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
64 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: I Just Wanna (feat. Santino Noir) - Melissa Gorga : (Single)
32 Count 4 Wall intermediate Music: Basic Goodbye - Neal McCoy
32 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: It's Amazing - Jem : (Album: Down to Earth)
32 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: It's Amazing - Jem : (CD: Down to Earth)
32 Count 2 Wall beginner/intermediate nightclub Music: It's Your Love - Barry And Dari Anne Amato
32 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: One More Broken Hearted Man - Redfern & Crookes
32 Count 0 Wall Music: Stagger Lee - The Fabulous Thunderbirds
32 Count 4 Wall intermediate Music: Just a Matter of Time - Hil St. Soul
64 Count 2 Wall intermediate hustle Music: Last Days of Disco - Alcazar
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Polka Music: Latter Rain - Scooter Lee : (CD: Big Bang Boogie)
48 Count 2 Wall Intermediate/Advanced level Music: Lead Me Not - Lari White : (CD: Lead Me Not)
64 Count 4 Wall Beginner Music: Light in the Winter (Line Dance Version) - Nancy Hays & The Heffernans : (CD: Light In The Winter)
32 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: Lights - Journey : (CD: Greatest Hits)
32 Count 4 Wall intermediate Music: I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
32 Count 4 Wall intermediate Music: Live, Laugh, Love - Clay Walker
32 Count 4 Wall beginner/intermediate Music: Cold Outside - Big House
32 Count 4 Wall Beginner/Intermediate Music: Like the Sea - Alicia Keys : (CD - The Element of Freedom)
48 Count 2 Wall Improver waltz Music: Love Me or Leave Me Alone by Dustin Lynch ( feat. Karen Fairchild) CD: Current Mood / 102 bpm: 4:04 or 4:05
32 Count 4 Wall Improver Music: Lucky in Love - Ronnie Beard : (CD: Lucky In Love - 3:48)
32 Count 4 Wall Improver Couples Music: Lucky in Love - Ronnie Beard : (CD: Lucky In Love - 3:48)
