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 149 dances, of which 69 have been co-choreographed. Their first published stepsheet on CopperKnob is Last Days Of Disco from October 2007, with their most recent stepsheet of Lucky In Love – Couples (p) in July 2020.
Choreographer Stepsheets
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: Give It to Me Right - Melanie Fiona : (CD: The Bridge)
64 Count 2 Wall Easy Intermediate Music: For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder : (iTunes or Amazon)
0 Count 1 Wall intermediate Music: Freeze-Frame - The J. Geils Band
64 Count 2 Wall intermediate Music: Spooky - Classics IV
48 Count 1 Wall intermediate Music: Give It Up or Let Me Go - The Chicks
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate NC rhythm Music: Good As You - Kane Brown : (CD: Experiment - 3:13)
32 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: Something's Got A Hold On Me by Kimberly Nichole / iTunes / Recorded & Performed on The Voice / Length: 2:57 / BPM: 152
64 Count 4 Wall intermediate Music: Green, Green Grass Of Home (Dance Mix) - Ronnie Beard
48 Count 2 Wall intermediate Music: One Dance with You - Vince Gill
48 Count 4 Wall Easy Intermediate Music: Here Comes the Rain Itsy - Genius + Love : (CD: Jazz & Swing for Kids)
48 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: The Heat Is On - La Bouche
48 Count 4 Wall Intermediate East Coast Swing Music: Diddle Diddle Swing - Genius + Love : (CD: Jazz & Swing for Kids)
32 Count 4 Wall Easy Intermediate Music: Hide the Wine - Carly Pearce : (CD: Every Little Thing - 3:28)
16 Count 2 Wall beginner/intermediate Music: Rompin' Stompin' Blues - The Judds
32 Count 4 Wall Beginner Music: Honky Tonk Christmas - Alan Jackson
32 Count 4 Wall High Beginner Music: I Ain't Never - Scooter Lee : (CD: Midnight Hauler)
64 Count 4 Wall High Intermediate Music: I Am - Leona Lewis : (Album: I Am)
48 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: I Got You - Thompson Square
32 Count 2 Wall intermediate Music: I Like It, I Love It - Tim McGraw
32 Count 4 Wall Low Intermediate - Rumba Music: I Love You, I Do - Scooter Lee : (CD: Welcome to Scooterville)
