Jo Bunton Keel Oral History, 2024

When Jo Bunton Keel moved to Denver in 1968 to be a chemist for The Oil Shale Corp. (TOSCO), she danced at the Changing Scene with Al Brooks and Maxine Munt. A friend introduced her to Cleo Parker Robinson who was the Director of Denver Model Cities and head of their dance program. Bunton Keel became one of the founding members of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and danced, taught, and choreographed for Cleo for five years. Bunton Keel choreographed for John McCallum’s Denver Black Arts Company (The Hobbit, DAFT, Long May She Wave and Gifts); The Bonfils/Lowenstein Theatre (Bubblin” Brown Sugar, House of Blues, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), and Eulipions Theatre productions of The Great MacDaddy, Ti Jean & His Brothers, Passion Rhapsody, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Mahalia’s Song, Mama, I Want to Sing, Spell #7, Harlem Sweet Harlem, and Black Nativity. During this time, she also directed the Cultural Department for Colorado State University’s Family Action Center, became the Director of the Marcus Garvey Center, and the AA/EO Director for University of Northern Colorado (UNC). Beginning in 2000, she was at various times an educator, humanities facilitator, instructional coach, and assistant principal for Denver Public Schools. One of her greatest joys was directing and choreographing many productions for Montbello High School. The years 2016-2021 were a return to UNC as an adjunct professor for the Center for Urban Education on the Lowry Campus. Bunton Keel gives credit to the many people along her journey who inspired, supported, gave guidance, shared wisdom, and love with her.