119 Park Ave

A major expansion is underway at New Covenant Christian Church at 20th & Washington in Five Points, and it’s being led by one of Denver’s most iconic cultural institutions, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (CPRD) is building a new 25,000-square-foot wing attached to the historic church campus, anchoring a future that blends art, education, and community.

Slated to open in January 2026, the project includes four upgraded studios, an intimate 240-seat underground theater, new dressing rooms, ADA-compliant restrooms, and flexible space for CPRD’s growing Academy and community collaborations. The new Studio A will double as a classroom and rentable rehearsal space, supporting both creative development and long-term financial sustainability.

CPRD has been shaping Denver’s cultural identity since 1970, when it was founded during the Civil Rights and Black Arts Movements.

Today, it stands as one of the largest Black-led arts organizations in the western U.S., touring over 40 countries and reaching more than 1 million students through movement and cultural education.

The expansion will allow CPRD to serve 12,000 additional theatergoers, 2,500 students, and 3,000 on-site Arts-in-Education participants each year. All of it built into the church campus that’s long been a cornerstone of community life in Five Points.

A proposal is also underway to name a nearby street after Cleo Parker Robinson, which would make her the first African American woman in Denver to receive that honor.

This is more than an expansion, it’s a generational investment in Black art, culture, and legacy.