THEA BARNES
As a dancer, choreographer, researcher, teacher, and mentor, Thea Nerissa Barnes left an inimitable legacy in the world of dance.
Thea was born in Columbus, Georgia and raised on the South Side of Chicago. From an early age, Barnes was driven by her unshakeable desire to dance. She trained with the best. In Chicago, she studied a range of techniques with noted practitioners including Richard Arve, Larry Long, Bentley Stone and Walter Camryn. Her professional dance career started in Chicago with The Julian Swain Inner City Dance Theatre (JSICDT).
She left Chicago after earning a scholarship to study with Arthur Mitchell’s Dance Theatre of Harlem. In New York, she also trained with Igor Schwezoff and celebrated DanceAfrica founder Chuck Davis. A disciplined, physically and emotionally expressive dancer with a love for technique and attention to its detail, she joined the historic Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She later joined the legendary Martha Graham Dance Company where she became a principal dancer and soloist for whom Graham choreographed the critically acclaimed work “Song.”
Described as “compelling” and “spectacular” in the New York Times and an "indomitable presence" in the Los Angeles Times, Barnes earned rave reviews and graced international dance magazine covers. As one of few Black female principals in a major American dance company, she was a trailblazer who embraced the opportunity to challenge convention and open doors for others.
She was a soloist and guest performer with esteemed American companies including Joseph Holmes Dance Theatre, Fred Benjamin Dance Company, and Alfred Gallman’s Newark Dance Theatre (GNDT). She also performed in Broadway, film, and television productions, and even staged productions for her own company, Dancer’s Eye, Inc.
Barnes earned degrees in dance and teaching from The Juilliard School and Columbia University in New York, as well as City University, London. In England, she taught at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Urdang Academy, and Laban Centre. She also served as Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre (Phoenix). In 2001, Barnes was recruited for the role of Resident Dance Supervisor for Disney’s West End production of The Lion King musical – a role she held until 2018. Additionally, Barnes was a recognized dance scholar and researcher with numerous published works and appearances.
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