For three years now, the International School of Denver has welcomed world‑class artists into our community through our Artist‑in‑Residence Program, a tradition that has quickly become one of the most joyful and transformative expressions of our mission. Each residency has offered students a new way to see themselves as creators, collaborators, and global citizens.

Our journey began with David Avido, the fashion designer who hailed from the Nairobi slums and rose to international fame, whose fashion design workshops invited students to explore identity, culture, and storytelling through wearable art. Last year, Armando Silva “Artmando” transformed the Dragon’s Den Cafe into a living studio, guiding students in the creation of Somos, a collaborative piece that celebrated community and belonging.

And now, in our third year, we are honored to welcome one of the most celebrated dance companies in the world: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance is both a dance company and cultural historians, storytellers, and ambassadors of social justice. Their work blends movement with history, identity, and resilience, making them a powerful partner for a school committed to developing internationally minded learners.

This year’s residency centers on the Harlem Renaissance, a period of extraordinary artistic and intellectual flourishing. By engaging with this history through movement (not only through text) our students experience what we call living inquiry: learning that is embodied, reflective, and deeply connected to the world.

“When we invite artists of this caliber into our school, we are doing more than teaching dance. We are expanding the ways our students understand themselves and the world. The Harlem Renaissance reminds us that art has always been a force for dignity, identity, and community. Watching our students learn through movement, story, and shared experience affirms what we believe at ISDenver: that education must be both intellectually rigorous and deeply human. I am profoundly grateful to Cleo Parker Robinson Dance for helping our students see, feel, and embody history in such a powerful way.” 

- Roberto d’Erizans, Head of School

 

A Week of Immersive Learning

To kick off the week-long immersive learning, students from K1 through High School gathered for a school‑wide assembly to experience the company in performance. 

From Tuesday through Thursday, every student will participate in intensive workshops across four genres:

• Jazz: exploring rhythm, expression, and improvisation
• Musical Theater: blending character, movement, and storytelling
• Modern: grounding students in technique and emotional expression
• Cleo Repertory: connecting directly to the company’s legacy and cultural voice

Working side‑by‑side with professional artists gives students not only technical skills but also confidence, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of how art shapes, and is shaped by, history.

Celebrating Together

All families were invited to a Family Dance Party on Thursday, May 7. The Dance Party offered a chance to move, laugh, and celebrate as a community and to dance alongside the company itself.

To learn more about the company’s global impact, visit cleoparkerdance.org.

A Note of Gratitude

This residency would not be possible without the extraordinary work of Janet Yenter, our Director of Community Engagement. A classically trained opera singer and extreme lover of the arts, Janet brings both artistic expertise and logistical mastery to every program she touches, from the Parental Playground to Night of the Dragon Tales to our Artist‑in‑Residence series. Her vision and coordination make these immersive experiences not only possible, but exceptional.

As Janet shared, “Programs like this remind us that art is not an extra, it is essential. When students move, create, and collaborate, they discover new ways of understanding themselves and the world.”