Invitations to Step It Up with Cleo: A Roving Dine Around Dance Party made it clear. Attire was to be “dance club chic,” so let your creativity shine.
There were as many interpretations as there were guests at this benefit for the dance company founded 39 years ago by Cleo Parker Robinson. Sparkles and silky fabrics, to be sure, but also designer denim and touches of leather. Yet as unique as each look was, each had the same important element: A pair of dancing shoes.
Good thing, because deejays and musicians were stationed on every level of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, 119 Park Ave. West, and the tunes they played were infectious, keeping couples movin’ and groovin’ late into the night.
The party was planned by a 14-member committee that included Damon Barry, Haroun Cowans, Rachel E. Harding, Harryette Johnson and Raymond Dean Jones. Terrance Carroll, speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives; Swanee Hunt, former U.S. ambassador to Austria; and former Mayor Federico Peña were the honorary chairmen.
Former Denver Broncos Odell Barry and Floyd Little were there with wives, Glenda and DeBorah; so, too, were Victoria Scott-Haynes; Buddy Noel; and Charleszine “Terry” Nelson, special collections and community resource manager of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library.
The money raised (tickets sold for $125 and $175) goes to company-sponsored educational programs that are offered to inner-city children in need of positive role models and direction.
Coming right up.
A four-day trip to San Diego that includes a sail on Stars & Stripes, one of the yachts that Dennis Conner raced in the America’s Cup, will be up for bid Thursday when the Arapahoe/Douglas County Mental Health Network hosts its annual fundraiser, Raising Spirits. Festivities begin with a 5:30 p.m. wine tasting at the Sanctuary golf course club; the $50 tickets are available at admhn . … Co-chairs Melinda Dark and Rickie Jones send word that all tickets have been sold for the Oct. 9 Girls Night Out, starring comic/talk show host Craig Ferguson. There’s a waiting list, though, and anyone hoping to score a seat for this Girls Inc. benefit can leave their contact info with Amanda Sowle, 303-893-4363, ext. 109. … Washington Park Cares is having a benefit cocktail party and auction Oct. 10 at the Dos Chappell Bathhouse. It starts at 5 p.m. and a $50 donation is asked. … Oct. 10 also is the date for Denver Public Library’s 12th Booklovers’ Ball. “Exposed” is the theme and chairwoman Judy Joseph encourages everyone to wear black, white or a combination thereof. Tickets can be reserved at . .html.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, . and GetItWrite on Twitter
