NEWS
Thea Nerissa Barnes performing "Seraphic Dialog" with Martha
Graham Dance Company. Photo: Martha Swope. NYPL collection.
Announcing the 2023-2024
Thea Barnes Legacy Fund Award Winners
We are delighted to announce that after careful consideration and a rigorous selection process, we have chosen four exceptionally talented recipients as our 2024 Thea Barnes Legacy Fund award winners.
​
Join us in congratulating:
-
Esme Benjamin
-
Yee Kei Yuki Chung
-
Kathyrn Cooley
-
Alison Ray
Our winners demonstrated outstanding creativity and commitment, embodying the TBLF mission. They will each receive bursaries to support their proposed projects. We are honored to be able to support their work.
​
We extend our deepest gratitude to all our applicants. It was a difficult decision, as we had a large pool of exceptional candidates whose talent and passion are truly inspiring.
​
After pausing during the pandemic, the TBLF relaunched in 2023 with a goal to award an increased number of worthy artists, and we are proud to have achieved that goal. Thank you to our donors and supporters whose generosity makes these bursaries possible. Together, in honor of Thea Nerissa Barnes, we can help shape a future where dance and the performing arts remain inclusive and transformative.
Stay tuned for updates on the incredible journeys of our award winners!
TBLF Receives
Generous Grant
We are thrilled to announce the Thea Barnes Legacy Fund has received a generous donation from The Walt Disney Company UK. This contribution will allow us to offer bursaries to dancers, researchers, and choreographers who are looking to further their careers in dance and the performing arts.
Thanks to the support from Disney, we will be able to provide financial assistance to individuals who are seeking to explore new opportunities, develop their skills, and make a meaningful impact within the world of dance.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Disney for their commitment to the arts and for their belief in the mission of the Thea Barnes Legacy Fund. With their generous donation, we look forward to continuing to support the next generation of artists and academics as they pursue their dreams and make their mark on the world of dance.
Thea Nerissa Barnes performing "Maple Leaf Rag." Martha Graham Dance Company. Photo: Martha Swope. NYPL collection.
The Legacy of a Legend
On 12 August 2019, members from the arts and academic community gathered from around the world for A Tribute to Thea Nerissa Barnes at London’s Lyceum Theatre. The gala was organized by Akosua Boakye BEM with the help of Barnes’ family and support from the Disney production management team to honour the legacy of a legend.
​
​
Those in attendance were treated to rare performance footage of Barnes performing with Martha Graham Dance Company and her own company Dancer’s Eye. Moving spoken tributes to Thea were contributed by her sister Cheryl Barnes, Dr. Sharon Watson of Phoenix Dance Theatre, Aubrey Lynch II, and Lion King choreographer Garth Fagan. Distinguished guests including Tia-Monique Uzor and Yassmin V. Foster read extracts from Thea’s published and forthcoming scholarly research. Prior to reading from her forthcoming work “Fanga: Dance of Welcome,” Dr. ‘H’ Patten stated, “Most of us can only hope to leave a legacy like hers.” The tribute exemplified his assertion.
​
The tribute also served as the official launch of the Thea Barnes Legacy Fund (TBLF). TBLF founding members Akosua Boakye and Duane Cyrus introduced the fund and explained its mission.
​
Barnes once stated, “I consider it my responsibility to support aspiring dance practitioners, novice as well as experienced aficionados.” The TBLF is rooted in this ethos and will ensure that Barnes’ legacy of supporting the dance community continues.
​
​
​
Akosua Boakye BEM and David Blake served as hosts for the event. The spectacular tribute was an uplifting public celebration of Thea’s extraordinary life in dance. It featured a stellar lineup of performances from esteemed artists including the incomparable Germaine Acogny who was introduced by the legendary Tansuree Shankar; Urdang Academy performing a work choreographed by Neo Gordon, Laban, Tavazia, Matt Henry MBE, Rachel John, and current and former members of the Lion King London cast paid homage to Thea, who was Resident Dance Supervisor for the production for 17 years, with a stunning original piece titled “Still I Rise.” AkomaAsa Performing Arts Academy brought the performances to a close with a riveting grand finale.
