But we perpetually dreamed of a new facility to match the quality of the organization s educational and artistic programs After fits and starts including surviving the pandemic and price escalations we launched a multi-phased capital campaign In CPRD purchased the historic building and adjacent land and in contemporary times stands a new four-level structure that includes a state-of-the-art theater with world-class acoustics new studios rehearsal spaces and gathering areas designed for our public wellness programs With an annual budget of million CPRD has perpetually punched above its weight but we would not have succeeded in raising the million for the expansion without the backing and collaboration of the Denver arts political and philanthropic infrastructure What we have accomplished is a testament to the galvanizing power of bringing people together and the learning that brings about Through an extensive public-private partnership funding for the project came from every corner of our city and state Population foundations political representatives and corporate partners stepped forward as well as individual donors from across the public who contributed nearly percent of the total cost proof that Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is a valued asset to Denver and Colorado For five decades we have championed the arts to spark curiosity and learning promote healing and foster belonging My mother our founder Cleo Parker Robinson established the company after earning double degrees in dance and psychology Her passion and vision have integrated the arts and behavioral soundness into award-winning programs Those early healing power of art workshops have morphed into the new Center for the Healing Arts Our work is not only cross cultural but intergenerational multi-regional and deeply rooted in African Diasporic traditions It s a big reason for our success Over the decades we ve trained thousands of young dancers in ballet hip-hop jazz African dance and tap Our company has performed all over the world and touched every corner of Colorado making more than school visits to reach kids from pre-K to high school who might not otherwise have seen a professional dance company Related Articles Renck A Father s Sonshine Dakota Ridge climbs final mountain with coach quarterback leading way to title Hegseth and the Department of War crimes prove Jason Crow right Opinion NREL drops renewable potency in bow to Trump s new context Orwellian newspeak Letters Kafer Under no circumstances should Tina Peters be handed over Western senators cannot backing this Trump nominee who wants to liquidate citizens lands Opinion And for years our holiday production Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum has become a Denver tradition blending dance live music and seasonal customs from around the world for families that have made it a part of their annual December celebrations That s why the grand opening January is far more than a ribbon-cutting It is a powerful reminder of the remarkable ability of the arts to break down impediments promote greater understanding and lay bare our common humanity We truly appreciate how Denver and Colorado have invested in our future We will reciprocate that love by continuing to innovate and collaborate to nurture young artists preserve Black dance traditions and push creative boundaries while entertaining new generations That means staying accessible inclusive and relevant to all We will never veer from that mission As I walk through our new space I am grateful to all the people who made this workable my parents our founding company members our generous partners and donors and every child who has taken a first leap with us Malik Robinson is the president and CEO at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in Denver Colorado Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns editorials and more To send a letter to the editor about this article submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail