For the last 15 years Michael has traveled and taught throughout the United States, Canada, England, France, Australia, Japan and Korea. Some of his dances that came to be well known are, Black Dresses, What’s Your Name, Hey Bruce, Doors of Life, Rain Against My Window, etc.
2010 saw the return of Jo Thompson Szymanski to the dance scene and with that Michael has a new found energy. “We all have that one person who can truly inspire us, and Jo is that kind of person for me. Being able to work with Jo (instructing for the Dancing for the Dream seminars and other events) makes my job such a great learning experience.” As Jo takes her journey in 2011 to heal from her stem cell transplant Michael feels a strong responsibility to keep that energy going forward.
Michael comes from a show biz family. His father was a pianist and made a wonderful career playing the music he loved. His mother was a dancer and singer before the “kids” came along and put it aside to keep the home secure and nurturing. Michael’s father and mother met during the heyday of Broadway. Something rubbed off from his parents and we are glad he found the venue of line dance to spread his fun.
2011 will be the busiest year yet for Michael and his partner Michele Burton. “We are on the road a lot this year and love all the connections we have with people around the world. Now if the airlines and ‘mother nature’ will just cooperate getting us to the events that would be a plus. We have learned to expect the unexpected”.
Michael lives in Corning, California with Michele Burton and their cat Twinkle Toes (-_-).
Michael Barr has choreographed 159 dances, of which 71 have been co-choreographed. Their first published stepsheet on CopperKnob is Last Days Of Disco from October 2007, with their most recent stepsheet of Fun Lovers in July 2025.
Choreographer Stepsheets
64 Count 4 Wall High Beginner Music: No Fun Haters - Craig Moritz
32 Count 2 Wall High Beginner Music: Call It the Blues - Harry Manx : (Album: Road Ragas)
40 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: I Can't Make You Love Me (feat. Vince Gill) - Maggie Rose
48 Count 2 Wall Improver Music: Holdin' Her - Chris Janson
64 Count 2 Wall Improver Music: Do Ya (From the Paramount+ Original Series Landman) - Belle Frantz
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: Nashville, TN - Chris Stapleton : (Album: Starting Over)
64 Count 1 Wall Phrased Intermediate Music: Angel - Halle
32 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: Angel - Eric Clapton : (Album: Old Stock)
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: Spending Every Minute In Love - Neal McCoy
64 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: Sweet Talkin' Man - Delbert McClinton : (iTunes or Amazon - Single)
32 Count 4 Wall High Beginner - Slow WCS Music: You Should Probably Leave - Chris Stapleton
32 Count 4 Wall Improver Couples Music: Lucky in Love - Ronnie Beard : (CD: Lucky In Love - 3:48)
32 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: Lucky in Love - Ronnie Beard : (CD: Lucky In Love - 3:48)
32 Count 2 Wall Improver Music: Despacito x Shape Of You - Pentatonix : (Album: PTX Presents: Top Pop Vol. 1)
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: I Feel a Sin Comin' On - Pistol Annies : (CD: Annie Up)
32 Count 4 Wall High Beginner Music: I Ain't Never - Scooter Lee : (CD: Midnight Hauler)
64 Count 4 Wall Improver / Intermediate Music: Midnight Hauler - Scooter Lee
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate NC rhythm Music: Good As You - Kane Brown : (CD: Experiment - 3:13)
64 Count 2 Wall Phrased Easy Intermediate Music: I'm Sticking With You Baby - Catherine Russell : (CD: Bring It Back - iTunes/Amazon)
32 Count 4 Wall Low Intermediate Music: Don't Mind If I Do - Scooter Lee
