The same week we learn who is on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” we get the roster from Cleo Parker Robinson’s celebration, “Dancing With the Denver Stars.” The locals start rehearsals with Robinson’s pros immediately; the production is skedded for Oct. 29 at the Renaissance Hotel.
The Denver dancers are not as eclectic as the ABC lineup (Chaz Bono! Nancy Grace! Carson Kressley!), but accepting this challenge takes a lot of guts.
The Denver dancers are Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis, Brenda Granger, Tara LaBrie, Mary Lou Makepeace, Danielle McCabe, Chuck Morris, Willie Shepard, Geta Asfew, Felix Burrows, Charles “CJ” Johnson, Murugan Palani.
Some couples also have signed on, including Denver Post editor Greg Moore and his wife, Nina, and Heather and Damon Berry.
“We like Cleo, and Nina and I love to dance,” explained Greg Moore. “It’ll probably be the tango. I can’t wait, and I hope we can win. People will be surprised we don’t have four left feet.”
Morris can’t believe he said “yes.” “I love Cleo,” he said. “She’s one of the stars of the town. But I am one of the worst dancers in the world.”
Lauren Lauren.
It’s the American version of a royal wedding. On Sunday, model Lauren Bush, 27, granddaughter of President George H.W. Bush and niece of President George W. Bush, will marry David Lauren, 39, son of fashion designer Ralph Lauren. The weekend celebration will take place at Ralph Lauren’s 22,000-acre ranch, the Double RL, in Ridgway.
Lauren Bush was born in Denver when her parents, Neil and Sharon Bush, lived near Cheesman Park. Lauren attended Graland Country Day School through the third grade. Her parents have since left Denver and are divorced; both will attend the wedding.
In a familial touch, Ralph Lauren designed Lauren Bush’s wedding dress — which is more than Prince Charles did for Kate Middleton.
Lauren Bush has joked about what her name will be after the nuptials — Lauren Lauren? She recently announced that she will go by Lauren Bush-Lauren.
Lights out!
The Museum of Outdoor Arts has pulled the plug on its extravagant and delightful nondenominational winter-light exhibition at Hudson Gardens. It attracted tens of thousands of visitors over the past five years.
MOA founder and chief executive Cynthia Madden Leitner told The Post, “Sometimes art and commerce are hard to reconcile, especially under the difficult market condition of the past two years. We could not justify operating at a loss again this year.”
Its creator, Denver artist Lonnie Hanzon, was clearly shaken when I talked to him Thursday. “It’s hard to build something people really loved and then to see it die,” he said. “But that’s just the reality of things.”
City spirit.
Travel guru Peter Greenberg did his radio show from the Ritz-Carlton last week . . . Sez who: “I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. He can be reached at 303-954-1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at husted.
