Robinson, Cleo Parker
1948- · Contribution: 1970-
Dancer & Company Founder
Founded the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in 1970, building it into a major Denver-based dance institution now in its sixth decade; studied directly under Katherine Dunham and Arthur Mitchell, already profiled in this collection
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1948
- Active since
- 1970
- Category
- Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech
- Best known for
- Founded Cleo Parker Robinson DanceDenver dance institutionStudied under Dunham & Mitchell
Impact on the world
Robinson built one of the Western United States' enduring Black dance institutions, carrying forward the lineage of Dunham and Mitchell. She rooted concert dance in her community.
Sources
- Cleo Parker Robinson Dance official website
4 more sources and references are available to members.
Related visionaries
Mitchell, Arthur
1934-2018
First African American principal dancer at a major ballet company; founded Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1969, the first major Black classical ballet company in the United States
Dunham, Katherine Mary
1909-2006
Pioneered Black theatrical dance by fusing African, Caribbean, and modern dance traditions, and developed the Dunham Technique, the first codified dance system based on African-diasporic movement; anthropologist, Kennedy Center Honoree (1983), and National Medal of Arts recipient (1989)
Washington, Lula
1949-
Founded the Lula Washington Dance Theatre in 1980, building it into one of the most respected African American contemporary dance companies in the Western United States; choreographed for the films 'Avatar' and 'The Little Mermaid'
Williams, Ann Marie (Annie Marie Ferrell)
1937-
Founded the Dallas Black Dance Theatre in 1976, the oldest continuously operating dance company in Dallas and one of the largest African American dance troupes in the country; studied directly under Arthur Mitchell, already profiled in this collection