Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance brings Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum back to the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre this December, and it's a bit of a milestone year. The show is in its 35th anniversary season, and this is its first run in the new Cleo Parker Robinson Center for the Healing Arts Theatre, a historic venue in the Five Points neighborhood that's recognized as a landmark of African American heritage.

If you've never seen it, the show is a Denver family tradition that's closed out the year for 35 years. It blends dance, music, and spoken word into a single evening, and it's described as a multicultural take inspired by The Nutcracker. Instead of a trip through a toy shop, Granny is guided by the Three Angels of the Rainbow on a journey through Africa, the Americas, Mexico, Asia, and the Caribbean. Along the way, the production draws on traditions ranging from the African Harvest to Kwanzaa, and from the Chinese New Year to Junkanoo, weaving global traditions, diverse dance styles, and live music into a vibrant, inclusive celebration with bright costumes.

There are nine live performances spread across December, so you have plenty of dates to choose from. Matinees are at 2 PM on Saturday, December 5, Sunday, December 6, Saturday, December 12, Sunday, December 13, and Saturday, December 19. Evening shows are at 7 PM or 7:30 PM on Saturday, December 12, Thursday, December 19, and Friday, December 20. Tickets run from $35 to $60, and the theatre is at 2025 N. Washington St in Five Points.