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: Why Me - Delbert McClinton
32 Count 2 Wall Intermediate level Music: Rise And Fall - Craig David & Sting : (CD: Slicker Then Your Average)
80 Count 2 Wall intermediate Music: Mud On the Tires - Brad Paisley
32 Count 4 Wall High Beginner Music: To Love Somebody - Michael Bublé
32 Count 4 Wall Easy Intermediate Music: Beautiful Goodbye - Maroon 5 : (CD: Overexposed - 4:18)
32 Count 2 Wall intermediate Music: Itty Bitty Little Single Solitary Piece Of My Heart - Lari White
32 Count 4 Wall Beginner Music: Take These Chains From My Heart by Scooter Lee. CD: I'm Gonna Love You Forever
64 Count 4 Wall intermediate Music: Green, Green Grass Of Home (Dance Mix) - Ronnie Beard
32 Count 4 Wall Easy Intermediate Music: Let Me In - Caleb Johnson : (CD: Testify - single - iTunes)
32 Count 4 Wall intermediate Music: Soul Education - Jamiroquai
32 Count 4 Wall Beginner Music: Gotta Get to You - George Strait : (CD: Twang)
64 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music: Wolves Are At My Door by Lelia Broussard . [Waiting on the 9 - Length: 3:31 - 144 bpm]
48 Count 4 Wall Intermediate East Coast Swing Music: Diddle Diddle Swing - Genius + Love : (CD: Jazz & Swing for Kids)
32 Count 4 Wall Beginner Music: Christmas Cookies - George Strait
64 Count 2 Wall Phrased Easy Intermediate Music: I'm Sticking With You Baby - Catherine Russell : (CD: Bring It Back - iTunes/Amazon)
48 Count 2 Wall intermediate Music: Dance to the Music - Sly & The Family Stone
64 Count 4 Wall Intermediate 2S Music: True Love - Nancy Hays : (CD: Big Band Country)
48 Count 4 Wall beginner Music: Keepin' Me Up Nights - Asleep at the Wheel
32 Count 0 Wall Music: Stagger Lee - The Fabulous Thunderbirds
64 Count 2 Wall intermediate hustle Music: Last Days of Disco - Alcazar
